What is the difference between urgent care and emergency room

It’s Friday night when you start feeling sick. By Saturday afternoon, your throat hurts, you’re congested, and have a fever. Your primary care provider isn’t open until Monday, but you feel you need care now. 

You’re not sick enough to warrant going to the emergency department, so what do you do? 

If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911.

When to go to Urgent Care

Urgent care is a walk-in clinic ideal for basic illnesses or injuries, like conditions primary care doctors treat. Urgent care is intended to be convenient, with typically short wait times available outside of regular primary care office hours, like on evenings and weekends. 

They are intended for non-emergency situations. Doctors can prescribe medication to treat what brings a patient in. They are equipped to suture wounds, perform basic tests, and can even provide vaccinations. Some urgent care locations can perform X-rays, CT scans, and more. 

Wake Forest Baptist allows you to view current wait times at our urgent care locations and reserve your spot online. 

Injuries & Illnesses Treated at Urgent Care 

You should seek care at an urgent care facility when experiencing:

• Cold symptoms - headache, cough, congestion
• Flu symptoms
• Vomiting/fever
• Ear infection
• Minor injuries
• Animal/insect bites
• Sunburn
• Minor strains/sprains
• Minor bone fractures
• Sports physicals

 View urgent care wait times

When to go to the Emergency Room

Emergency departments are for emergency situations, one’s that can result in the loss of a limb or life. Most are open 24 hours a day, on weekends, and even on holidays - accepting those with life-threatening conditions around the clock. Appointments cannot be made and spots can’t be reserved. While ERs work to keep their wait times low, they are typically longer than urgent care wait times. ERs see patients based on how urgent a case is, so their queues can be in constant flux. 

Visits to the emergency room are more expensive than visiting an urgent care clinic. Insurance coverage can get tricky with ERs. If insurance networks may deem that your visit to the emergency room was not an emergency, they may not cover any of the costs. At urgent care clinics, copays are available depending on the insurance networks the clinic accepts. 

Signs You Should Go to the ER 

If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

You should seek emergency care when experiencing:

• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Serious trauma
• Severe burns
• Broken bones
• Seizures
• Severe abdominal pain
• Vomiting that is severe and continues for several hours
• Poisoning
• Deep cuts and abrasions where bleeding is uncontrollable
• Pregnancy-related medical conditions

View emergency department wait times

The Difference Between Urgent Care and Emergency Care

The difference between urgent care and emergency care is the severity of the conditions they treat, opening hours, typical wait times, and cost. Urgent care doesn’t accept emergency situations. Emergency departments are open 24 hours. Urgent care clinics have shorter wait times and cost less with more likelihood for insurance coverage. 

Wake Forest Baptist Health has You Covered

Don’t wait until you are in an emergency situation to learn the difference between care options and the locations in your neighborhood. Find the closest North Carolina urgent care clinic or emergency room in your area. Discover the Wake Forest Baptist Health urgent care locations near you.

July 22, 2022

There are a few key differences between urgent care and the emergency room (ER). Urgent care is for injuries or illnesses that are not life-threatening. The emergency room, on the other hand, is for serious issues that may be considered a medical emergency.

One of the biggest differences between urgent care and the ER is the wait time and accessibility. Because urgent care centers deal with less serious medical issues, you won’t have to wait as long to be seen by a doctor or nurse. In addition, urgent care centers typically have extended hours, so you can get treatment even if your regular doctor’s office is closed. Urgent care centers are also typically less expensive than the ER.

When to Choose Urgent Care

Urgent care centers are a great option for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses. If you’re unsure whether your illness is appropriate for urgent care versus scheduling an appointment with your regular primary care doctor, it’s best to err on the side of caution and seek urgent medical attention. Urgent care centers are equipped to handle a variety of illnesses and injuries, so you’ll be in good hands no matter what’s wrong.

Here are just a few of the symptoms, illnesses, and conditions that can be effectively treated at an urgent care facility:

• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux and GERD
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Bone breaks
• Colds / flu
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Ear infections
• Fever
• Minor burns or wounds
• Pink eye or other eye infections
• Pneumonia
• Preventive care: physical exam, vaccines
• Pulled muscles
• Rashes and skin disorders
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Sinus infections
• Sore throat
• Strep throat
• Tendonitis and other repetitive use injuries
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Vomiting/nausea
• Workplace injuries

When to Choose the ER

If you or a loved one are experiencing signs or symptoms of a life-threatening condition, the ER is your best bet. This includes issues such as sudden or severe:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Bleeding that won’t stop
• Seizures
• Concussions or head injuries
• Loss of consciousness
• Paralysis
• A sudden, severe headache

Still Unsure?

If you’re not sure whether to go to the emergency room or an urgent care facility, consider the following: ERs are for life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention, such as a heart attack or stroke. If you think you or someone else is having a medical emergency, call 911 right away. On the other hand, urgent care facilities can handle many less serious conditions, such as the flu, ear infections, and sprains. Urgent care is usually less expensive than the ER and will be able to see you much more quickly.

Urgent Care in Caledonia, NY

Are you having a hard time deciding whether to go to the ER or an urgent care center? We can help! Call us at Cornerstone Urgent Care Center in Rochester, New York, and we’d be happy to guide you to the most appropriate care facility. We serve patients from Rochester and the surrounding areas, including Caledonia. Call Cornerstone Urgent Care Center at (585) 207-0088, or simply visit us during our extended business hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 8 pm and Saturday – Sunday, 9 am – 7 pm.