San Diego based Primary & Urgent Care provider, Perlman Clinic, has officially launched PocketDoc, a new iPhone App for virtual Urgent Care visits.

You probably know Perlman Clinic for its 7, soon to be 9, Primary & Urgent Care locations throughout San Diego. Now, with PocketDoc, Perlman Clinic can also treat patients virtually.

“We’re so excited to have finally launched. So far, patients are really liking PocketDoc. They love the fact that they can do visits from the convenience of their home, work or elsewhere. And how easy and affordable the video visit is,” said Dr. Monica Perlman, Chief Medical Officer at Perlman Clinic.

PocketDoc visits typically start within 15 minutes of logging onto the App and cost a flat rate of $30, so not too different from an office copay. Many common medical issues can be treated, including cold/flu, UTI, allergies, and much more. And if needed, you’ll have a prescription sent to the pharmacy of your choice.

“The experience is very similar to an in-person visit, although simpler. If you have a question about whether something can be treated virtually, you can call our team and they’ll be able to tell you in advance of your visit. That said, the conditions treated through the App are listed on the PocketDoc website,” said Dr. Monica Perlman.

Although PocketDoc is staffed by Perlman Clinic medical professionals, you don’t need to be a Perlman Clinic patient to use it. PocketDoc is open to anyone in California seeking medical care, irrespective of the insurance a patient may have.

“We’ve had success treating both existing and new patients through PocketDoc. Most of the patients have been located in San Diego, but we are starting to see some visits from patients throughout California,” said Dr. Monica Perlman.

The App is only available on iPhone for now, though they hope to release an Android version soon. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm PT.

You can learn more about PocketDoc by going to www.pocketdocapp.com or calling (858) 617-0528. PocketDoc is currently available on Apple’s App Store for download.

You can learn more about Perlman Clinic by going to www.perlmanclinic.com or calling (858) 554-1212. Perlman Clinic currently has clinics in Carlsbad, La Jolla, Clairemont, Hillcrest, Kensington, and Chula Vista. They are in process of opening new locations in Downtown and Del Mar.

The urinary system is comprised of three main parts: the urethra, kidneys, and bladder. An infection to any of these parts is known as a urinary tract infection. The first part to get infected is the urethra. This is the urinary tract opening that connects to the bladder. If bacteria are left in the urethra, bacteria will eventually find its way to the bladder. This would result in a bladder infection, which is a little more serious.

The main causes of urinary tract infections are sexual intercourse, menopause (women only), obesity, immune system disorders, and diabetes. You will likely know when you have a urinary tract infection because the symptoms are identifiable.

Below are the 5 main urinary tract infection symptoms to watch out for:

1) Painful Urination – If it hurts when you urinate, you likely have a urethra or bladder infection. It will be a consistent pain that happens each time you urinate.

2) Abdominal Pain – As painful as it is to urinate, you may also feel abdominal pain when you aren’t urinating, making it harder for you to urinate because of the pain. This could result in you retaining more urine, which would likely make things even more uncomfortable for you.

3) Dark Urine – If your urine looks bloody or cloudy, then in all likelihood you have a urinary tract infection of some kind.

4) Tiredness – Tiredness and weakness are common symptoms of the infection. The best thing you can do is rest and take proper treatments.

5) Feverish – If the infection has spread from your bladder to your kidneys, then you can expect to catch a fever.

Fortunately, there are treatments available to eliminate urinary tract infections. It is important that you eliminate the infection as soon as possible, especially if it’s in your bladder. Otherwise, it could spread to your kidneys and create much more painful and severe symptoms.

Below are the 2 main treatments for urinary tract infections:

1) Antibiotics – The number one treatment is antibiotics. This is what doctors will prescribe to you to destroy the bacteria that has caused your infection.

2) Cranberry Juice – The berry in this juice contains an organic substance called tannin. Some studies show that this substance can block a type of bacteria called E. coli. This is the bacteria responsible for most urinary tract infections.

If you are experiencing a UTI, you should visit an urgent care clinic in San Diego ASAP for treatment. At the Perlman Clinic, our doctors have years of experience and expertise in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Call us today to schedule your appointment! 858.554.1212

Urgent Care is almost always cheaper than a visit to the emergency room. You should generally choose to go to the emergency room if you are seriously injured, you have a life-threatening condition or are in great pain, or if advised to do so by your physician. Otherwise, you can choose an urgent care service provider and usually save both time and money. After your consult, the Urgent Care provider may elect to send you to an emergency room. But in most cases you will avoid the costs and inconvenience of an emergency room visit.

If you need medical treatment for an illness or injury, visit one of our many urgent care locations in San Diego! Our doctors are here to help with your primary care and urgent care needs!

Regardless of your current insurance situation, you should have a rough idea of how much emergency room care costs. If you are uninsured and need an ambulance to take you to the emergency room, you may need to pay significant money just for the ambulance ride. Therefore, unless an ambulance is necessary, you might consider taking a taxi or Uber to the hospital because it is generally cheaper. Once you are in the emergency room, the co-pay or co-insurance will be as provided under your plan for the visit. Additionally, you may have a deductible that needs to be met prior to your insurance being available. With numerous of today’s patients electing high deductible plans, knowing your deductible amount is very important when calculating your out of pocket costs.

Urgent Care costs may or may not be covered by your insurance. This is something you should confirm before choosing an Urgent Care. If covered by your plan, you may only be responsible for the copay or coinsurance. Again, you may have a deductible that needs to be met prior to your insurance being available. Irrespective of the outcome, unless your condition requires you to visit an emergency room, it is worth your time to research the potential savings of an Urgent Care visit as compared to an emergency room visit. We expect the savings to be meaningful.