Post-Storm Emergencies: Where to Go

As its hospital emergency rooms continue to see high volumes, Baptist Health South Florida is encouraging people with non-life threatening issues to seek treatment at one of our Urgent Care Centers or use the Care on Demand app, which allows you to consult a physician via your mobile device, 24 hours a day.

All of Baptist Health’s ERs, with the exception of Mariners Hospital in Tavernier and Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon, are open for true medical emergencies, such as chest pain, severe bleeding or lacerations and other life-threatening illness or injuries.

Currently, seven Baptist Health urgent care center locations are open in Miami-Dade County and four in Broward. For an updated list of these facilities and more that are expected to open later today and tomorrow, visit Baptist Health’s Storm Recovery webpage.

(Video: Baptist Health’s News Team hears from Yvonne T. Johnson, M.D., chief medical officer for South Miami Hospital, on post-storm emergencies of all types. Video by Tony Vivian)

“We’d like to encourage those patients with less-serious illnesses to visit our urgent care centers,” said Yvonne T. Johnson, M.D., chief medical officer for South Miami Hospital. “And we’re encouraging those patients who have serious illnesses, or symptoms of serious illnesses — like chest pain or stroke symptoms, high fever that might suggest a bad infection, or very severe bleeding– to come to the emergency departments. We’re here to take care of our community.”

Baptist Health Primary Care doctors’ offices are also beginning to open for patients with illnesses. You can call your doctor to schedule an appointment.

From a mobile phone, tablet or computer visit BaptistHealth.net/CareOnDemand and follow the instructions to connect to a healthcare provider. Care On Demand addresses minor illnesses such as cold, fever, headaches, cough, sore throat, nausea/vomiting, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, eye swelling/redness, rash and burns, ear/sinus pain, allergies, animal bites, burning with urination and wound care consultation. The service is available from the entire state of Florida.

Tags: emergency care, urgent care centers