Emergency Room, Urgent Care, or Primary Care?

Who You Should See and When

When to go to the E.R. or call 911:

If your symptoms or condition could be life threatening, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM (E.R.) or CALL 911. Going to a clinic or urgent care if your condition is life-threatening could result in bad outcomes.

For example, if you are having a heart attack, minutes count to help preserve heart muscle and function; the longer you wait, the more heart muscle will die and you are less likely to recover. A clinic or urgent care is not equipped to handle that kind of emergency. Going straight to the E.R. will prevent delays. You should go to the nearest hospital, not your preferred hospital.

In the case of a heart attack, stroke, drug overdose, or cardiac arrest, it is best to go to the E.R. by ambulance, since lifesaving medical treatment can be started pre-hospital. The following is not an exhaustive list of reasons you should go to the E.R., but should serve as a guide:

• Heart attack symptoms: chest pain, severe upper abdominal pain, etc.
• Stroke symptoms: sudden paralysis, slurred speech, unilateral weakness, severe headache, change in mental status
• Suspected overdose: you should call 911 even if Narcan/naloxone is administered
• Symptoms of sepsis or infection affecting the entire body
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Blurred vision
• Fainting or change in mental status
• Seizures
• Broken bones
• Large wounds
• Head or eye injuries
• Significant bleeding or bleeding that cannot be stopped.
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Severe abdominal pain
• Anaphylactic reactions
• Serious burns especially on the hands, feet, groin, chest or face.
• Fever is over 103 degrees and unchanged with medication or temperature below 95 degrees.

Children and Infants Should Be Taken to the E.R. If:

• You suspect poisoning or ingestion of medications or substances
• They are lethargic
• Having difficulty breathing, increased work of breathing, abnormal breathing sounds or patterns.
• Seizures
• Skin or lips turn purple, blue, or grey
• Child is limp, unconscious, or less responsive than usual

It is important to remember that children’s anatomy is different from adults; in other words, children cannot medically be treated as small adults, they require specialized care based on age and size. Children often compensate or appear as if they are tolerating illness well, then rapidly decompensate or become critically ill faster than adults. If you are concerned about your child, it is best to “trust your gut” and seek medical attention sooner rather than later.

An Urgent Care Visit Is Great for Non-Life-Threatening Conditions:

You should go to the urgent care if you can wait a few hours or overnight to get medical care. An urgent care is appropriate if there is no imminent threat to life or limb.

• Fever without rash
• Moderate cold and flu symptoms
• Rashes without fever or anaphylaxis
• Minor infections like ear infections, strep throat, pink eye or respiratory infections without respiratory distress.
• Minor wounds that may need stitches
• Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Sprains and Strains
• Urinary Tract Infections

When to Make an Appointment with Your Doctor:

Your primary care provider should be there to manage chronic or ongoing conditions, not acute issues; however, most primary care providers keep some urgent care appointments open throughout the week. These kinds of appointments should only be used if you can wait a few days to see your provider. If your condition worsens, then your plan for medical care should change. Some reasons you may want to see your primary care provider include:

• Cold/flu symptoms–especially ongoing symptoms
• Sore throat
• Minor illness or infection
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Sinus Infection

Even if you have no chronic health conditions, you should see your medical provider at least once per year for a check-up. Routine medical check-ups are  important for maintaining overall health and preventing acute or sudden illness.