Urgent care vs. the emergency room

When to go to urgent care

Urgent care centers treat a wide variety of illnesses and injuries. They are good options when you need same-day care outside of normal office hours or when your doctor is not available.

Common reasons to visit an urgent care center include:

• Sprains or strains of your arms or legs
• Broken bones where you don’t see an obvious deformity
• Headaches that are not typical for you
• Sore throat, cough, flu or low-grade fevers
• Minor burns
• Cuts that may need a few stitches
• Urinary tract infections
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Most low back pain

When to go to an emergency room

If an illness or injury is severe or if you need care immediately, the emergency room is the right choice. Emergency rooms are equipped and staffed to handle complex and critical care needs.

Common reasons to visit an emergency room include:

• Traumatic injuries from a vehicle accident or fall
• Complex fracture with a bone protruding through the skin
• Sudden or severe headaches
• Chest pain or difficulty breathing
• Significant head injury
• Suspected heart attack or stroke
• Poisonings; drug or alcohol issues
• Severe abdominal pain
• Seizures

View urgent care wait times

If your plan medical group is Sharp Rees-Stealy, you can check wait times before you hit the road.  Sharp Rees-Stealy urgent care centers are open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.

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