Acute Care Management

Urgent health problems require prompt care to relieve symptoms and prevent your condition from worsening. If you’re sick or injured, contact Nova Wellness Health in Wantagh, New York, where Valessa Mesidor, NP-C provides timely acute care management. They can help with cold and flu symptoms, headaches and migraines, minor injuries, and more. Call Nova Wellness Health for further details, or book an in-person or telehealth acute care appointment online today.

What is acute care management?

Acute care management delivers fast, accurate diagnoses and effective treatment for urgent symptoms and injuries. Problems that can benefit from acute care management include:

• Painful urination
• Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Fevers
• Severe sore throat
• Earache
• Skin rash or hives
• Sprains and strains
• Minor wounds and burns
• Headaches

Viral illnesses such as colds and the flu and bacterial infections like strep throat are some of the most common acute conditions the Nova Wellness Health team sees.

Most acute illnesses aren’t serious, provided you’re fit and healthy, and you often won’t need medical care. However, what begins as a minor problem can develop into something more severe if it’s not effectively managed by a medical professional. For example, a cold could lead to a chest infection that becomes pneumonia.

Can my family medicine provider handle all acute conditions?

The experienced family medicine team at Nova Wellness Health handles minor and moderate health problems. However, if you have an acute illness or injury that could be life-threatening, you should call 911 or go straight to the hospital emergency room. Emergencies include:

• Severe chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Acting on suicidal thoughts
• Severe abdominal pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Stroke symptoms
• Seizures
• Compound fractures (where you can see a broken bone)
• Gunshot and knife wounds
• Paralysis

Severe burns, cuts, and scalds also require emergency treatment.

What happens at my acute care management consultation?

If you need an acute care management consultation, you can visit Nova Wellness Health in person or book a telemedicine consultation. First, your provider assesses your symptoms and checks your medical history. They may need to run some tests, such as a throat swab, to identify strep throat or a COVID-19 swab.

The treatment you need varies depending on your condition and its severity. Injuries need cleaning and a sterile dressing — cuts may require stitches. You might need oxygen for a breathing problem, antiemetic drugs if you have persistent vomiting, or hydration through an intravenous (IV) infusion if you’re dehydrated.

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections but won’t help with viral illnesses like colds. Fortunately, people with healthy immune systems usually overcome viruses with rest and over-the-counter medicines. Your provider might prescribe antiviral drugs if you’re at risk of complications.

Call Nova Wellness Health or book an appointment online today for expert acute care management.