Opinion: Before flu season arrives, make one health care decision that can save time and money

The best time to find a primary care provider isn't during flu season. It's before flu season begins.

Most people aren't thinking about the flu in September. But establishing a relationship with a primary care provider before you need care can make a real difference for you and your family when illness strikes.

Here in Sumter and across the Midlands, we saw firsthand how quickly last year's flu season spread through our communities. As the season progressed, some weeks saw more than 5,700 confirmed flu cases statewide, putting added strain on hospitals, emergency departments and care teams across the state.

The impact reached far beyond the health care system. By the end of the season, South Carolina had recorded 209 influenza-associated deaths. For many families, flu season meant more than a few days of feeling sick. It meant serious illness, hospital stays and difficult decisions about where to turn for care.

This year could be just as demanding. Nationally, up to 57 million people could get the flu. As many as 25 million could seek medical care, 800,000 could be hospitalized and 81,000 could lose their lives.

When illness strikes, many people end up turning to urgent care or the emergency department because they aren't sure where else to go. Often, it's because they don't have an established primary care provider they can call for guidance, reassurance or an appointment.

For many families, getting sick is stressful enough. The last thing they need is uncertainty about where to go, how quickly they can be seen or what that care might cost.

Having an established relationship with a primary care provider removes some of that uncertainty. When you're sick, you already know where to turn. Instead of searching for care, you're calling someone who knows your health history and can help you decide what comes next.

That relationship matters. A provider who knows your baseline health is often better positioned to recognize when something has changed, spot concerns earlier and help ensure you get the care you need. That's not something you can easily replicate through a one-time visit.

Anyone who has cared for a child with a high fever, worried about a parent with worsening symptoms or tried to find care while feeling sick understands how stressful those moments can be. That's why knowing where to turn before you get sick matters.

It can also help families avoid some of the financial stress that often comes with an unexpected illness.

Research has found that treating common illnesses such as flu and upper respiratory infections costs an average of about $167 in a physician's office, compared with more than $2,000 in a hospital emergency department.

Every situation is different, and true emergencies should always be treated in an emergency department. But when care can safely be managed in a primary care setting, patients may avoid unnecessary costs and get care from someone who already knows them.

The benefits extend beyond individual patients. Better access to primary care helps ensure patients can get the right level of care while preserving emergency departments for heart attacks, strokes, traumatic injuries and other serious medical emergencies. It also helps ensure those resources remain available for the people who need them most.

Flu season will come, as it does every year. None of us can predict when we'll get sick. We can be better prepared when it happens.

Before flu season arrives, don't just prepare for the flu. Get connected to care.

Find a primary care provider. Schedule a wellness visit. Establish that relationship before you need it.

Taking that step today can make it easier to get care when you're sick, manage costs more effectively and stay healthier throughout the year.