When you are unwell or injured, knowing where to seek help can make a big difference. Choosing between an urgent care vs emergency room (ER) can be difficult. While both play critical roles, these medical facilities are meant for different purposes. In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the key differences between urgent care and the emergency room to assist you in choosing where to go when unforeseen situations arise.
What Is Urgent Care?
Urgent care clinics provide care when treatment is needed for non-life-threatening conditions. They aim to meet the gap left by the usual doctor’s clinic and the emergency room. Suppose your injury is not severe enough to call for the services of a hospital’s emergency unit, yet a visit to a doctor is still necessary. In that case, urgent care will serve you most effectively. When comparing urgent care vs emergency room, waits in East Valley urgent care clinics are not lengthy and cost less.
Here are some common reasons people visit urgent care:
- Minor cuts that may need stitches
- Sprains and minor fractures
- Cold or flu symptoms
- Sore throats and ear infections
- Allergies and asthma attacks
- Minor burns
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin rashes or irritations
What Is an Emergency Room?
Emergency rooms provide urgent treatment for acute medical emergencies. Each hospital will have the appropriate technological devices and medical team trained in the various aspects of crisis management.
Conditions that typically require an ER visit include:
- Chest pain or signs of a heart attack
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe head injuries or concussions
- Deep wounds or uncontrolled bleeding
- Sudden numbness or weakness, which could be signs of a stroke
- Severe burns
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Broken bones that poke through the skin
If you experience any of these symptoms, getting to an emergency room immediately is crucial as these conditions can be life-threatening.
Key Differences Between Urgent Care and Emergency Rooms
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Severity of Condition
The most significant difference between urgent care vs emergency room is the type of medical condition they treat. Urgent care treats simple injuries and non-life-threatening diseases, while the emergency room deals with more severe and critical cases.
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Wait Times
At a care clinic, a patient will most likely be attended to within a shorter time frame than in an emergency room. Emergency rooms always attend to individuals based on how serious their medical condition appears to be. For less serious problems, patients may have to wait for a long time.
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Cost
Urgent care is usually much more affordable than a visit to the emergency room. The reason behind this is that the emergency center charges more due to the advanced facilities that handle serious cases.
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Hours of Operation
Although patients can visit both facilities outside working hours, the general hospital’s emergency wing is operational all hours and days of the week, whereas urgent care facilities operate late into the night but may close for long hours on some days.
When to Choose Urgent Care
Urgent care is a reasonable option if you have a medical problem that is not life-threatening but requires prompt treatment. For instance, an ankle injury while playing sport or a high body temperature is an example of an injury and illness that can be treated at an urgent care facility without the excessive wait times and costs that may be associated with a visit to the emergency department.
When to Choose the Emergency Room
If you or someone else happens to be suffering from a medically serious ailment, do not wait—go to the ER. Critical medical issues are organized and treated in the ER, and all life-threatening situations are handled. Emergency calls or coming to hospitals immediately are essential for blood injury, shortness of breath, or any life-threatening injury.
About Concur Urgent Care
Concur Urgent Care treats patients with non-life-threatening conditions quickly and efficiently. We are conveniently located in Johns Creek and Norcross, GA, and provide various services, including treating minor injuries, administering vaccines, physical examinations, etc. Our expert medical team is qualified to treat cases of children as well as elderly patients. The balance between our extended hours of operation and walk-in patients means you and your family will receive all the care you need without long waiting intervals or expensive visits to the emergency rooms. When deciding between urgent care vs emergency room, consider Concur Urgent Care for quality, convenient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can broken bones be healed in urgent care facilities?
Yes, urgent care can handle simple fractures. But if the broken bone protrudes through the skin or causes great damage, one must go to the ER.
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How pricey is urgent care?
Generally, urgent care appointments are considerably less expensive than a visit to the emergency room. Depending on the types of services rendered and whether the visit is covered by insurance, one might expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200.
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When is a visit to the emergency room more appropriate than urgent care?
You will have to go to the Emergency department whenever there are life-threatening medical problems such as chest pains, breathing difficulties, or any other form of extraordinary trauma. If you are confused about which place to go, emergency care comes first as it ensures you will be treated.