Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care: How to Decide Where You Need to Go
If you or someone in your family member has a medical emergency, do you know where to go to get the help you need? Although you can’t plan for medical emergencies, you can still have a plan for what to do when they take place. Knowing the difference between the emergency room and urgent care is the first step to preparing yourself in case of an unexpected health emergency.
At Covenant HealthCare, our emergency room and urgent care are equipped with different resources and staff to meet different needs. That’s why it’s important to know which facility is right for you. Plus, going to the right place could prevent you from facing additional medical charges. So use this guide to help you decide whether you need to be treated by the emergency room or urgent care. (And if it’s a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911).
Signs that you should go to the Covenant Emergency Care Center:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea
- Sudden, severe headache
- Severe abdominal pain
- Continuous bleeding
- Constant vomiting
- Severe shortness of breath
- Deep wounds
- Loss of consciousness or speech
- Limb numbness
- Motor vehicle injury
- Head or neck injury
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
- Psychiatric disorders
- Overdoses
- Child abuse
- Assault including rape
- Bleeding/cramping in pregnancy
- Infants less than 6 weeks of age
- High fever especially in children 8 weeks of age or younger
Signs that you should go to the nearest urgent care at Covenant MedExpress:
- Respiratory virus and flu
- Coughs and sore throat
- High fever
- Ear and sinus infection
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Broken bones
- Mild to moderate dehydration
- Mild to moderate asthma
- Rashes and allergic reactions
- Sprains, strains and simple fractures
- Minor burns and cuts
- Mild injuries
- Animal and insect bites/stings
- Eye injuries and pink eye
- Sports injuries
- Flu shot
- Sports physical
An unexpected medical emergency can be scary, but you can take control of the situation by knowing exactly where you need to go for help. Keep this list somewhere handy. Educate your family about the differences between the emergency room and urgent care. And feel better knowing we’re here to give you the extraordinary care you need, no matter what your medical emergency may be.
We have five Covenant MedExpress locations in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Find the one that’s closest to you today.
Posted Date: 1/12/2016