2020 has been a year like no other. For most of the spring months, people were staying put and as a result, having fewer accidents and other outdoor-related mishaps and patient volumes at MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care’s three facilities in Thurston County dropped accordingly. But then summer hit, the economy began to reopen and the clinics began to see a slew of summer maladies like swimmer’s ear, insect bites and outdoor-related injuries. “Before, people weren’t out skateboarding and hiking and moving around,” says Dr. Hillary Arnold-MacLeod, clinical care director for Urgent Cares of East Pierce and Thurston County. “As things gradually opened up, we’ve been hitting above typical summer volumes for those types of injuries.”
In cases that are urgent but don’t constitute emergencies, the clinics offer an affordable alternative to visiting the emergency room, says Arnold-MacLeod. “We want to make sure that people know we’re here and they don’t have to necessarily deal with emergency departments and all of the costs associated with those,” she says.
Issues that fall into the urgent but not emergent category include strains, sprains or even minor fractures. “It could be a situation where someone has an injured foot or ankle that they’ve been walking on for a few days and it hasn’t been getting any better,” Arnold-MacLeod explains. “Maybe it turns out they have a small fracture. We can immobilize the limb and treat them in ways that allow them to walk out the door in significantly less pain than they’ve been experiencing. We’re a great way to get that handled without having to go to the ER.”
Another example would be a skateboarder who has fallen forward onto his or her hands. “There might be a little bit of angulation, and that’s fine,” she says. “We can take care of that.” On the other hand, if a limb or joint has broken through the skin and is a more severe break, that’s a case for the ER.
Another summer-related issue the clinics treat is swimmer’s ear, a condition usually caused by bacteria invading the skin inside the outer ear canal, which runs from the eardrum to the outside of the head. Swimmer’s ear is common, says Arnold-Macleod. “When I’m doing clinical shifts during the summer, I’m seeing two or three cases of swimmer’s ear per day. Out of a volume of 40 to 50 patients, that’s a fair amount.” Putting cotton swabs or other objects in the ear can also cause the infection.
The Pacific Northwest is home to yellow jackets, hornets and wasps as well as ticks, mosquitoes and spiders. Insect bites or suspected insect bites are more prevalent during the summer months. Arnold-MacLeod says some patients turn out to have ingrown hairs that have become infected; others have bites they were attempting to self-manage that have become infected. Regardless of the source of infection, treatment is required.
Cuts that require stitches also become more common as the weather warms up and people have more skin exposed than they do in colder seasons. Not all cuts require stitches, but the Indigo Urgent Care website offers a helpful guide for how to know when it’s time to see a provider. The key factors to consider are size (longer than half an inch), appearance (if the injury is wide or gaping or you see muscle, bone or fatty tissue), location (across a joint, on the face, near the eye or on the genitals), cause (if it’s from a bite, scratch, puncture wound or cut from a rusty or contaminated object, or if the wound contains debris) and bleeding (if bleeding is prolonged or profuse). If the wound falls into any of these categories, stitches will most likely be required. Indigo Urgent Cares typically see a 25 percent increase in patients needing stitches in the summer months compared to winter months.
In addition to their usual services, MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care facilities provide tests for COVID-19. Among those coming in to be tested, the percentage of positive results is low, says Arnold-MacLeod. “It’s well under the state average of five percent,” she explains. “Ours is closer to two percent.”
Year-round, the clinics treat multiple conditions that may be serious but not life-threatening, including allergies, cold or flu symptoms, fevers, minor bruises, minor burns, rashes or poison ivy, skin conditions, sore throats, STIs, STDs and urinary tract infections. “It’s important for people to know that we can treat these things here,” says Arnold-MacLeod. “The ER isn’t their only option.”
MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care has convenient locations in Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater. Schedule an appointment online or simply walk-in for care.
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