What to Do If You Get Sick While Visiting the USA From Abroad?

An Interview with AJ Layon, MD. FACP

Each summer, thousands of visitors from abroad visit the United States. If you are one of those visitors, or you are hosting a foreign guest. Dr. A. J. Layon has shared his best advice for navigating our USA healthcare system.

So, you are in the US and You Get Sick…

What to do and where to go depends to a great extent upon the degree of one’s illness. The organization of the US health system is centered upon hospitals. Essentially all hospitals have emergency departments (ED) to which you may present yourself if you are unwell. Generally, though, if the illness seems to be relatively minor — and I am aware that one cannot always tell the difference — searching the internet or asking your hotel for the closest Urgent Care Center is likely the best initial step.

Urgent Care Centers

Urgent care centers (UCC) can handle minor medical and surgical issues. And while they are not as comprehensive in their ability to provide care as is an Emergency Department, they are acceptable for minor issues. They can perform minor laboratory studies and…