When you or someone you love needs unexpected medical care, it can be difficult to figure out what to do. Here are some general guidelines to help you decide how to handle these situations.
Urgent Care
Urgent care centers give you access to primary care for injury or illnesses that can’t wait for a routine doctor’s office visit and could become critical if not treated. Some reasons for urgent care are:
- Broken bones
- Sprains
- Minor cuts or burns
- Drug reactions
- Bleeding that is not severe
Emergency Care
Emergency care is necessary to save a life or prevent serious injury. Some reasons for emergency care are:
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
- Severe shortness of breath
- Significant blood loss
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or proceed to the nearest medical facility. Emergency facilities are better equipped than urgent care centers to handle trauma and severe medical emergencies.
If you are not sure if an illness or injury would be considered an emergency or urgent situation, Dean On Call Nurse Line can help you decide the level of care your situation may need. Our 24-hour, seven-day-a-week nurse line lets you talk to a nurse trained to assess illnesses and injuries. You can also find the facility closest to you for treatment. Just call 1-800-57-NURSE (1-800-576-8773).
If you require emergency or urgent care outside of the Dean Health Plan service area or are unable to get to a plan provider for your emergency or urgent care, go to the nearest emergency or urgent care center for care. Please call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-279-1301 the next business day after your visit or admission. Your call can prevent billing and payment problems later on.
All follow-up care after an urgent care or emergency visit should be done by a plan provider for Dean Health Plan, unless a prior authorization was approved by Dean Health Plan.
If you have questions regarding emergency or urgent care, please call Customer Service at 1-800-279-1301.
Back to Top
