Most of us won’t think to go to the doctor until we’re not feeling well. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people chose to care for themselves at home instead of seeing a medical professional. Though it’s understandable that anyone would want to avoid a trip to the doctor’s office, there are a number of good reasons to keep up with your healthcare provider, and testing is one of those reasons.
Our seasoned staff of medical professionals at Family Urgent Care in Chicago is here to give you the care you need. Asrar Sheikh, MD, and Teofilo Vinluan, MD are deeply experienced with numerous illnesses, their diagnoses, and treatments. As annoying as testing may be to some patients, the tests, labs, and X-rays that we offer are our tools to protect your health and longevity.
Why do I need labs, testing, and X-rays?
As cumbersome as testing may be to some, tests and lab work is our best way to see what is affecting you. During your visit, your provider goes over your symptoms with you, as well as your medical history. Your medical history, as well as your family history, gives your provider a whole-picture view of your health and your risk factors for any conditions.
While “testing” could reflect a number of different ways to evaluate your health, there are routine tests and tests for specific illnesses. COVID-19, for example, has its own test that we offer at our practice. Though COVID-19 does not presently have a cure, a proper diagnosis can only be known through testing, and your treatment plan will depend on your test results.
Ongoing bodily pain or discomfort, particularly around your organs, is another important reason for you to call one of our offices for testing. Particularly if your pain affects your mobility, tests, and sometimes X-rays, are our best tools for a correct diagnosis.
What tests are available?
Because we cater to a large and diverse patient base, we offer a variety of different options to help us understand how we can best assist you:
Tests and screenings
When trying to understand how we can help you, we need samples of blood, urine, saliva, and/or tissue. These samples are taken from you during your appointment. From there, they are sent to a lab with a request for testing, and we typically receive your results within a few days. Our screenings include:
- Biometric screenings (to check your vital signs)
- STD testing
- Rapid strep testing
- Pregnancy testing
- Tuberculosis testing
- Mononucleosis testing
We also offer tests to check for cholesterol, blood sugar, or other parts of your blood’s chemical make-up. All of these tests are important for us to be able to either treat your illness in a timely manner or to help manage a chronic condition.
X-rays
X-rays aren’t just for broken bones — your soft tissue and muscle also respond to X-rays, and abnormalities can often be seen through this type of testing. Pneumonia, and its damage, can be seen through X-rays. So can broken bones and foreign objects in your body.
Though you won’t necessarily need to be tested for everything at every appointment, some regular tests, like Pap smears, will be necessary every once in a while to keep you aware of your health, and healthy.
What happens after testing?
After testing, depending on your diagnosis, we will be ready to create and start a treatment plan to get you back on your feet. If we can’t treat you, we will refer you to a specialist for your specific needs. Continuing to be mindful of your health, during a pandemic or not, is important in order to keep yourself and your community healthy.
Don’t avoid the doctor while your symptoms get worse. Call one of our offices in either Schererville, Indiana, or Chicago, or book online with us today.
