{"id":294302,"date":"2026-09-23T12:26:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/?post_type=news&#038;p=294302"},"modified":"2026-09-23T14:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:37:39","slug":"doctors-note-sept-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/news\/doctors-note-sept-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Where to Go for Care this Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s time to retire the phrase \u201cflu season\u201d and call it what it really is: <strong>respiratory illness season<\/strong>. While the flu is a major winter troublemaker, there is a whole host of other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and RSV, not to mention the common cold, which love to spread once we head indoors for the fall and winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help you prepare, Dr. Anil Shukla, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, and Dr. Sush Prusty, Medical Director of Urgent Care Services, offer guidance so you \u2013 and your loved ones \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/know-where-to-go\/\">saber para onde ir<\/a> to seek medical care for respiratory symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that seasonal respiratory illnesses can cause severe symptoms that can stop us in our tracks. But for people with chronic conditions like heart disease or asthma, these infections can be much more dangerous, which is one reason why we see so many more patients at our Emergency Departments this time of year,\u201d says Dr. Prusty. \u201cBut many people can get the care they need at one of our Urgent Care locations, at their Primary Care Provider\u2019s office, or even through a telehealth visit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a breakdown of where to head to get the care you need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cuidados prim\u00e1rios<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of your Primary Care Provider (PCP) as your \u201chome base\u201d for care. This is especially true for people who have chronic conditions because your PCP will know how to treat respiratory season illnesses with medications that are safe to take with any existing treatment. Your PCP should be your first stop for non-urgent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cough, cold or flu symptoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ear infections and sore throat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minor injuries like sprains, bumps and bruises<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skin problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infec\u00e7\u00f5es do trato urin\u00e1rio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Immunizations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prescriptions refills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Referral to specialists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chronic health conditions &amp; routine check-up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have a Southcoast Health PCP, contact your provider\u2019s office to speak with our nurse triage team, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our nurses can assess your symptoms and guide you to the most appropriate level of care. If you need any help with transportation, please call <strong>774-510-0014<\/strong> at least 48 hours before the appointment to request transportation assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cuidados urgentes<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When your PCP isn\u2019t available, Southcoast Health <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/services\/urgent-care\/\">Cuidados urgentes<\/a> offers convenient and efficient walk-in care for mild to moderate symptoms that still need prompt attention. All seven locations are open <strong>8am \u2013 7pm Mondays through Fridays and 9am \u2013 5pm on weekends<\/strong>. Conditions that can typically be handled at Urgent Care centers include non-emergency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sintomas respirat\u00f3rios superiores (congest\u00e3o nasal e sinusal, dores de garganta e de ouvidos, tosse)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conjunctivitis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minor scrapes and cuts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Les\u00f5es das extremidades sem deformidade<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feridas ou queimaduras com hemorragia controlada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erup\u00e7\u00f5es cut\u00e2neas ou sintomas al\u00e9rgicos sem dificuldade em respirar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dores no pesco\u00e7o, costas ou outros m\u00fasculos sem traumatismo recente<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Isolated urinary symptoms including burning, frequency or abnormal color<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infec\u00e7\u00f5es das extremidades sem febre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Urgent Care often has shorter wait times, which are posted at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/urgent-care\/\">Urgent Care &#8211; Southcoast Health<\/a>, and you can even schedule your visit ahead of time using the Save My Spot feature. If your condition requires a visit with a specialist, our team can directly schedule a follow-up appointment for specialty care at all our Urgent Care locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Servi\u00e7o de Urg\u00eancia (ED)<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you experience severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, stroke symptoms, or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ED immediately. Getting care at the appropriate location helps ensure you receive timely treatment while preserving ED resources for patients with life-threatening conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\"Os departamentos de emerg\u00eancia est\u00e3o equipados para lidar com condi\u00e7\u00f5es graves e com risco de vida, que exigem cuidados imediatos e mais intensivos\", diz o Dr. Shukla. Ele aconselha a deslocar-se ao servi\u00e7o de urg\u00eancia mais pr\u00f3ximo o mais rapidamente poss\u00edvel ou a ligar para o 112 se tiver:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dor no peito, dificuldade em respirar, incha\u00e7o nos bra\u00e7os ou pernas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Batimento card\u00edaco ou pulso anormal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hemorragia de qualquer origem que seja dif\u00edcil de controlar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dores fortes na cabe\u00e7a, pesco\u00e7o, abd\u00f3men<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sintomas neurol\u00f3gicos, incluindo dorm\u00eancia, fraqueza, nova dor de cabe\u00e7a grave, altera\u00e7\u00e3o da vis\u00e3o, da fala, da capacidade de andar ou do estado mental.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ingestion of toxic substances, intentional or unintentional<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perda de consci\u00eancia, com ou sem convuls\u00f5es<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sintomas psiqui\u00e1tricos graves, incluindo alucina\u00e7\u00f5es, del\u00edrios, pensamentos de se magoar a si pr\u00f3prio ou a outras pessoas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traumatic injuries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause emergency rooms are staffed with specialists trained in emergency medicine who can consult with other specialists, and are equipped with advanced testing and equipment, they\u2019re the best choice for serious conditions,\u201d says Dr. Shukla. \u201cHowever, keep in mind that EDs operate on a triage system, meaning patients with the most severe conditions are treated first. This can lead to longer wait times for people with non-critical issues.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tele-sa\u00fade<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sa\u00fade de Southcoast <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/virtual-and-telehealth\/\">Tele-sa\u00fade a pedido<\/a> gives patients in Massachusetts access to a Southcoast Health provider through the convenience of phone or video telehealth visits. It\u2019s an option for quality medical care when face-to-face visits with a provider are not possible. You do NOT have to be a Southcoast Health patient to book a telehealth appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A linha de fundo<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This season, choose the right level of care so you can get the help you need without unnecessary delays. Planning ahead can make wait times easier to handle. Bring a book or something to keep you comfortable while you wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And remember, you can help protect yourself by staying up to date with annual flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. Pair those shots with healthy habits like frequent handwashing, improving indoor airflow, and staying home when you feel under the weather, and you\u2019ll be well-equipped to keep the seasonal bugs at bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nota especial:<\/strong> Compreendemos que esperar pode ser dif\u00edcil quando n\u00e3o se est\u00e1 a sentir bem. Lembre-se de que todos n\u00f3s devemos tratar-nos com gentileza e respeito. A Southcoast Health tem um <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/patient-and-guest-code-of-conduct\/\">C\u00f3digo de Conduta do Paciente e do H\u00f3spede<\/a> para ajudar a melhorar a experi\u00eancia de todos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"blockSettings  paddingTopSM paddingBottomSM multiCtaBanner light\" style=\"\"><div class=\"multiCtaBanner-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"grid\" role=\"list\">\n                                    <div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-bleed\" role=\"listitem\">\n                    <a class=\"multiButton icon-right\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/know-where-to-go\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                        <span class=\"sc-icon sc-icon-teal fa-classic fa-light fa-truck-medical\"><\/span>\n                        Saber onde ir para obter cuidados                     <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-bleed\" role=\"listitem\">\n                    <a class=\"multiButton icon-right\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/emergency-services\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                        <span class=\"sc-icon sc-icon-teal fa-classic fa-light fa-kit-medical\"><\/span>\n                        Servi\u00e7os de emerg\u00eancia                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-4 col-bleed\" role=\"listitem\">\n                    <a class=\"multiButton icon-right\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/urgent-care\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                        <span class=\"sc-icon sc-icon-teal fa-classic fa-light fa-briefcase-medical\"><\/span>\n                        Cuidados urgentes                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":171444,"template":"","categories":[1229],"class_list":["post-294302","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expert-insights"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Know Where to Go for Care this Season - Southcoast Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s time to retire the phrase \u201cflu season\u201d and call it what it really is: respiratory illness season. While the flu is a major winter troublemaker, there is a whole host of other respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and RSV, not to mention the common cold, which love to spread once we head indoors for the fall and winter.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.southcoast.org\/pt\/news\/doctors-note-sept-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pt_PT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Know Where to Go for Care this Season - Southcoast Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"It\u2019s time to retire the phrase \u201cflu season\u201d and call it what it really is: respiratory illness season. 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