Choosing the most appropriate care
It can be difficult to know when to seek care at an urgent care facility or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Urgent care deals with situations that are moderate or serious including cuts, broken bones, vomiting and nausea, headaches, abdominal pain and other non-life-threatening conditions. Emergency care is for life-threatening conditions. When experiencing severe pain or feeling ill, a person may not be able to assess what is urgent and what is a true emergency. Board-certified Physicians, Registered Nurses and other medical professionals skilled in emergency medicine care for patients at urgent care center such as Doctors on Duty. They examine each patient, and if true emergency care is required, the patient can then be referred or transferred directly to the nearest Emergency Room.
Urgent care is generally covered by most insurance programs, while emergency care is often covered at a lower rate if the condition turns out not to be a true emergency. Urgent care centers are typically open every day, including weekends and holidays, and have early morning and evening hours. Appointments are not required.
People who have any of the following symptoms should call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room:
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Sudden blurred vision, dizziness, weakness or loss of coordination/balance
• Numbness in the arm, leg or face
• Severe abdominal pain or headache
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Severe burns or life threatening injury
• Seizures