Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care PLUS - Hackensack

Emergency Medicine Physicians:

• Each facility is staffed by board certified emergency physicians and supported by a professional nursing and support staff with emergency and critical care experience.

Affordability

• HMH Urgent Care PLUS offers lower out of pocket copay versus going to an emergency department.

Enhanced Patient Experience

• HMH Urgent Care PLUS locations provide a clean, spacious, low stress environment with elevated customer service and shorter wait times compared to an emergency department.

Coordinated Care

• As part of the state’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare network, we share the same Electronic Medical Record (EMR) with Hackensack Meridian Health. When follow-up care is required, our network of providers will have access to your medical records and your health history to ensure that our patient-centered care team is cooperatively involved in your ongoing health care management.

What is Urgent Care PLUS?

• Our Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care <em>PLUS</em> locations offer expanded capabilities to treat more complex cases. In the past, patients were accustomed to having to choose between going to Urgent Care or going to the Emergency Department (ED). With Hackensack Meridian Urgent Care <em>PLUS</em>, patients now have another more comprehensive option when seeking urgent care.

How does Urgent Care PLUS differ from the Emergency Department (ED)?

• Urgent Care PLUS offers a convenient, low-stress environment with a lower average wait time compared to the ED. When visiting our facilities there is a reduced risk of cross-contamination versus the ED. We treat and send directly home approximately 97% of the patients we see. This can significantly lower the risk of being admitted to the hospital or being placed in observation status when one visits an ED, ultimately resulting in faster and better outcomes for the patient. Also, patients insurance co-pay (out of pocket expense) is normally lower going to an urgent care versus ED.

How do I know if I should go to Urgent Care PLUS or the Emergency Department?

• Urgent Care PLUS is for injuries or illnesses that are not life threatening. Patients should go to the Emergency Department when they need an immediate specialist consultation. Therefore, we recommend going to the Emergency Department with the following conditions:

• Severe or prolonged chest pain, especially if you have had a prior heart attack, had cardiothoracic surgery or stent placement within the last year.
• Prolonged severe difficulty
• Breathing bleeding from significant trauma that can’t be controlled with direct pressure
• Unresolving loss of consciousness
• Sudden loss of vision
• Acute mental health issues or suicidal feelings
• Stroke symptoms such as slurred speech, weakness of the face, arm or leg, sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding what is being said.
• Sudden loss of coordination.
• Complications with technical devices such as dialysis shunts, tracheostomies, colostomy bags, pacemakers

What ages do you treat?

• We treat every age group from infants (age 0) to 100+ years old.

What lab and imaging tests are performed on-site (including EKG/ECG)?

• We offer a wide range of on-site lab testing and can send out any specimen to a medical laboratory when necessary. Our labs on site include most of the tests that an emergency physician needs to make clinical decisions in an emergency department.

• Cell blood counts, e.g. white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count
• Kidney function tests, e.g. BUN, creatinine
• Markers for myocardial ischemia, i.e. troponin
• Marker for pulmonary embolism and aortic dissection, i.e. D-Dimer
• COVID-19 testing
• Rapid influenza A&B testing results during your visit or within an hour
• Rapid mononucleosis screening results during your visit or within a couple of hours
• Rapid strep results during your visit or within an hour based upon the number of patients
• Urine pregnancy test
• Urinalysis

What tests are sent to an outside lab?

• These tests are done only if you present with a condition for which it is indicated for diagnostic reasons:

• Cultures of urine, blood, wounds/abscesses
• Stool for “PCR”, e.g. bloody diarrhea
• PPD if related to a medical complaint, e.g. cough and exposure to tuberculosis
• Assortment of other tests as determined by the Urgent Care PLUS physician

Do I need an appointment?

• No appointments are necessary. You may walk in at any time without an appointment. This can lead to short waits but we do everything to minimize delays.
  

What should I bring with me?

• You will need to bring to every visit a photo ID, co-payment, your e-mail address, and a copy of your insurance card.

Will my visit be charged as an Urgent Care visit?

• Yes, visits to Urgent Care PLUS are charged as Urgent Care visits. The total costs to you are dramatically less (50-70%) when compared to going to an emergency department.

How will follow-up care be arranged if necessary?

• As part of the state’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare network, we share the same Electronic Medical Record (EMR) with Hackensack Meridian Health. When follow-up care is required, our network of providers will have access to your medical records and your health history to ensure that our patient-centered care team is cooperatively involved in your ongoing health care management.
  
  When your primary care provider (PCP) or specialist is within the HMH network, we provide a direct connection back to the patient’s PCP or specialists for follow-up and continuity of care helping to ensure compliance and improved outcomes. You also will have immediate access to completed notes and tests from your visit via MyChart.
  
  If a patient needs the physician or team to contact your physician who might not be in the network, we do our best to reach them by phone.