Acute Care Management

Acute health problems like the flu, headaches, and minor injuries require prompt medical attention. Phillip Mendoza MD, LLC has offices in Brighton, Colorado, and Anchorage, Alaska, offering extended evening and weekend hours and home visits to get the acute care management you need without delay. The practice also offers a secure telehealth service for patients who have difficulties traveling or are too sick to visit in person. Call Dr. Mendoza’s Brighton or Anchorage office for more information, or book a consultation online today.

What is acute care management?

Acute care management offers fast, effective diagnosis and treatment for injuries and conditions that develop suddenly. Symptoms that might benefit from acute care management include:

• Fever
• Severe sore throat
• Ear pain
• Skin rash or hives
• Sprain or strain
• Minor wounds
• Painful urination
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Hacking cough

Colds, headaches, urinary tract infections, and stomach flu are some of the most common conditions requiring acute care management.

Can acute illnesses be life-threatening?

Most acute illnesses aren’t life-threatening if you’re generally fit and healthy. However, some acute conditions are more of a threat and require urgent medical attention. These include:

• Meningitis
• Appendicitis
• Pneumonia
• Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
• Sepsis (blood poisoning)

What starts as a minor acute illness can sometimes become a more serious problem. For instance, a cold could bring on a chest infection and develop into pneumonia. This is most likely to happen if you don’t look after yourself when you have a minor illness or are in a high-risk group because of your age or other health problems.

When should I visit the hospital for acute care management?

You should immediately go to the hospital emergency room or call 911 if you have a severe injury like a compound fracture where the bone sticks out of your skin. Other symptoms that indicate the hospital is best include:

• Severe chest pain
• Convulsions or seizures
• Loss of consciousness
• Intending to act on suicidal thoughts
• Severe abdominal pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Stroke symptoms

Gunshot and knife wounds, paralysis, and moderate to severe cuts, burns, and scalds also require emergency treatment.

What can I expect from acute care management?

The treatment you require for an acute illness or injury depends on the condition and its severity. While antibiotics can be very effective when treating bacterial infections, they won’t help if you’ve got an illness like a cold caused by a virus.

Fortunately, a healthy immune system usually successfully handles viral diseases like these. If you’re vulnerable to complications, Dr. Mendoza can prescribe antiviral medicines. You might need supplemental oxygen for a lung problem, antiemetic drugs if you can’t stop vomiting, and help rehydrating your body.

Injuries will need cleaning and dressing. Cuts might need stitching, and you may benefit from a tetanus booster shot in some cases.

Call Phillip Mendoza MD, LLC or book an appointment online today to learn more about acute care management.