Emergency Room or Urgent Care?

Is it serious enough for the ER? Or would it be better off going to an Urgent Care?    The determining factors in choosing is based on how someone is feeling…such as when you have a life-threatening situation, such as chest pain, or a sudden and severe pain, the emergency department of the nearest hospital is the only option. If you went to an Urgent Care Clinic, they'd most likely just send you on to the ER in an ambulance. But if your condition is less serious, but still requires immediate attention, choosing an urgent care facility can save you loads of time and money, as well as keeping the emergency room free to handle more serious situations.  

When you need to go to the Emergency Room: If you have a serious condition - stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding, head injury or other major trauma - go straight to the nearest ER. The ER is the best place for these and other critical conditions, including:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Severe bleeding or head trauma
• Loss of consciousness
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision

When an Urgent Care Center is the faster/more cost-efficient choice:

• Minor burns or injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Coughs, colds, and sore throats
• Ear infections
• Allergic reactions (non-life-threatening)
• Fever or flu-like symptoms
• Rash or other skin irritations
• Mild asthma
• Animal bites
• Broken Bones

And when in doubt, call ahead. If the Urgent Care Clinic in question can't accommodate your condition, they will advise you to go the nearest emergency facility. 

Top 5: Ways to Control the Cost of Healthcare #2

2. Choose the right care facility (Primary Care Physician vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room)

There are lots of options when it comes to where you go to receive health care services, and those options have different purposes as well as different financial implications.

Duke Health offers the following explanation of when to use each type of health care service:

Primary Care Provider

Unless you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, primary care centers are the best places to start. Primary care providers are physicians who deliver basic care for common illnesses. They are your first stop for most undiagnosed health concerns.

You should visit a primary care center for illnesses such as colds, flu, and sore throats; minor injuries, aches, and pains; or routine health exams. You can schedule appointments with primary care providers during the week, and they are available by phone anytime for advice about health problems.

Urgent Care Center

If your primary care physician is not available and you need quick medical attention for a non-life-threatening problem, visit an urgent care center. Urgent care centers have similar resources to primary care facilities, but they provide comprehensive quality care on a walk-in basis with extended hours.

Go to an urgent care center when you need immediate medical attention or have non-emergency health concerns after hours. Examples include ear infections, sprains, simple cuts and burns, and eye injuries.

Emergency Department

Life-threatening emergencies and late-night trauma require an immediate visit to the hospital. Emergency rooms offer inpatient care, emergency services, trauma services, and more. Emergency clinicians are able to recognize, diagnose, and make recommendations for a wide array of medical issues.

Call 911 or drive to the emergency department at your nearest hospital whenever conditions cause severe symptoms and/or put your health at serious risk. Examples include heart attacks, poisoning, severe bleeding, and broken bones.

While life threatening emergencies require a visit to the emergency room, other illnesses or injuries do not and can offer significantly lower cost options for care.

For instance, let’s say that your benefits are as follows and you have already met your deductible year to date: