Walk-in Clinic or Direct to Radiography/Lab?

[Anonymous]

Hi ladies, I'd like your input, please ... I'm still looking for a good physician for general women's health care (no children yet, so I'm open to the doctor being an Ob/Gyn or maybe midwife). I'm having some discomfort in the lower left pelvic area, and though I'm nearing my next period, it doesn't feel like it normally should. It's not constant, and thankfully no emergency (hope will not be one). My question is, without having a doctor just now, can I go to a walk-in clinic or radiology place and just directly get say a pelvic ultrasound? I have a PPO health plan, so I don't need a referral. But, I realize that the result (X-ray/blood work, etc) has to go somewhere, for interpretation.

Or, am I stuck with trying to find a doctor as quick as possible, which I know is the "better" way? I'm just anxious to get this looked at as soon as I can, and I regret that I've waited for some time to try to find a doctor.

Thanks very much for any advice ...

[Anonymous]

OP here. I realized after sending this that I might have the issue of having to foot the entire bill if say I walk in to have an ultrasound, because it is not officially being requested by a doctor. So that's not appealing.

Again, I'd appreciate any advice/input ...

[Anonymous]

Most walk-in clinics, unless it is more like an emergency room type place, will not have the equipment/personnel to do a pelvic ultrasound. Also, a radiology place will need to have a written request from a physician in order to do an ultrasound (I believe it is against the law to perform any of those procedures without a prescription from the doctor). Your best bet is either to go to your PCP who can hopefully given you a prescription/referral to a radiology place, or go to a free standing emergency clinic (one that is actually set up like an emergency room, like the Inova Healthplex in Springfield) where they can do whatever test you need if it becomes unbearable.

[Anonymous]

I went to a walk-in clinic in Montgomery County and had a brief exam done with bloodwork and was given an Rx to get a chest x-ray for symptoms I was having. The clinic I went to handles emergencies but also acts as a primary physician.

[Anonymous]

Hi PPs, thanks for writing. It makes sense that the lab would need the Rx for any routine work ... I'm in Montgomery County, too, so maybe I can find a similar walk-in clinic as you, PP. Would you mind sharing the location you went to?