WASHINGTON — If you need an urgent care be ready to wait. Across the D.C. region clinics are full.
"I would say twice as many patients as we had initially anticipated," said Dr. Randall Lee about the past two weeks at the Cedar Hill Urgent Care in D.C.'s 8th ward where he serves as the medical director.
Dr. Lee, who also teaches emergency medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, says most of the patients his team is seeing are suffering from viruses like the flu and RSV.
One factor, he says, are that pediatric hospitals are filling up with RSV patients, so more parents are turning to urgent cares to help their kids.
At the same time, this is the first flu season in two years without widespread masking.
"So, people haven't gotten sick in the last couple of years. People aren't vaccinated for the flu early enough. And because of both, we're seeing an uptick much sooner than we had expected for influenza," Dr. Lee said.
Add to that, a nationwide nursing shortage and what used to be a walk-in can now take days to see a doctor.
Dr. Lee's advice - call ahead to check on wait times, and try to go in the morning when most urgent care clinics are less busy.
"For example, generally we see patients between 8 and 10 a.m...and then we're starting to sort of see increased demand for urgent care in the late afternoons and early evenings," he said.
"And I would say, more importantly, if you feel like you're sick and you have to be seen by a provider please don't stay home. We're here to help you. Please come in and see us at any urgent care. We'll make room for you if you are sick," Dr. Lee said.
The doctor also said it's still not too late for anyone who has yet to get their flu shot.
"I think it's really important that they go out and get their flu shots as quickly as possible. We want to try and prevent additional people from getting sick."