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Low back pain got you down?

Tue, 17 May 2022 17:43:21 GMT

What you can do and when to visit us

If you've ever had back pain, you know how it can knock down and make your day miserable. Since your spine supports and aids in the movement of your entire body, when it hurts even the most simple of daily tasks can become so painful that you can't function.

Not all back pain needs to be addressed by a medical professional, but in some cases you'll want to be evaluated. As a general rule, if your back pain prevents you from going about your day-to-day business, it might be time to come in to the clinic. While most back pain is caused by over straining muscles or minor injuries, it can sometimes indicate a serious medical condition. If your back pain starts suddenly or without a specific cause, lasts more than a day and isn't relieved by painkillers, or is accompanied by other symptoms like weight loss or fatigue then it's time to see a medical provider.

The good news is that most minor back pain can be treated at home. Not only will this save you some time, it'll get you back to your life much sooner.

Things you can try at home :

Don't Stop Moving – While it may seem like a contradiction, resting and not using your muscles is one of the worst things you can do when it comes to back pain. Not only is light exercise great for helping relieve current pain, but it can also help strengthen your spine and help prevent future back pain. Make sure you talk to your provider before you start any exercise that is new to you.
Hot and Cold – If your back pain has just started, you may find some relief by alternating heat and cold therapy. The heat is great for helping to release spasming muscles and relieve pain, and the cold can help reduce inflammation.
Take a Deep Breath – Back pain can be caused by chronic stress so finding ways to relieve or limit stress can be helpful. Find something that works well for you, but meditation, deep breathing exercises, and relaxation apps are a good start.
Change The Way You Sleep – Ever wake up sore? This can happen because when you sleep your spine may not be in alignment while you’re laying down. The best way to remedy this is to have a supportive mattress that cushions your body. When that isn’t possible, sleeping with a knee between your knees (for side sleepers) or under your knees (for back sleepers) can cause less stress to your spine and help keep it aligned.
Give up – ...on your unhealthy habits. All of us have habits that we could stand to change and can affect our backs. Losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing slouching, standing straight, and using ergonomic workstations are all ways of reducing back pain. These all have the added benefit of branching into other aspects of our health and daily activities!

If your back pain symptoms are not getting any better or get worse despite conservative treatment, make an appointment to come in and see us! We'd love to help get you moving and back on your feet!

Here for you this holiday season!

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 01:39:58 GMT

What do you do when the doctor is out?

Whether we were ready or not, this year’s holiday season is here! For many, this is a time to visit their families and friends. Just like you, health professionals, including primary care providers and specialists, are planning vacations and taking time off. What are you to do when you or a family member gets sick and your provider isn’t available?

Your doctor may not be in the office, but you may still be able to reach them by phone. Often, providers have someone covering their practices or at least have an on-call provider you can speak with. Reaching out to them may save you some time and worry, especially when you have a minor issue that they can triage over the phone.

Many people believe the only alternative when their doctor isn’t available is to go to the emergency department. While this certainly manages the problem, it’s not always a convenient way to do so. Emergency departments are often more crowded around the holidays and should be reserved for those with truly life-threatening emergencies. If you’re having chest pain or stroke symptoms, the hospital is the place to be! If you have a sore throat going to the emergency department will cost you not only more money, but more time as well. Emergency departments are set to run on a triage system which sees the most ill patients before others, so just because you got there first doesn’t mean that you’ll be seen first and minor complaints can often take hours to be treated.

So, what do you do instead? SwiftCare is your answer! Urgent care facilities bridge the gap between primary care and emergency. Appointments don’t fill up weeks in advance, and there are never hours long wait times to see a provider. Urgent care clinics handle a variety of complaints including sore throats, flu or covid symptoms, minor cuts and burns, and urinary tract infection symptoms. Some, like us, even have some medications that you can get at the facility to save you a trip to the pharmacy. This is especially important on holidays when many pharmacies aren’t open.

We truly hope that your holiday season will be illness and injury free – but in the event that it isn’t, we’re here for you.

COVID-19 Q&A

7058296590 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 18:14:13 GMT

Get answers to our most commonly asked COVID questions!

Thank you for choosing Swiftcare, locally owned and operated in West Salem Oregon! We have been serving our Salem community and surrounding area as a trusted Urgent Care since 2017.

With a recent rise in demand for COVID testing and vaccines, we hope to provide helpful information and answer some commonly asked questions.

Please check out our FAQ regarding scheduling, billing, and testing

here at Swiftcare.

Do you offer Rapid Covid Tests?

Yes! We provide two types of rapid tests, with results in as little as 15 minutes.

1. A Rapid Molecular Assay test utilizing an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The specimen is collected via nasal swab.

2. A Rapid Detection Antigen test that detects proteins from the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus. The specimen is collected via nasal swab.

*We also provide PCR testing, that is sent to an external lab (billed separately by that lab), with results in 1-4 business days.

Am I guaranteed a rapid test?

There is no guarantee that you will get a rapid test. While rapid testing is currently available, manufacturers and distributors are working hard to further avoid nationwide supply shortages, based on surges in demand. Certain allocations are placed on testing supply while production increases. The provider will determine the most appropriate testing based upon individual needs during exam.

Is the testing free?

Swiftcare is a fee-for-service Urgent Care clinic where you will be seen and assessed by one of our providers on staff. We therefore do not offer free testing, while some sites may offer testing at no charge through county or state sourced funding. We bill the office visit and testing charge to all major health insurance plans and offer discounted self-pay rates that can be found under the Pricing/Insurance tab from our main page.

How much will I pay?

Depending on your health insurance coverage, you may pay as little as your *Urgent Care copay at time of visit. There are some plans that do not require copay/ co-insurance. If you are unsure of Urgent Care coverage under your plan, we urge you to contact your insurance plan provider for copay, deductible, and plan coverage information prior to scheduling an appointment.

We also offer a discounted rates for those uninsured or paying out of pocket. If opting for Self-pay, the office visit is $160-$185 and Rapid COVID testing is an additional $100 for a total of $260-$285 due upon check-in. If you get PCR testing, you will only pay the office visit cost, and be billed by the external lab for that test. This pricing is based on the lowest/initial level office visit charge, and may vary depending of complexity or time spent in exam.

*** Please note that if you are covered under an Oregon State Medicaid plan,

you may not opt as self-pay, as we are required to bill all in-network

Medicaid plans accordingly. ***

What if I don’t see any available appointment times?

Appointments are only same day and next day and book up quickly with increased testing needs. If the schedule says no appointments are available, you will need to wait until early the following day, to book for an appointment the following day. Please be advised that booking an appointment under an unrelated visit, may result in removal from the schedule, as certain slots are saved for symptomatic illness patients, injuries and other Urgent Care needs.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

If you need testing for travel, concerts or other public events, please plan your itinerary accordingly, as clinic staff is unable to aide in itinerary planning/ timing guarantees of testing. It is also advised that you check with insurance for network coverage, eligibility and copay information.

Do you offer vaccines?

We no longer offer the COVID-19 vaccine at this location. Please check with your primary care provider.

PCR Information:

PCR equivalent tests are sent to an external lab (Salem Health). Swiftcare is not responsible for result turn times or separate billing. Utilization of multiple platforms ensures continuity and availability of testing. All assays are cleared for use under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization. SARS-Cov-2 NAA assays are performed on four different platforms. RT-PCR tests are manufactured by BDMax, ThermoFisher, and Cepheid, and a transcription-mediated amplification test (TMA) is manufactured by Hologic. The type of test performed by the lab is determined by the lab, and can not be requested otherwise. Please check with your insurance for coverage details and Urgent Care copays (collected at time of service). For travel testing, please check with your airline to determine testing requirements, as they are not all the same. We are also seeing patients via telemedicine and in-clinic for other illnesses and injuries. Precautionary measures are taken based on OHA and CDC recommendations.

Make Healthy Choices Today!