The Common Mistakes People Make When Visiting Urgent Care Centers

Urgent care centers have popped up all over America. And it has become a common way for a majority of people to receive care. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, there are over 9,000 urgent care centers in the U.S.

The urgent care centers treat diseases such as urinary tract infections [UTI], cold, flu, cough, joint and muscle sprains and strains, STIs, and so much more.

image:urgencyroom.com

Most of the urgent care centers are usually located conveniently and there is no booking an appointment, you just walk in and receive treatment as quickly as possible. But while visiting urgent care centers, patients often make some mistakes that sometimes cost them a lot. The mistakes include;

1.       Failing to know their insurance policy

Urgent care centers often take some types of insurance. This makes it cost-effective. However, as a patient, you must ensure that your insurance plan covers for urgent care and that the urgent care center you intend to visit accepts it before you can see a doctor.

You can give your insurance provider a call and discuss the urgent care payment options before heading to the center. You don’t want a scenario where you’ll be hit by a huge bill after treatment.

2.       Treating an urgent care center as an emergency room

The difference between an urgent care center and an ER is that ER treats emergency situations, such as heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, or vision changes. On the other hand, urgent care treats minor diseases rather than the ones mentioned above like coughs, flu, STIs, etc. So if you need immediate care for a life-threatening condition, you shouldn’t go to urgent care, book an emergency room instead. Going to the wrong place will mean that there will be a delay in treatment which could be dangerous.

3.       Expecting to be seen by the main doctor

 Just because there’s no guarantee that you’ll see the main doctor doesn’t mean that you are in bad hands. All the nurses and assistant physicians are highly knowledgeable and qualified. They can diagnose, offer a treatment plan and direct support when you need it. Just ensure that you know who will be seeing you.

4.       Thinking you can get refills on prescription

Urgent care centers can prescribe medication such as anti-inflammatory painkillers or acne medication, but there will be a cap on the number of pills, and so you won’t get a refill unless you book another appointment at the center. Furthermore, if you already take medicines like Adderall, an urgent care center may not refill that prescription for you.

5.       Assuming that all urgent care centers offer the same treatment

Clinics vary when it comes to the services that they offer. Some centers can stitch you up if you are severely bleeding or offer STI testing on-site, while others may not. The services a center offers depends on the facility, location, the types of staff, and the kind of medical equipment that are available. You can call the center first to know the services they offer.

7 Tips to Make Your Garden Look Bigger

To create and design a beautiful backyard is not necessarily a thing only those who live in the countryside can do, as owning a small garden has become more and more popular in the past few years. Let us introduce you to seven tips on how to transform your small garden with just a little effort and determination.

1. Play With Shapes

You would be surprised at how the shapes in your small garden can make a big difference. One of the best small garden landscaping ideas we found out there: have a circular lawn in your square-shaped small garden. Or like putting a curved path of stones that will trick the eye into thinking that it is bigger than it is.

2. Think Vertical

If you own a small garden and you find yourself with a limited amount of ground space, no problem, just go and explore the vertical space of your small garden. Good examples would be growing vertical climbing beans or even sweetcorn. You can even plant the tallest flowers you can get your hands on, instead of planting bushy flowers.

3. Carefully Choose the Colors

When choosing how to grow a small garden, colors have a specifically interesting duty here. Exactly like owning a small apartment, where you look to influence people's perceptions by choosing complementary colors. For example, you can opt for pale-colored plant blooms just so you give a lighter appearance to your small garden design.

4. Avoid Clutter

Nobody likes hoarders, especially when it comes to building a big world in a small garden outside of your house. Try to keep the garden furniture light and foldable and organize all the essential garden tools nearby.

5. Feature One Mirror

Although it might sound like a strange thing to do, installing a mirror in your small garden can be a good perception-bending addition, and trick the eye into thinking it is a much bigger space than it actually is.

As we all know, mirrors can bring space-perception to a whole new level, and it would be a shame if you wouldn’t profit from the science behind it.

Safety advice: Make sure the mirror is not in direct sunlight as you can risk starting a fire.

6. Emphasize Entryways

By adding a few plants and flowers near the entryways, you take your friends' eyes away from the small garden that you own. When the entry is inviting and lively, it can create a massive change of perception for the common eye.

7. Use All Available Space from Your Small garden

Do not forget to use the sides of your walls, the fence, and all the shed space you have.

The best idea, if possible, would be to install a small garden irrigation system so you can plant all the tomatoes you want and not worry about raining or weather. Instead of this, you can use tools like wall mount garden hose reel in order to make you able to water plants anytime by yourself.

Conclusion

Just because you own a small garden, it doesn’t mean you should feel frustrated about it, or that your friends have bigger gardens at their homes. All you should care about is making it perfect for you and your family, by using all sorts of small space tips that can trick the eye into perceiving it bigger than it is.

Ranging from color schemes to carefully chosen plants, the ideas can be wild, and we challenge you to come up with your own.

What ideas and tips did we miss? Feel free to share your experiences and stories about building a beautiful oasis in your humble small garden.

Author’s Bio: Kay Burton is a content writer and plumbing specialist. Originally from Boston, he moved to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist and joined a university for this. He likes covering topics that range from interior design to plumbing.

Images:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/garden-walkway-view-2224956/  
https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-plants-on-brown-clay-pots-3673763/

Converting an Attic to a Bedroom - tips and tricks

Those who are lucky to own a house with an attic are certainly considering how to utilize the space under the roof best. While some would prefer the peaceful atmosphere of an attic home office, others are more excited about the ample storage space it provides. However, families are most interested in the additional bedroom(s) for kids and occasional guests. Expansion to the attic has multiple benefits. Aside from better-utilized living and storage space, it also adds value to your home, if properly and professionally executed. For that reason, we have compiled a checklist of the most important tips and advice. Take a close look before you start converting an attic to a bedroom.

What does converting an attic to a bedroom involve?

Conducting an inspection is the first step. It should ensure that your attic can be converted into a living space without safety concerns. Also, it should determine that the attic is connected to the necessary utilities. Once this is confirmed, you can start making a layout. Installing proper insulation, flooring, and bathroom area will likely be the most difficult assignments during the renovation.

An attic conversion is also a good time to consider house remodeling projects that can add value to your home. You should think about roof repair, installing energy-efficient roof windows, staircase repair, and applying a fresh coat of paint to the rest of the house.

Tips for converting an attic to a bedroom

You will likely need to remove your belongings from the attic during the renovation. The best option is to consider renting a storage unit and look for professional movers on goodneighborsmoving.com. Moving furniture and boxes is a strenuous work better left to experienced, well-equipped professionals.

Check if creating the bathroom is feasible

Where there is a bedroom, there should be a bathroom, but that may not be possible sometimes. To have a fully functional bathroom, however small, your attic should support a complex network of pipes and drains. Additionally, it should support the weight of heavy bathroom fixtures. Bathrooms also require special waterproofing that builds layers in already limited space. While an additional bathroom is certainly a good investment, building it in the attic may not be worth the investment in the end.

Hire professionals and comply with building regulations

If you're converting an attic to a bedroom to invest in your home before selling it, you have made the right decision. Considering that your relocation is imminent, hire trusted experts to take care of your complete relocation project as well as remodeling. Professional, expert, and efficient service shouldn't have an alternative, especially when the stakes are this high.

Only if you conduct the remodeling under the home safety and building regulations, the conversion will add value to your home. This means that, before you begin with your renovation, you should check if you need a building permit issued by the authorities. If they do not approve of any changes because the fundamental conditions can't be met, there is no point in starting the conversion.

Examine structural solidity of the attic floor

Assuring that your attic floor can support the furniture and appliances is key. Usually, attics are not designed with conversion in mind and most do not have support walls underneath. If a part of the attic is not suitable for heavy furniture, it will either change your planned layout or hinder the construction altogether. A specialist should assess your attic before you start any work. It may easily happen that your attic conversion will depend on reinforcements to support the weight of furniture and people. In turn, these can affect the ceiling height.

However, if the experts give you the green light for remodeling, consider refreshing the existing wooden flooring instead of replacing it. Usually, attic floors are safe from wear and tear and will shine without too much work.

Design and build a permanent staircase

Before converting an attic to a bedroom, hire a service provider for the new staircase. A permanent staircase is a necessity that requires careful planning. It will affect the layout of the attic as well as the floor below. After all, you need to bring the furniture up. The biggest issues here can pose a lack of space for maneuvering and changes the staircase makes to the design of the lower floor. 

Factor in the installations

Converting an attic to a bedroom is much more than painting the walls and bringing the bed upstairs. Installing heating, cooling, ventilation, and electrical wiring is a vital part of the renovation. Finding professionals to handle a particular job may prove easier than coordinating them. Make a checklist of all necessary remodeling work and then create a schedule.  If this proves too much for you, note that most remodeling companies have a well-coordinated team of professionals and managers who would do the planning and remodeling on your behalf.

Quality insulation will save you money

As previously mentioned, attics are not designed as living quarters and are covered only with necessary insulation. To make your new bedroom more comfortable, invest in additional layers of wall and roof insulation. Moreover, this new insulation will have another effect. Making the attic and its windows more energy-efficient will reduce the heat loss and positively reflect on your heating bills. 

Conclusion

Converting an attic to a bedroom is a good long-term investment. The most attractive part about it is that it creates an open floor layout that is modern and practical at the same time. Depending on the overall quality, age of your house, and maintenance, an attic conversion can become costly. Add to it any additional repair work and you may wonder if it truly pays off. This is why it is vital to hire a licensed home inspector to asses your home. Firstly, they will inform you if the conversion is feasible. And if it is, with the evaluation in hand, it will be much easier to weigh the pros and cons of the attic conversion.