What is ConvenientCare?

ConvenientCare is an acute care clinic for evaluating and treating minor or short-term illnesses that develop outside of regular clinic hours. Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. ConvenientCare is open on weekday evenings and weekends; Vermillion Medical Clinic ConvenientCare is open on weekday evenings. Find ConvenientCare hours here.

When is a visit to ConvenientCare appropriate?

ConvenientCare is appropriate when patients of any age are ill, but their condition is recoverable in a brief amount of time, and there is no acute threat to their life.

Some examples of these conditions include:

• Cold or flu symptoms
• Urinary tract symptoms
• Sprains or strains
• Minor fractures
• Minor lacerations
• Acute rashes
• Sinus infection
• Ear infection
• Skin infection
• Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Insect bite or sting

When should I choose to schedule an appointment with my primary care provider?

ConvenientCare is not intended to replace your relationship with your primary care provider. Any condition that has been persistent for several days or longer requires attention from your regular provider. Also, any chronic or complex condition should be managed by your regular provider to ensure the most comprehensive and complete health care coverage. Examples of these conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure and management of blood thinners. All routine/preventative medical care should also be addressed with your primary provider including medication refills, annual exams, vaccinations, work/sports physicals, lab/diagnostic screenings and preoperative clearance.

If an acute condition is not resolved following a ConvenientCare visit, a follow up appointment should be made with your primary care provider for further evaluation and treatment.

When should I choose to seek emergency department attention?

Emergency department care should be sought for patient conditions that immediately threaten one’s life.

Examples would be chest pain:

• Difficulty breathing
• Stroke symptoms
• Severe headache
• Severe abdominal pain
• Allergic reactions
• Seizure activity
• Loss of vision
• Palpitations
• Significantly elevated blood sugars
• Major fractures (hip, leg, pelvis, skull)
• Severe lacerations
• Medication overdose
• Head trauma and motor vehicle accidents (if seeking care for a motor vehicle accident not at time of accident, please follow up with your primary care provider).

Will advanced practice providers deliver care for me? Will they have access to board-certified physicians?

We have advanced practice providers (i.e., Certified Nurse Practitioners and physician assistants) who can provide excellent care and help us meet the needs of our patients. These providers have access to the physicians who are on-call in internal medicine, family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, surgery and orthopedics. Also, each advanced practice provider is assigned to a Yankton Medical Clinic/Vermillion Medical Clinic physician who supervises his/her performance.

How do I get to ConvenientCare? Do I need an appointment?

Yankton Medical Clinic, P.C. ConvenientCare is easily accessible through the west doors of the clinic. Vermillion Medical Clinic is easily accessible through the main doors on the east side of the clinic. No appointments are necessary as there is a first-come, first-served policy with the exception of a patient experiencing a crisis that needs triaged to appropriate care, such as an allergic reaction, bleeding laceration or severe pain. ConvenientCare providers do not have control over wait times as they provide quality care to every patient regardless of patient volume.

Will my visit to ConvenientCare be shared with my primary care physician?

A patient’s ConvenientCare provider documents all patient records in our electronic health system for convenient, easy access. You also have access to your records if you are signed up for our Patient Portal.

If I do not have a primary care provider, how can I go about getting one?

Patients can make an appointment to establish a primary care provider by calling any Yankton Medical Clinic receptionist or the Vermillion Medical Clinic receptionist during regular daytime hours. Each department has a phone nurse who can answer patient questions to help determine which provider/department would best suit the patient’s needs.

All the clinic’s providers are listed in the phone book and our providers page, and through the South Dakota Medical Association.