Walk-In Services
At Southern West Virginia Health System we are committed to helping the communities we serve live their healthiest life. Sometimes minor injury can occur when you least expect it, or short-term illness may impact you unexpectedly. Other times you may need to take care of an immunization in between your scheduled primary care appointments.
Minor injuries and sudden onset of short-term illness are commonly referred to as an acute care need, and to provide our communities with medical services that address these situations we offer what is called a Walk-In service, which is an appointment slot that you can come to the facility and ‘walk’ into without calling ahead. We provide this type of appointment at the following locations:
- Boone County: Madison Medical
- Kanawha County: SWVHS-Sand Plant
- Lincoln County: Lincoln Primary Care Center
- Logan County: SWVHS-Man & SWVHS-Logan
- Mingo County: SWVHS-Gilbert
- Wyoming County: SWVHS-Oceana
What is an example of a minor injury?
A minor injury is one that is non-life or limb threatening but requires immediate care to make certain they do not become more serious without treatment. Some examples of a minor injury are:
- Shallow cuts & abrasions
- Muscle sprains & strains
- Minor burns
What is an example of a short-term illness?
A short-term illness is one that is non-life threatening, has come about quickly and requires immediate care. Some examples of a short-term illness are:
- Sore throat or ear infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Rash without fever
- Symptoms associated with flu, cold, Strep Throat
- Respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19, seasonal allergies
- Insect bite or sting that requires attention *please note if you receive an insect bit or sting and are experiencing throat swelling and the inability to breathe without complication this is an emergency situation – call 911- this could signify an allergic reaction
What type of vaccinations might I need in-between my scheduled primary care appointment with my provider?
Some routine and recommended vaccinations established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are readily available throughout different times of the year and are encouraged to be received outside of a primary care appointment. Some examples of these are:
- Seasonal Flu Shot
- COVID-19 Primary and Booster series
- Recommended vaccinations prior to travelling out of the country
For more information about recommended vaccinations, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
What is the difference between a Walk-In or Same-Day Appointment?
Both of these appointment types provide access to medical care for a health-related situation that was unexpected or unplanned.
A Walk-In Appointment is available at our larger locations where we have the ability to schedule a dedicated provider(s) to see this type of appointment during the locations operating hours, and a patient can ‘walk-in’ without calling ahead to be seen.
A Same Day Appointment is available at our smaller locations where one provider is seeing patients who are scheduled for primary care services and has availability in that day’s schedule to see patients for minor injury or short-term illness of an acute care nature. At these locations we ask that a patient who needs to be seen for a health-related service that was unplanned to call the location ahead of time to be scheduled to be seen that day. Calling ahead provides the patient with the ability to be seen that day without having to wait inside the facility for an extended period of time.
What locations have Same-Day Appointments?
We provide same-day appointments and ask that you call ahead if possible, at the following locations:
Boone County: SWVHS - Wharton, SWVHS Whitesville
Cabell County: Salt Rock Medical Center * Tuesday from 9am to 3pm
Lincoln County: Guyan Valley Wellness Center
Mingo County: SWVHS-Delbarton
