If a tourist w/o dr's insurance....

...needs to see a physician in USA - a GP, what's supposed to do?
Just walk in any doctor's office and ask to be seen by a dr asap?

I was asked this question by a Polish woman who went on vacation to USA, I don't even know where exactly,
and is worried she might be getting an UTI and would like to see a dr about the Rx, will pay.

So, is it possible to just see any family dr, pay a full price, get and Rx and be on her merry way??
May I add this person had had an UTI before, so she knows the how's and it's not like she's gonna be bewildered as to "Oh what's happening to me.."

In Canada we have something called a Walk-in Clinic, which is a medical office where you just as a name implies walk in w/o an appointment, and as long as you managed to come in within business hours you are accepted on the same day.

It is covered by our medical, the only difference from regular Family Dr is they're sort of half emergency, they're not intended for some steady long term care but quick as needed medical assistance.
The doctors working there tend to often change.

But I am completely unfamiliar how things work in USA so any advice would be greatly apprecciated!

Risa

Does she want to go right now?

If she is in a hotel, she can go to the front desk and ask about the nearest "Urgent Care." They would be open evenings.
She could get a phone number, call the Urgent Care and ask if they handle possible UTI's. I'm thinking they do UTI's, but I'm not sure?

Or she can get on the internet and google "Urgent Care" in her location.

If she calls a medical clinic during daytime hours, she may not get an appointment right away (like in the same day). But then again, maybe she could get an immediate appointment. It depends on how busy the clinic is.

She will be asked about insurance. She should say she is paying with cash/credit card.

If she gets a script, she can take it to any pharmacy.

Cheryl

Thanks a lot, Cheryl, I'll let her know that!

Risa

most likely they'd end up in the ER or some type of urgent care.

health insurance might be just subrogated to the person's home country. all depends on what the country has to offer in terms of its benefits, and what's being done.

regardless of where someone is from, if a doc hasn't seen them before, they are going to want to do a history & physical before prescribing/ordering anything.

the ER is the most costly route, but you'll get looked at. a person isn't going to be turned away because of their origin.

Thanks, Marc.
I thought the specialist, in this case an urologist, would be most costly but if you says so I believe you.

Risa

I had to giggle about getting a history. I saw a new doctor a few weeks ago for something. She was trying to get a history out of me. There's nothing to tell. I had three kids, and everything's been pretty ok all my life. One appy surgery when I was five. My history telling lasted about thirty seconds. I couldn't come up with any more for her, LOL.

Maybe if she is not complicated medically, Urgent Care may be enough to get some help.

Cheryl

The last time I travelled overseas I asked my GP to write a prescription for me for cipro and that other stuff that makes your pee orange (can't remember the name) JUST IN CASE. I get UTI's quite frequently and nothing ruins a trip quicker (or makes an international flight more uncomfortable). He wrote it for me and I was very grateful to have it if I needed it. I guess he figured I get them so often, I would know if I had one or not and none of the drugs are dangerous ones.

When I was much younger we were on vacation and I got one and my MOm just called a local GP, explained the situation and we got right in. That was in Phoenix.

Most Dr's offices have the equipment on site to diagnose UTI's and none of the drugs are schedule drugs so there shouldn't be any problem getting them if you have a wonky urine test.

I think any urgent care or walk-in clinic could handle it. Heck, our Walmart even has a walk-in clinic now!

Charlotte