Illness or injury can interrupt life at any time.

• You're at work. Your throat hurts and you ache all over, but you're stuck at work until 5.
• It's Saturday. You wake up with a cough, chills, and a stuffed up nose.
• You have a sore back. Could it have been those boxes you lifted yesterday or shoveling you did last night?

What do you do when it's inconvenient or not possible to see your doctor, but you don't think it's serious enough to go to the emergency room?

There's no need to suffer, ignore discomfort, or hope it will go away. UI QuickCare, a new service of UI Family Care, bridges the gap between doctor appointments and emergency room visits. UI QuickCare's three locations and extended hours offer you the opportunity to see a health care professional, at a time and place that's convenient for you.

"UI QuickCare doesn't replace a patient's primary care physician," says Dan Fick, MD, UI QuickCare medical director. "But it does provide care for some of the most common ailments without an appointment or lengthy waiting time—perfect for today's busy, fast-paced lifestyles.

"Anyone who needs stitches or is experiencing a major illness or injury or chest pain should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency care center."

What makes UI QuickCare exceptional

• Treatment is tied to the medical expertise found at UI Hospitals and Clinics
• Care is coordinated through electronic medical records
• Insurance is not necessary, but most plans are accepted. Cash and credit cards are also accepted.
• Each UI QuickCare location is electronically linked to the UI Emergency Treatment Center
• QuickCare services are affordable and appointments are not necessary

UI QuickCare treats:

• Anyone six months of age and older with minor illnesses and injuries, such as earache, strep throat, and the flu