A doctor's advice to patients experiencing unusual symptoms? Don't ignore them. Err on the side of caution and contact your physician.

Novant Health primary care physicians are set up for same-day appointments. Even if you look in MyChart and don't see any available appointments, give the clinic a call. (Access MyChart from your computer or download the app on your phone.) They may have time slots reserved for same-day appointments.

In fact, multiple Novant Health doctors stress this point. Call. They'll try to fit you in if at all possible. It's better to call and check rather than give up, only to have things get worse and then find yourself in a packed ER. On weekends, contact Novant Health GoHealth Urgent Care. Another option: Novant Health Express at Walgreens.

Anyone with an existing medical condition – diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney issues – needs to be especially mindful. Some conditions need to be addressed quickly, and the issue is, you don’t know until you’ve talked to your doctor if that cough is related to allergies or something more.

It could be nothing, but it could be something serious

Symptoms may sometimes change over a few days. For example, a pink tinge in urine may indicate the presence of blood, and it might go away on its own after a day or two.

But symptoms going away doesn’t always mean the condition has cleared up on its own. And putting off treatment for a urinary infection can cause the infection to become advanced, making it harder to treat and more dangerous.

Find and book the expert care you need in seconds

Schedule now

There’s no reason to let a potential problem go undiagnosed – not when getting through to your Novant Health care team is so easy. You can:

  • Send your doctor an email message through MyChart
  • Call your clinic office and speak to a patient care associate or leave a voicemail
  • Schedule an online visit through the virtual visits portal
  • See a care team member online without an appointment using on-demand care

Don’t neglect your mental health

Telehealth is ideal for some conditions. Depression, anxiety and mental-health status check-ins are all suitable for telehealth appointments because they don't require a physical exam, just a keen listener.

You don’t know until you’ve consulted with your doctor

Professional advice for when you have a health concern: Don’t wait. It can be easy to ignore or right off signs and symptoms of a health issue. But addressing problems early can often lead to more efficient and effective treatment before you reach an emergency situation. And this leads to much better peace of mind for you.

Prepare for your visit

You know your doctor is going to ask you, “When did this start?” So, it’s helpful if you’ve kept a log of the onset date of symptoms and the progression. The more you can provide your health care team, the better help they can give you.

If at first you don’t succeed …

Don’t give up if you don’t see any appointment openings on MyChart. Always contact your clinic office to see if they can offer you a same-day appointment.

Find a primary care physician who's the right match for you.

Find one now