When should you seek after-hours care instead of waiting for the Health Center to open?
As a general rule, you should seek care after regular Health Center hours in case of a medical emergency or when your medical condition appears to need attention immediately. If your medical condition is worsening quickly or if you are unable to do key activities to provide for yourself, then you should seek care from a community provider.
What is a Medical Emergency?
A medical emergency is a medical condition that is an immediate threat to your life or long-term health. Conditions such as an open chest wound, spinal injury with a loss of sensation, serious difficulties in breathing, an obvious fracture, unconsciousness (e.g. drug or alcohol overdose), or suicidality constitute medical emergencies. Generally, if your medical condition can wait until the next day for assessment or treatment, it is not a medical emergency.
Here are warning signs of a medical emergency, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians:
- Chest pain that lasts at least 2 minutes
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Sudden or severe pain
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
- Sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Change in mental status such as confusion
If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
The following are the 24-hour emergency rooms in our area:
Tuolumne County |
| Sonora Regional Medical Center |
| 1000 Greenly Road |
| Sonora, CA 95370 |
| (209) 532-5000 |
Calaveras County |
| Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital |
| 768 Mountain Ranch Road |
| San Andreas, CA 95249 |
| (209) 754-3521 |
Stanislaus County |
| Oak Valley Hospital |
| 275 South Oak Avenue |
| Oakdale, CA 95361 |
| (209) 847-3011 |
