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When a serious medical problem arises, it is essential to get treatment quickly. But, sometimes it can be difficult to know whether it is a true emergency or not. Should you call 911, rush to the emergency room, or visit an urgent care center? While the right answer is not always easy, understanding the difference between emergency care and urgent care situations could save a life in the long run. Read the following guide to learn when you should go to the emergency room or urgent care center. When to Go the Emergency Room Emergency departments provide an essential function in our health care system. They are open 24 hours a day to provide fast, life-saving or limb-saving medical care; however, many individuals use them inappropriately. The emergency room should not be used for medical issues that require urgent care. Although urgent care centers provide a wide range of medical services, they are not equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. When individuals use the ER as a place to get urgent care, it can prevent doctors from providing life-saving care for those that desperately need it. The following conditions can be defined as medical emergencies and should be taken to the closest emergency room: - Chest pain, especially if it travels to the arm or jaw and is accompanied by vomiting, sweating, or shortness of breath
- Persistent shortness of breath or wheezing
- Severe heart palpitations
- Severe bleeding that won’t stop or a large open wound
- Sever pain in the abdomen or back
- Unconsciousness
- Loss of balance or fainting
- Sudden, severe headache
- Difficulty speaking with confusion or an altered mental status
- Intestinal bleeding
- Head and eye injuries
- Loss of vision
- Newborn baby with a fever
- Sudden testicular pain and swelling
- Seizures without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy
- Serious burns
- Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
- Broken bones or dislocated joints
- High fevers with a rash
- Poisoning
- Persistent vomiting
- Deep cuts that require stitches, especially on the face
Your doctor may also send you to the emergency room if you have an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or hypertension, which could complicate your condition and require expert care. When to Call 9-1-1 Sometimes the emergency room is just not close enough. For certain medical emergencies, such as a stroke or a heart attack, it is important to call 9-1-1. Calling for an ambulance is safer than driving to the hospital because trained paramedics can administer life-saving medical treatment on the way. When in doubt, call 9-1-1. Never drive to the emergency room if you have chest pain, severe bleeding, if your vision is impaired, or if you feel like you might faint. When to Go to an Urgent Care Center Urgent care centers are same-day medical clinics that provide a wide range of medical services for non-life threatening issues that require treatment within 24 hours. These clinics also provide walk-in medical treatment for routine and minor medical issues that occur while traveling or after normal business hours. Urgent care centers fill a much-needed gap between primary care and emergency care in our health care system. Although many primary care physicians offer same-day appointments, urgent care centers can provide expert medical care when appointments are unavailable or when medical issues occur after normal business hours. The following conditions can be treated at urgent care centers: - Fever without a rash
- Urinary tract infections
- Sprains and strains
- Simple fractures
- Allergic reactions
- Ear infections
- Severe sore throat
- Cold and flu symptoms
- Pneumonia or bronchitis
- Minor lacerations that require stitches
- Abscesses or skin infections
- Rashes
- Persistent diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Minor burns
- Migraines
- Abdominal or back pain
- Animal or insect bites
- Immunizations
- Work and sports physicals
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