Urgent Care or Emergency Room?
How to choose the right care when you need it.
911
Don’t operate a motor vehicle if your vision is impaired, you feel faint, or are experiencing severe chest pain or severe bleeding. Call 911.
When to Choose Urgent Care
Urgent care centers are same-day clinics that treat many common medical conditions and injuries that require urgent attention but are not considered to be medical emergencies.
Symptoms that can be evaluated and treated at an urgent care center include:
- Abdominal pain
- Animal and insect bites
- Cold or flu symptoms
- Cuts and abrasions
- Ear infections
- Eye irritation and redness
- Fever without a rash
- Skin rashes and infections
- Sore throat, congestion, and cough
- Sprains, strains, and simple breaks
- STD testing
- Urinary tract infections
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
When to Choose the Emergency Room
Certain medical conditions are considered emergencies because they can require rapid or advanced treatments, including surgery, that are only available in a hospital setting.
Symptoms that should be evaluated and treated in the emergency room include:
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Concussion, confusion, or change of mental state
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Facial lacerations
- Fainting, sudden dizziness, or weakness
- Fever with a rash
- Head or eye injury
- Neck or spinal injury
- Seizures
- Serious burns
- Slurred speech
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
- Weakness or numbness on one side