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A16 LOCAL
Tuesday 19 February 2019

Urgency (UCA) or Emergency (ED)?

How to choose where to go for medical attention

Due to shorter wait times – they offer a wait time of 30
minutes or less – and much lower prices, as a more con-
venient and affordable option than, but not a substitute
for, an emergency room. To help the local community
and their visitors from abroad to save money, Urgent Care
Aruba known as UCA, is gathering resources to educate
and promote on the best healthcare options.

When care is needed for true emergency situations, such
as heart attacks, strokes, major bleeding or severe burns,
it’s vital to go to the ED at the Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospi-
tal immediately.

Financial Savings
When patients visit an emergency room for a non-emer-
gency, they risk incurring a substantial financial loss. Emer-
gency rooms are more expensive for treatment of non-
life-threatening situations, while UCA at the Noord Medi-
cal Center charges an average of 1/3 of the cost.

Plus, a large percentage of all emergency room visits
could take place at UCA, which would save consumers.
Additionally, UCA accepts certain travel insurance plans,
with either full coverage, co-pays, or they will provide you
Dr. Carlos Yagua Jr. and Dr. Carlos Yagua Sr., son and father with all pertinent documentation for reimbursement as a
self-pay visit.
ORANJESTAD — When on vacation and an unexpected health mishap arise, many peo-
ple’s first reaction is to head to an emergency room. But when those illnesses and inju- Understanding the options
ries aren’t true emergencies, not knowing the best option for care can end up costing “With the availability of a facility, such as UCA, patients
both time and money. need to take care to understand their options,” Dr. Carlos

Yagua Jr said. “The emergency room prices can cause
So how can you know where to go when medical attention is needed? sticker shock for patients who aren’t aware of the distinc-
tion.”
Urgent Care Aruba (UCA) or Emergency Department?
UCA at the Noord Medical Center provide a way to keep up with patients’ daily health- Residents and visitors from abroad should be sure to con-
care needs, serving as a vital link between the emergency room and primary care firm the type of facility they’re visiting, as treatment at the
physicians.
ER may cost more than UCA at the Noord Medical Cen-
ter. q
Dr. Carlos Yagua Velasquez, Managing Director of UCA explains that they, as a fam-
ily of nine (9) physicians, started the development of UCA in 2013 because it provides Contact:
patients with an alternative to the emergency room, which can be too costly and time- Carlos Yagua Velasquez
consuming for situations like common illnesses and minor injuries. He states that “While UMC Urgent Medical Care NV
the ED at the Dr. Horacio Oduber is best equipped to handle life-threatening illnesses +297-5860448
and injuries, it’s important that patients are aware that there are more affordable op- cyaguav@urgentcare.aw
tions available for less serious situations.” www.urgentcare.aw