A territory of the United States in western Pacific, Guam enjoys a range of public health services that are available in most other parts of the country. Additionally, private facilities and institutions on the island also contribute toward providing Guamanians the healthcare services they need, from outpatient diagnosis and treatment to emergency and intensive care services.
If you suddenly get sick or suffer an injury in Guam, you can rest easy knowing that there’s a whole host of medical facilities on the island that can help you with your situation. But exactly when should you seek medical help? Moreover, how do you know if a simple visit to a walk-in clinic would suffice or if you need to go to a hospital that is better-equipped and better-staffed? In this short guide, we’ll offer you a few quick and easy tips.
When to Go to a Walk-in Clinic or an Urgent-Care Facility in Guam
A clinic is a small health care facility that caters to a range of patients requiring everything from preventative care services and routine medical appointments to treatment of less serious illnesses and injuries.
Going to a walk-in clinic or an urgent care clinic in Guam instead of a hospital has many advantages. Many clinics are open throughout the week and typically treat fewer patients than either a hospital outpatient department or a hospital emergency facility. Services at a walk-in or urgent-care clinic are also usually more affordable than at a comparable emergency care facility in a hospital, which is good news if you have no health insurance and you need to pay your medical bills out of pocket.
If your medical concern is non pressing or if you’re sick but you’re not feeling particularly ill, a visit to a walk-in clinic or an urgent care facility might be more than appropriate. Here are some of the reasons to go to a medical clinic in Guam.
- Routine medical appointments
- Immunizations
- Fevers/high body temperature
- Coughs and colds
- Sore throat
- Sinus infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Conjunctivitis
- Ear infections
- Mild Diarrhea
- Mild nausea and vomiting
- Sprains and mild fractures
- Small cuts and lacerations
- Minor burns
- Mild asthma attacks
When to Go to a Hospital or to Seek Emergency Care in Guam?
Aside from small walk-in clinics and urgent care centers, Guam also has major healthcare facilities that offer more specialized care to patients in need. The island’s primary public healthcare facility is the Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning, which provides a spectrum of healthcare services to residents and even to visitors from neighboring territories like the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. On top of this, there is also the United States Naval Hospital Guam, which caters primarily to military members and veterans, as well as the Guam Regional Medical City, which is a private hospital.
If you feel very sick or you’re exhibiting symptoms that point to a more serious medical concern, it’s important to seek emergency care at a well-equipped hospital immediately. You also have the option of calling 911 or a comparable ambulance service or medical transport service to ensure that you (or another patient) get the medical attention you need—and that you get it fast.
Hospital emergency departments are open any time of the day or night, and unlike walk-in clinics or urgent care facilities, they are able to handle complex or critical illnesses and injuries. Here are some of the reasons to visit a hospital emergency facility:
- Scheduled appointment with a specialist
- Scheduled surgery or operation
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain in the chest or upper abdomen
- Seizures
- Serious burns
- Deep cuts or lacerations
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Stroke or stroke-like symptoms (slurred speech, weakness or numbness on any body part, sudden confusion, trouble walking, and loss of balance)
- Head and eye injuries
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe flu-like symptoms
- Poisoning or suspected poisoning
- Drug overdose or suspected drug overdose
- Severe diarrhea and vomiting with symptoms of dehydration
- Serious fractures and dislocated body parts
- Fever accompanied by rashes
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
- Physical trauma resulting from an accident
- Any sudden and severe pain
Guam has excellent medical facilities—big and small—that are equipped to help patients with a wide range of medical concerns. If you need to get in touch with a hospital or a clinic on the island, the Guam Phone Book is the best place online to find the contact details you need. Browse through our listings today!
