A conversation with with Dr. Roger Hicks, Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada
Roger Hicks, MD is the medical director of Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada’s urgent care location at 107 Margaret Lane in Grass Valley. He is on the board of directors of the college of Urgent Care Medicine and the founding president of California Urgent Care Association on which he also serves on the board of directors.
What is the role of urgent care in the community?
Dr. Hicks: Urgent care plays a vital role in the health of a community by providing accessible and timely medical care for a wide range of non-life-threatening conditions. We offer a convenient alternative to the emergency room for situations that require immediate attention but are not emergencies. This helps to alleviate the strain on our local emergency rooms, ensuring that those with life-threatening conditions receive the prompt care they need.
What kind of conditions are right for urgent care?
Dr. Hicks: Urgent care is for same-day treatment for medical issues that can’t wait, but aren’t life threatening. Some reasons to visit an urgent care include:
- Ear and eye infections
- UTIs
- Factures, sprains, and muscle strains
- Cold, flu and other respiratory illness
- Allergies and asthma
- Cuts and burns
- Skin conditions such as rashes and insect bites
Most urgent care centers, including ours, are open extended hours, including evenings and weekends, making it easier to access care when you need it. This means offering same-day appointments. Patients can simply walk-in to receive care, or register online for an appointment time. Register online at dhmf.org/grassvalley-urgentcare.
When should someone go to the ER instead of urgent care?
Dr. Hicks: Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening or severe injuries or illness. Head to your nearest emergency room for any medical issues that need immediate attention including:
- Severe burns
- Poisoning
- Severe bleeding
- Broken bones
- Seizures
- Fainting or blacking out
- Chest pains or pressure
What role do advanced practice providers play on the urgent care team?
Dr. Hicks: The title “advanced practice provider” (APP) refers to medical professionals in advanced roles who have completed thousands of hours of medical training and graduate degrees.
APP roles include physician assistants, nurse practitioners and advanced-practice nurses who provide vital care to patients in an urgent care setting. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners can diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and play an important role on the urgent care team. .
What is one thing you wish everyone knew about urgent care?
Dr. Hicks: Urgent care is a valuable resource for our community. We are here to provide high-quality, affordable care for a wide range of non-emergency conditions. Urgent care teams can treat patients who are visiting from out of town, or patients who need quick care, but are not able to see their primary care provider.
Unlike your primary care team, we don’t manage long-term health or treat chronic disease. In some cases we can help with services that your primary care team also provides. For example, at our clinic we provide immunizations for flu, hepatitis and tetanus, sports physicals and x-rays services.
We can help you get the care you need quickly and efficiently, so you can get back to your life as soon as possible.
About Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada Urgent Care
Dignity Health Medical Group — Sierra Nevada urgent care is located at 107 Margaret Lane and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They offer same-day urgent care services as well as appointments for workers compensation, X-ray imaging, immunization and sports physicals. To schedule an appointment please call (530) 576-7141, or schedule an arrival time online at dhmf.org/grassvalley-urgentcare.
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