On Dec. 15, UW Medicine dedicated three of its existing urgent care clinics to respiratory urgent care.
These designated clinics — located in Ballard, Federal Way and Woodinville — are open for same-day appointments and walk-in patients who are experiencing any new respiratory or other symptoms related to COVID-19.
Outpatient clinics throughout the system can also direct patients with upper respiratory conditions to these clinics. Additional urgent care services are still available for patients who have minor illnesses and injuries. The other two urgent care clinics in Issaquah and Ravenna remain temporarily closed.
The Respiratory Urgent Care Clinics enhance quality and safety by providing much-needed community-based care that reduces demand at our hospitals and emergency departments. Standing up three dedicated locations across King County allows for concentrated safety protocols and preservation of personal protective equipment.
They are not related to the Respiratory PLUS Clinic located at Harborview Medical Center. The Respiratory PLUS Clinic is open only to Harborview patients who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive for the disease and require ongoing or post-discharge care.
Why did UW Medicine open these clinics?
Many patients who come down with new respiratory symptoms like a fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose worry about their symptoms. Is it a cold? The flu? COVID-19?
By opening up these Respiratory Urgent Care Clinics to symptomatic patients, UW Medicine is providing another care option to the public.
What services do these clinics provide?
When visiting a Respiratory Urgent Care Clinic, patients are able to get their questions answered, have their symptoms evaluated to rule out other illnesses and receive advice on whether COVID-19 testing is needed.
Not all urgent care patients will need a COVID-19 test, but on-site testing is available if it’s deemed appropriate by the provider.
Along with evaluating patients for COVID-19 or the flu, these clinics also provide care to individuals who are under quarantine as well as those with other conditions and injuries like infections, rashes, sprains, stomach problems and more.