Need medical treatment after 5:00 pm?
Have you ever wondered where you should go?
Emergency Room?
OR
Urgent Care?
OR
Wait to visit your doctor the next business day?
When do 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. Don't take a chance with anything life-threatening. The
ER is the best place for these and other critical conditions, including:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Severe bleeding or head trauma
Blacking out (fainting)
Severe pain
Loss of consciousness
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision
Poisoning
Deep cuts or severe burns
An attack by a person or animal
Broken bones
When to visit an Urgent Care Center vs. visiting your doctor the next day:
There are several conditions that do warrant going to an Urgent Care rather than waiting to see
your doctor the next day. But if your condition is less serious, choosing to see your doctor the
next day can save you time and money.
Possible Urgent Care:
Possible Doctor Visit Next Day:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Minor burns or injuries
Sprains and strains
Ear infections
Mild asthma
Broken bones
Animal bites
Fever or flu-like symptoms
Rash or other skin irritations
Allergic reactions (non-life threatening)
Coughs, colds, and sore throats
Sprains and strains
Ear infections
Minor burns or injuries
Still not sure?
It is always a good idea to call your family doctor if you feel you need to be seen right away.
Even if it’s late at night or on a weekend, your doctor’s answering service will contact him/her
and your call should be returned quickly. If your doctor decides that you don’t need to go to the
ER, you’ll save money on your co-pay by going to an urgent care center or waiting to see your
doctor during office hours.
Source: National Association for Ambulatory Urgent Care
k:\benefits\medical\medical\when to use emergency room, urgent care or visit doctor.doc