Urgent Care - When to Go and When to Head to the ER

When you’re sick or injured then you know that you need to see a doctor. Unfortunately it seems that there aren’t enough hours in the day for the doctor’s office to be open. Let’s face it they want to go home and be with their families just as much as everyone else. It never seems to fail that illness and injury don’t go by the normal nine to five schedule. You can’t always wait for the office to open so what do you do? Do you spend and eternity in the emergency room waiting to be seen or do you head over to an urgent care facility?

It all depends on the injury or illness. If you are sick and need to see a doctor, chances are you’ll get in and out of the urgent care facility faster than you would if you went to the emergency room. True you will have to wait as with any doctor’s office but you won’t have to wait as long. Generally, these types of offices will take you first come first serve unless a true emergency comes in the door. An emergency room will assess you when you come in and then put you in order of need.

If it is a true emergency by all means go to the emergency room. Urgent care is great if you need to see a doctor, especially if it is outside of regular doctor’s office hours. It is no place for someone who is suffering from a life threatening injury or illness. Should you go to one of these facilities versus an actual emergency room with a life threatening illness or injury they will end up calling an ambulance and sending you to the nearest hospital anyway. You can save yourself some time and confusion by going to the best place first.

Urgent care is for those who need immediate treatment but it’s not a life threatening situation. Minor injuries such as lacerations, first degree burns, or sprains are best served at this type of facility. Illnesses with low to mid grade fevers, vomiting, and congestion are also well served here especially if you can’t get into see your regular physician. If you are running a high fever or having an allergic reaction go immediately to the emergency room. If you have a break, bad burn, or a life threatening injury you need to see immediate medical attention at the emergency room.

If you are trying to determine if you should go to an urgent care facility or emergency room take a moment and decide whether it’s a life threatening situation. If it is an illness or injury that could be helped without being admitted into the hospital then you’re probably better off going to elsewhere. You don’t need to tie up the emergency room for such things. If you are in doubt or just uncertain about which office will serve you better, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.