You’re injured or you’re sick. It might be after hours. You cannot get in to see your regular doctor. Or you do not have a regular physician.
You have two choices. You can go to an urgent care clinic or visit an emergency room. How do you make the decision on where to receive healthcare services?
As you are faced with the above decision, it’s important to know the difference between the emergency room and an urgent care—and the services provided.
While emergency rooms serve those with life- and limb-threatening injuries and illnesses, heart attacks or strokes, or traumatic injuries, an urgent care provider can treat those needing immediate, less serious care—and typically do it more affordably with less wait time.
Emergency rooms are perfect for emergency situations. If you have a life-threatening condition, go straight to your nearest ER. Such conditions include:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Stroke
- Head trauma
- Severe bleeding
- Loss of vision
The difference between urgent care and emergency rooms is the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an emergency room.
If the condition is a minor illness or injury, take advantage of the convenience and affordability that Urgent Care has to offer.
What is an Urgent Care Clinic & when should you go?
Urgent care is very much like going to your primary care physician, but with additional services such as on-site x-rays, rapid lab tests, and prescription medications. Although a primary care doctor provides exceptional care for chronic disease management, they may not always be accessible when you need them. Why wait for an appoint with a family medicine provider? At Everest Urgent Care, we offer same day, walk-in appointments to address this need. We also provide physicals, pediatric urgent care and walk in vaccinations.
Here are the things to consider about Urgent Care:
- Your condition is a minor medical issue; it is non-life threatening
- A doctor will typically see you more quickly
- Urgent Care typically costs less than Emergency Room Care
- You can get work, sports and school physicals
