More than likely, it’s a decision we will all eventually face – deciding whether to seek treatment at an urgent care clinic or an emergency room when you or a loved one is ill or injured.
“It’s important to know the difference between the care that can be provided at an urgent care clinic and the care at emergency department so you can make the best decision for yourself or a loved one when a situation arises,” said Cox Medical Center Branson Urgent Care Assistant Nurse Manager Ryan Goff, RN. “Choosing the right avenue for care can often save time and money.”
Urgent Care
At an urgent care, providers see patients for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, such as ear infections, cough, chest congestion, insect bites, sore throats, urinary tract infections, rashes, and deep cuts and lacerations that require stitches.
“Urgent care is much like a walk-in clinic,” Goff explains. “At our urgent care in Branson (Mo.), you walk in, tell a member of our front office staff about your health concern during the registration process, and will be seen by a provider fairly quickly. If you were to go to the emergency room with a condition such as a sore throat, ear infection or urinary tract infection, you will likely have a longer wait.
At the emergency department, patients are triaged and if your condition is not urgent, other patients may be seen before you because their medical need is more urgent.”
Emergency Department
“The emergency department is for life threating injuries or illnesses,” Goff said. “Emergency departments offer a wide range of services including diagnostics and access to specialists. Having those services readily available broadens what can be provided and generally, it makes it a more expensive route for care compared to an urgent care clinic.”
Emergency departments are also open around the clock, seven days a week.
“If you think you are having a stroke, chest pains, or any other potentially life-threatening illness or injury, you should call 911 or get to the emergency room immediately,” Goff said.
“Other severe injuries or illnesses that would warrant a trip to the emergency department includes: trouble breathing, severe injuries, burns or electrical shock, seizure, sudden numbness or weakness, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, passing out, severe abdominal pain, continuous vomiting and poison ingestion, to name a few.”
Primary Care Provider
Not all illnesses or injuries require a trip to urgent care or emergency department.
“Your primary care provider is an excellent resource when you need medical care and feel it is safe to wait to be seen until the next available appointment time with your provider,” Goff says. “The great thing about seeing your primary care provider is that you often have an established relationship with that provider who knows and understands your health history.”
Mindy Honey is a media relations specialist, for Cox Medical Center Branson.
