MEDICAL CARE

Finding a Health Care Professional
Hospitals
Poison Control
Medical Clinics
Pharmaceuticals/Drugs
Health Insurance
Immunizations

In case of emergency, where help is needed immediately, dial 911 from any telephone. This will provide assistance from fire, medical and police personnel. State your name, location and the nature of the emergency. If you are on the lab grounds the response will come from lab employees, if off-site you call will be answered by the community you are calling from. Help should arrive within minutes.

If you require non-emergency medical care you can access any of many local medical clinics or hospital emergency rooms. Note that treatment in an emergency room for medical (non-emergency) problems will be considerably more expensive than in a doctor's office. The cost treatment in a hospital may be covered only if it is a true emergency.

Finding a Health Care Professional

In the US, you must choose your own physician, dentist, or hospital. One good way to make the selection is to consult a friend or colleague. Before you visit a health professional make sure that they are included in your health plan by consulting the listing of professionals in your plan.

There are a number of ways to obtain information about health care professionals:

• Contact the Physician Referral Ser­vice at your local hospital. Ask for the name of a physician who is practicing at that hospital who can help you with your medical needs.
• Consult the Yellow Pages of the local telephone book for names of physicians, dentists, and hospitals in your area.
• Consult the internet web site www.Doctors.com or telephone toll free 800-362-8677. This service can refer you to primary care physicians, specialists, and dentists in your area. They also have a listing of doctors who speak languages other than English.

Hospitals

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital ( www.advocatehealth.com )
3815 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove
630 275-5900
Emergency Room: 630-275-1160
Physician Referral: 1-800-323-8622

Edward Hospital ( www.edward.org )
801 South Washington Street, Naperville
630-527-3000
Urgent Medicine: 630-527-3400
Physician Referral: 630-527-6363

Hinsdale Hospital ( www.keepingyouwell.com )
120 North Oak Street, Hinsdale
630-856-9000
Emergency Room: 630-856-6700
Physician Referral: 630-856-7500

La Grange Memorial Hospital ( www.keepingyouwell.com )
5101 South Willow Springs Road, La Grange
708-245-9000 
Emergency Room: 708-245-6700
Physician Referral: 630-856-7500

Poison Control

The Illinois Poison Center (IPC) serves all of Illinois 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Staffed by nurses, physicians, pharmacists and other poison specialists, the IPC offers free, confidential poison prevention advice and treatment recommendations via a toll-free hot line: 1-800-222-1222. Be sure to have information about the poison.  If you are unsure of the number or whether to call – always call 911 in an emergency.

Medical Clinics

The following facilities will see "walk in" patients without an appointment. They are for "non-emergency" illnesses or injuries.

Doctor’s Emergency Medical Center
1254 Ogden Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60516
630-963-6912
Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Weekends and Holidays 9:00 am to 4:00 p.m.

Immediate Care Bolingbrook
130 North Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
630-646-5770
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Weekends and Holidays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Affiliated with Edward Hospital in Naperville www.edward.org/services/emergencycare.asp)

Lemont Walk-In Care Center
15900 W 127th St (West of State St)
Lemont IL
630-243-7100
Open 7 days a week from 10 Am to 8 PM

For additional listings of nearby doctors and hospitals refer to the Yellow Pages of the local telephone directory under "Physicians" and "Hospitals". Dentists are listed under "Dentists". When you have enrolled in a health insurance plan you will be given a list of health care providers affiliated with your insurance company.

Pharmaceuticals/Drugs

All pharmacies have a complete selection of prescription and non-prescription medications.

NOTE: Illinois pharmacists will only fill prescriptions written by doctors licensed to practice in the state of Illinois. It is impossible to obtain prescription drugs without a written prescription.

Look in the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory for a listing of nearby pharmacies. Walgreen's, Osco, and CVS are three that have numerous locations in the area. Osco pharmacies can be found in most Jewel supermarkets. In addition, most other large supermarkets and department stores such as Dominick's, Target and Wal-Mart have pharmacies within the store.

All drugs must be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States. Should you need to continue treatment be aware that this drug may be known under a different trade name or not approved for use in the United States. It is best to bring an adequate supply with you and a letter outlining the regimen and both the generic and trade name of the drug from your physician. This information will assist your new doctor in continuing your treatment.

Health Insurance

It is absolutely essential that you have health insurance coverage while in the United States no matter how short your stay. For information on health insurance see Insurance section.

Immunizations

The Illinois School Code requires that all children have a health examination by a physician within one year of admission to school, within one year prior to transferring from out of state, and at the beginning of preschool, kindergarten, fifth, and ninth grades. The health examination needs to be documented on the Certificate of School Health form by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant. This form is available in school offices, school health offices, and in many pediatrician offices. Documented evidence of the following immunizations must also be presented for all students: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio. Additionally, fifth graders and preschoolers need to show proof of hepatitis B vaccinations, a series of three separate vaccinations. Preschoolers need the Hib vaccination as well. Chickenpox vaccination or proof of chickenpox disease needs to be documented on the school physical form, as of July 1, 2002 for preschool and kindergarten students.  Dental examinations are not required but are recommended by the State. Dental Examination Record forms are available in the health office and distributed during kindergarten registration.

Immunization Clinics are a service of the DuPage County Health Department for residents of DuPage County and are held at specific times on a walk-in basis. The closest one to Argonne is the Southeast Public Health Center at 422 N Cass Ave, Westmont (630-969-7030). Call the clinic numbers for times and dates. A parent/guardian must accompany a child under the age of 18. Immunization records are required to be reviewed before immunizations can be given at the clinics. Please bring immunization records with you. There is a $10.00 fee requested for each immunization.

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