Even the most organized, orderly life is full of mishaps that can derail a well-planned week. When your car starts to make a funny noise, or your heating abruptly quits, you probably know exactly where to go and who to call to handle it.
But when it’s your own body, and a sudden illness or injury has come out of nowhere, the options might be confusing. Is this cut an emergency situation? Can this sore throat wait for an appointment with your regular doctor?
Where can you go for something that isn’t really an emergency, but probably should be looked at soon?
SameDay Medical, just opened at 6201 Raeford Rd., is helping to cover the gap between “rush me to the hospital” and “let’s see what it looks like in a few days.” Open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, they offer plenty of time for you to be seen for what ails you. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can call to make a same-day appointment that suits your schedule.
“So if you know you need to come in after work, or after the kids get out of school,” said Brittany Bailey, Service Line Director of CFV Medical Group Primary Care & SameDay Medical Clinics, “you can set an appointment for that time and not have to wait as long when you arrive.”
SameDay is ready to help with the little things that come out of nowhere. Illnesses like flu, strep and COVID can be diagnosed and treated quickly, getting you back to bed in minimal time. With X-ray services on site beginning January, you can get speedy clarity on whether that twisted ankle is a sprain or a fracture.
And despite their swiftness with all these services, SameDay Medical doesn’t carry the urgent-care price tag you might be used to.
“We charge patients the same copay they would have if they went to their primary care physician,” said Bailey. “Whether they are a walk-in or made an appointment, they won’t get charged the higher amount.”
Of course, for actual emergencies, you should head to the nearest emergency department. Things like shortness of breath, chest pain, unbearable abdominal pain or signs of stroke could signal a problem that SameDay Medical may not be able to help with.
“If someone comes in with any of those things, we of course would not turn them away,” said Bailey. “We would get them stabilized and transported to the emergency department. But to start there would save a lot of time and get them treated more quickly.”
Keeping non-emergencies out of the emergency department helps the hospital run more efficiently, and handling minor cases quickly can really lighten the load for doctors around town.
“If a primary care provider is booked out for a month and can’t get that patient in,” said Bailey, “they can refer them to SameDay Medical. It’s already been so helpful.”
To make an appointment at SameDay Medical, call 910-609-3780. If you have access to the MyChart patient portal, you can go there to schedule an appointment online.

(Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)