PCP vs Urgent Care vs Emergency Department Visits

Patients can at times be confused as to when to call their Doctor versus when to visit the Urgent Care center or go to the Emergency Department. It is important to provide information to the patients so they can make an informed decision.

Although the Primary Care Doctor knows a patient’s health history, including what treatments have worked best in the past, urgent care clinics are a great resource for when the Primary Care Doctor is not available.

Emergency Departments are true centers for emergent care. Rapid treatment including advanced treatment like surgery, would be a key factor in determining if an ER is needed.

When to go to the Urgent Care center:
     • Symptoms that your physician would treat, but their office is closed (holiday/after-hours/weekend)
     • Flu-like symptoms
     • Cough/congestions/sore throat
     • Sprains/strains
     • Small cuts that may require stitches

When to go to the ER:
     • Chest pain
     • Difficulty breathing
     • Numbness on one side
     • Slurred speech
     • Fainting/change in mental status
     • Serious burns
     • Head/eye injury
     • Concussion/confusion
     • Broken bones/dislocated joints
     • Severe cuts/hemorrhaging

Source:
www.scripps.org

Approved Quality Committee – 1/8/2020