ER vs. Immediate Care
Patients frequently seek the services of a hospital Emergency Room for ailments or injuries that could be treated more economically and just as effectively at an Immediate Care center or doctor's office. It is not always easy to determine when you should choose an Immediate Care over a hospital Emergency Room.
Unless it is an emergency, it is best to first seek the advice and services of your own primary care provider.
If you cannot get in to see your doctor or don't have a primary care provider, the Immediate Care center is a great option for you.
Emergency Room
- Abdominal pain
- Altered mental state (confusion)
- Broken bones
- Chest pain, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Poison ingestion or overdose
- Seizure
- Serious or severe injuries, burns, electrical shock, contamination, trauma
- Severe vomiting or suspected food poisoning
- Stroke symptoms
- Suicidal thoughts or feelings
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
- Weakness/dizziness/fainting/unconsciousness
- When the Immediate Care center is closed
Immediate Care
- Abscess
- Allergic reactions-minor (e.g. no difficulty breathing)
- Animal bites-minor
- Breast tenderness
- Broken bones-minor
- Cellulitis (skin infection)
- Cold/sore throat
- Coughs/congestion
- Eye infection or earaches
- Facial irritation
- Fever or flu-like symptoms
- Mild asthma
- Minor burns
- Muscular back pain
- Puncture wounds
- Rash or other skin irritations
- Sprains and strains
- Urinary discomfort
- Wound checks
In case of life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 for your nearest local Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Life-threatening conditions include situations in which you or a family member have signs of heart attack (discomfort in the chest or other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or lightheadedness), stroke (sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination or sudden severe headache with no known cause), or sudden loss of responsiveness. If you have any questions about the severity of an emergency, call 911. EMS teams can save lives in critical situations.