Accidents and diseases can happen unexpectedly. In these situations, people often struggle with deciding whether to go to an emergency room or an urgent care clinic because they cannot appropriately assess the seriousness of their condition. Therefore, how does one know which facility to visit? This article suggests which facility to visit depending on your injury or disease type.

When to Visit Urgent Care

Most non-life-threatening conditions should be handled at urgent care centers, sometimes called walk-in clinics. These facilities are the best option for most urgent or after-hours treatments since they make better use of the resources and time of the patient. Many are less expensive than a typical hospital emergency department visit, operate seven days a week, and have shorter wait times than the ER. According to the CDC, roughly 14% of kids visited an urgent care facility or retail health clinic once, 8.2% made two trips, and 4.5% made three or more. An urgent care facility can handle the following conditions:

• Tonsillitis and cold-like upper respiratory illnesses
• Mild burns, strains, or sprains
• Mild asthma episodes
• Fever, diarrhea, and nausea
• Bumps, rashes, and minor wounds that may need sutures

While urgent care facilities cannot replace your main care physician, they are an excellent option if you want medical attention but cannot make an appointment with your physician. The urgent care facility will also transfer you to an emergency room if they believe you require a higher level of care.

When to Visit an Emergency Room

Various medical problems are regarded as emergencies because they may need quick or sophisticated treatments (like surgery) that are only accessible in a hospital environment. It is recommended to go to the emergency department when faced with such a life-threatening situation. Such conditions include:

• Chest discomfort and breathing difficulties
• Broken bones and dislocated joints
• Severe burns and facial lacerations
• Stroke symptoms include slurred speech, abrupt numbness or weakness in any part of the body, facial drooping, loss of eyesight, etc.

The seriousness of the medical condition differentiates urgent care from emergency facilities. Make your way to the emergency room if the situation is life-threatening or visit an urgent care clinic if the ailment is a minor sickness or injury. Do you need an urgent care clinic for your minor health issues? Call MedFirst Urgent Care today to schedule an appointment.