Sometimes life throws you a curveball and you need medical care when you weren’t expecting it. When that happens, Bloom La Vie Health in Kansas City, MO, is there for you. We can address injuries, minor infections, asthma attacks, and a host of other conditions. If you need acute/urgent care, we can help.

What Is Acute/Urgent Care?

Acute/Urgent care is care provided in response to a sudden medical condition, a short-term illness, or an unexpected injury. This type of care usually involves short-term treatment to get the patient healthy and back on his or her feet again. When you’re dealing with this type of health flareup, it helps if you can turn to a provider you know and trust. That’s why we offer a full slate of acute/urgent care services.

Abscess I&D (Incision and Drainage)

Abscesses often develop in response to a bacterial infection. When there’s an infection, your immune system directs healing white blood cells to the area. These cells, once they mingle with the damaged tissue and germs, can sometimes create pus and lead to an abscess. Abscesses are swollen, tender, pinkish lumps filled with pus.

Many abscesses are not dangerous and resolve on their own over time. But sometimes we perform I&D to drain the abscess and speed the patient’s recovery. During this simple treatment, we’ll numb the area and make a tiny incision that allows the pus to drain. Occasionally we’ll recommend an antibiotic as well. Abscesses that aren’t treated can lead to an infection that spreads in your body, so it’s important to seek out medical attention.

Strain/Sprain

Strains and sprains are common soft-tissue injures. A sprain is an overstretching or tearing of a ligament, and is an injury that most often develops as a result of a fall or some other traumatic event. A strain is an overstretching or tearing of a tendon or muscle. Strains may develop as a result of a sudden incident, but they can also develop over time as a result of exercise or other stress being placed on the body.

Many strains and sprains can be treated at home with rest, icing, compression, and by keeping the injured part of the body elevated. But it’s a good idea to seek medical treatment for a strain or sprain if:

• The swelling doesn’t improve and worsens over time
• You’re experiencing a fever or chills
• You are unable to walk or stand without pain
• Your movement and flexibility is limited around the injured area
• You’re experiencing numbness or tingling around the injury
• Upper Respiratory Infection

An upper respiratory infection, also known as the common cold, is one of the most common reasons to seek acute/urgent care. Most of us are well acquainted with the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection: Coughing, sneezing, a runny nose, and a sore or scratchy throat. Rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and cold medications can help relieve this type of infection.

Our practice can make a recommendation regarding the best course of treatment for your upper respiratory infection. We can also properly diagnose your infections and rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as pneumonia, influenza, allergies, bronchitis, and asthma.

Minor Laceration Repair (Glue/Sutures/Staples)

A laceration is a separation in the skin, and it can encompass anything from a minor scrape to a cut that is deep and bleeding. Many lacerations can safely be allowed to heal on their own, but if the separation in the skin is deep, we will need to close your wound.

Sutures, in which surgical thread is used to sew the skin back together, are the most common way of closing breaks in the skin. Surgical glue can also be used, and it has the benefit of not requiring the removal of stitches. Staples, some of which are dissolvable, are another option. Staples can be used to quickly close a long wound or one that is hard to reach.

Sutures/Staple Removal

Although some sutures and staples are dissolvable, others will need to be removed after a period of time. When treating your laceration, we’ll be clear about what technique we use to close your wound and inform you of when you should return to have sutures or staples removed. The length of time the staples or sutures are in place depends on the type of injury and where they are on the body, but most are removed within 14 days.

UTI

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can develop in any aspect of the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, or kidneys. Symptoms of this infection, which is more common in women, are more frequent urination, pain or burning when urinating, and pain in your side or lower back. We diagnose most urinary tract infections with laboratory tests of the urine, and antibiotics are frequently prescribed for this condition.

If you experience frequent urinary tract infections, or if your infections don’t respond to treatment, we may recommend an ultrasound or other tests to determine whether or not there are more significant problems with the urinary tract.

Asthma Exacerbation

During an asthma attack or an asthma exacerbation, the airways become swollen and produce additional mucus, making it difficult to breathe. Patients often experience coughing and wheezing. Asthma attacks require immediate treatment with a fast-acting rescue inhaler. In severe attacks, a medical professional may administer strong drugs to lower inflammation.

If you have asthma, or if you think you have asthma, we can diagnose your condition and prescribe an inhaler. We can also help you develop a personal regimen to manage this condition and respond to your attacks.

We’re Here When You Need Us

We realize that in life, things don’t always go as planned. Even the most healthy of us sometimes experience injuries or have medical issues that suddenly flare up. We offer a broad lineup of acute/urgent care services and we can help you navigate those medical bumps in the road. From minor scrapes and strains to urinary tract infections and asthma, we can help assure your best health.