When an illness or injury arises, it can be difficult to know where to go to acquire care. By exploring how the Minneapolis healthcare system works, residents can pinpoint their ideal care centers well before they are needed. To help everyone get started, here’s a look at the wide variety of healthcare options in this area.

Primary Care

Primary care doctors handle the basic care needs of their patients and refer them to specialists as needed for additional care. They can also send their patients to the hospital if required for stabilization and treatment.

Residents can choose their own primary care physicians as allowed by their insurance and finances, and they have more than 4,000 practitioners to choose from across many healthcare centers in Minneapolis. Before selecting a doctor, it is important to confirm they are taking new patients and have openings available in the near future.

Urgent Care

When residents need immediate care but cannot get in to see their primary care doctor, they can go to an urgent care center. These clinics also serve people who need care for illnesses and injuries that are not quite serious enough for the emergency room.

Medical centers offering this service include:

• Hennepin Healthcare
• HealthPartners Nokomis
• Multicultural Health Services
• Allina Health

Because most offer walk-in service, patients do not have to make an appointment ahead of time. They may face a lengthy wait, however, depending on the severity of their condition. The nurse will assess each patient’s condition to determine the order in which the doctor sees everyone. If the condition warrants emergency care, the nurse may send patients over to the hospital instead.

Emergency Room

After sustaining a serious injury or falling quite ill, residents can seek immediate care at an emergency room. All major hospitals in the area have emergency departments, including Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park and North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Patients can either call for an ambulance to take them to the emergency room or have someone drive them there. Upon arriving, nurses will triage the patient to determine who needs to be seen first.

Once patients make it to their bed, their doctor will assess their condition, perform diagnostic tests, and provide the appropriate treatment. Then, they will either send them home or admit them into the hospital to stay overnight or longer. After being released, patients may need to follow up with their primary care physician or a specialist if they received a referral.

Hospitals

Local hospitals partner with primary care physicians and emergency room doctors to serve patients across Minneapolis, Minnesota. Primary care doctors may refer their patients to specialists who have clinics at the nearby medical centers. These specialists often use the hospital facilities to perform medical procedures, including surgeries, as needed to care for their patients.

Although most require referrals from other doctors, specialists may also see patients who want to make an appointment directly. Patients need to call the specialist’s office to inquire about their requirements before making an appointment. Many of these physicians have very full schedules that may require a lengthy wait before making an appointment.

With an understanding of these Minneapolis healthcare options, residents can always find the level of care they need. If they are unsure where to go, they can reach out to their doctor’s office or hospital for assistance.