All about health care during emergency states

Where To Get Medical Care When You Need It

For non-life-threatening situations, start with your HMO!

If you need medical assistance, contact your family doctor or pediatrician. When clinics are closed, contact urgent care centers or your HMO's telemedicine services.
Visiting these centers is preferred for mild conditions (such as fever or minor injuries), as they offer faster and more accessible treatment while reducing the burden on hospitals.
However, in life-threatening situations, go immediately to the hospital emergency department or call an ambulance (101).

  • Who should I contact if I feel unwell and need urgent medical help?
    During clinic hours, we recommend contacting your family doctor or your child's pediatrician first, as they have your full medical history. The doctor will decide if you need a referral to an urgent care center or a hospital emergency department.
  • What should I do if my family doctor is unavailable or the clinic is closed?
    Contact your HMO call center. They will help you find an available doctor at another clinic, refer you to a local urgent care center, or set up a telemedicine appointment.
  • Is it recommended to go directly to the emergency department in all cases?
    Emergency departments currently operate in protected areas within hospitals. Most are in smaller, more limited spaces than usual. Some emergency departments are located in crowded and uncomfortable underground areas.
    To keep emergency departments available for critical cases, the Ministry of Health asks the public to use community services for mild conditions to reduce hospital overcrowding.
  • Does going to the HMO delay treatment?
    HMOs make every effort to provide fast, high-quality, and safe medical care. Urgent care centers are equipped with doctors, nurses, laboratory tests, and imaging (X-ray and ultrasound).
    If necessary, urgent care doctors will refer you to a hospital emergency department for further evaluation or treatment.
  • How do I find the nearest urgent care center?
    You can find your HMO's urgent care centers through the HMO websites, mobile apps, or by calling their service hotlines.
  • What are urgent care centers?
    Urgent care centers are clinics operated by HMOs (or their service providers) that offer primary and urgent medical care when HMO clinics are closed.
    No appointment is necessary, and all patients will be treated.
    Similar to an emergency department referral, a doctor's referral to a community urgent care center exempts the patient from a copay.
    Visiting an urgent care center without a referral may involve a copay, depending on your HMO's policy.
  • What are the operating hours for urgent care centers?
    Urgent care centers generally operate after HMO clinic hours, including evenings and weekends.
    In some cases, centers also operate during morning or late-night hours.
  • What medical services are provided at community urgent care centers?
    Services vary by location.
    In most cases, the service includes examination and treatment by doctors and nurses.
    Some centers provide specialist services such as pediatrics, orthopedics, gynecology, X-rays, and basic laboratory tests.
  • Which medical conditions can be treated at an urgent care center?
    Medical conditions usually treated during the morning at HMO clinics, such as infectious diseases, flare-ups of chronic illnesses, and minor injuries.
    If a severe or life-threatening condition is suspected, go directly to the hospital emergency department or call an ambulance via Magen David Adom (101).
  • What are the benefits of using community urgent care?
    • Wide availability: Centers are spread throughout the community, often making them more accessible than the nearest hospital.
    • Shorter wait times: Urgent care centers are less crowded than hospital emergency departments, so treatment is usually faster.
    • Quality care: For appropriate medical cases, the care provided at an urgent care center is equal to that of a hospital emergency department.
    • Lower cost: Visiting an urgent care center without a referral involves a lower copay compared to a similar visit to a hospital emergency department.
  • Can I go to any urgent care center near my home?
    Generally, yes.
    However, visiting an urgent care center that does not have an agreement with your HMO will result in higher costs and no HMO coverage. It is recommended to check which nearby centers have an agreement with your HMO.

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