1. Find the right partner

Finding the right place for your medical needs is a lot like finding the right primary care physician. Feeling comfortable with your doctor is a critical step in choosing the right Maui Urgent Care Center. Before you walk in the door, call and ask if you can speak to an available doctor. Ask questions about how they manage medical conditions – for example, do they take a more traditional approach or recommend alternative treatment options? Once you are comfortable with your style of care, you will feel more confident that you are choosing the right medical provider. In addition to the style of care, you should also ask how long your doctor has lived in Hawaii. The islands are home to very unique organisms that visitors can be allergic to, including flowers like protea, foods like poi, and marine life like Potters angelfish and sea fan coral. This rare flora and fauna only exist here or in some remote areas of the world, so visitors are unlikely to have had prior contact with them. That’s why a local doctor who understands what to look for and the right questions to ask is crucial in making the correct diagnosis so you can get better faster and get back to enjoying your vacation.

2. Accessibility

Maui, and in particular the east side of the island, has many remote areas that are popular destinations for visitors, but far from the shopping malls where most urgent care centers are located. For example, if you were staying at the Travaasa Hotel in Hana, Maui, and you needed to visit the nearest urgent care clinic, you would have to drive 4-5 hours to get there, causing you to miss an entire day of your vacation in paradise. In many cases, finding a Maui-based urgent care center that offers telemedicine visits is the best option for accessing medical care. Having the ability to see your Hawai’i licensed doctor from your computer, tablet, or mobile device can save you time and help you quickly decide if you need to take a trip to the nearest urgent care center or hospital. In most cases, your doctor can fax or call the nearest pharmacy, saving you hours of travel.

3. Affordability

When looking for the right urgent care center in Maui, it is important to ask about coverage and payment options. Many urgent care centers offer only local insurance that includes coverage from HMA, UHA, HMMA, or Kaiser Your Choice which can result in a higher out-of-pocket cost for visitors. Calling and asking about coverage before you show up can save you time and money. Uninsured? Don’t worry, most walk-in clinics offer a fee for the uninsured, but you’ll want to know what those costs are in advance so you can make the most informed healthcare decision.

4. Ask the experts

Your hotel or timeshare concierge provides a great place to begin your urgent care search. They deal with hundreds of visitors and are very familiar with activities that can result in injury to the unprepared or unprepared, such as ocean dives, surf schools, and day hikes in more rugged areas. Consequently, they maintain relationships with the nearest emergency centers. As soon as you determine that you need care, make your concierge the first stop on your journey to feel better.

5. Dig deeper

Once you have a few walk-in locations in mind, go online and read about the experiences other visitors have had. Check sites like Yelp, Google Places, Facebook, and urgent care center websites for customer testimonials and star ratings. Choosing a place that has good reviews and clinical images will help reduce your anxiety, make a more informed healthcare decision, and result in a better overall healthcare experience.