When faced with an unexpected health concern, deciding whether to rush to the nearest Emergency Room or seek help at an urgent care clinic can be a tough call. Let’s break down the key differences between urgent care, ER and primary care so you can make the best decision for your needs.

Urgent care is the best choice when you have a non-life-threatening illness or injury, but you need to be seen quickly.

Some common reasons to go to Urgent Care:

• Colds and flu
• Broken bones
• Sprains and strains
• Cuts that need stitches
• Animal or insect bites
• Mild fevers
• Unexplained rashes
• Minor injuries
• Earaches
• Sore throats
• Migraine headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Minor burns
• Urinary tract infections
• Bronchitis
• Sinus issues
• Cough

Our Urgent Care clinics offer extended and weekend hours, so it’s a good option when you need care after normal hours.

When to Go Straight to the Emergency Room

Immediately call 911 or seek care at your nearest Emergency Room for life-threatening conditions.

We know some people try to avoid the ER because of the fear of a long wait time or high cost, but sometimes emergency care is the right choice. If you are experiencing any of the following, go straight to your nearest ER:

• Severe chest pain
• Stroke symptoms
  • Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg
  • Confusion
  • Trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • Difficulty walking
  • Dizziness/loss of balance
  • Severe headache
• Seizure
• Serious injury or burn
• Loss of consciousness
• Deep cut or bleeding that won’t stop
• Suicidal thoughts
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe abdominal pain
• Head injury or possible concussion

All of the above symptoms can indicate a life-threatening emergency where minutes count, and a stop at an urgent care or other provider can delay life-saving treatments.

When to Choose a Primary Care Provider

Whenever possible, your primary care provider is usually the best place to start. It’s important to have a relationship with a primary care provider who can help manage your health and coordinate your care. Primary care is the way to go for:

• Regular check-ups and preventive screenings
• Routine chronic medical condition management, including:
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Sleep disorders
  • Depression
  • High cholesterol
• Common illnesses
• Chronic fatigue
• Chronic back pain
• Chronic cough or sinus issues
• Chronic abdominal pain
• History of migraine headaches
• Chronic vaginitis
• Chronic dizziness

I hope this helps you make the best decision when you need medical care. Making the right choice for the level of care you need can ensure you get the right care at the right place, the right time and the right price.