5 Tips for Choosing the Best Urgent Care Center in Maui

1. Find the right partner

Finding the right place for your medical needs is a lot like finding the right primary care doctor. Feeling comfortable with your doctor is a critical step in choosing the right Maui Urgent Care Center. Before you walk through 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 do they 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 style of care, you should also ask how long your doctor has lived in Hawaii. The islands are home to some very unique organisms that visitors may be allergic to, including flowers such as protea, foods such as poi, and marine life such as potter angelfish and sea fan coral. This rare flora and fauna only exists here or in a few remote areas of the world, so it is unlikely that visitors have had previous contact with them. That’s why a local doctor who understands what to look for and the right questions to ask is crucial to making the correct diagnosis so you can get better faster and get back to enjoying your vacation.

2.Accessibility

Maui, and particularly the eastern 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 needed to visit the nearest urgent care clinic, you would have to drive 4-5 hours to get there, resulting in the loss of a full day of your vacation in paradise. In many cases, finding a Maui urgent care center that offers telemedicine visits is the best option for accessing medical care. Having the ability to see your Hawaii-licensed doctor from your computer, tablet, or mobile device can save you time and help you quickly decide if you need to make a trip to the nearest urgent care center or hospital. In most cases, your doctor can fax a prescription or call the nearest pharmacy, saving you hours of travel.

3. Affordability

When searching for the right urgent care center in Maui, it’s important to ask about coverage and payment options. Many urgent care centers offer only local insurance, including HMA, UHA, HMMA, or Kaiser Your Choice coverage, 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 an uninsured fee, but you’ll want to know what those costs are up front so you can make the most informed health care decision.

4. Ask the experts

Your hotel or timeshare concierge offers a great place to start your search for urgent care. They deal with hundreds of visitors and are very familiar with activities that can cause injury to the untrained or unprepared, such as ocean dives, surf schools, and day hikes in more rugged areas. Consequently, they are related to the most urgent care centers. As soon as you determine you need care, make your concierge the first stop on your journey to feeling better.

5. Dig deeper

Once you have a few walk-in locations in mind, go online and read about experiences other visitors have had. Visit 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 pictures of the clinic will help reduce your anxiety, make a more informed healthcare decision, and result in a better overall healthcare experience.