When an unexpected medical event happens, many people are at a loss when deciding where to go. Their primary doctor may not be able to see them right away, or it may be outside of regular office hours. When this occurs, however, a few options remain.

If the medical condition is life-threatening and immediate, medical attention is absolutely necessary and it is always best to call 911 and request an ambulance transport. However, if driving yourself or the affected person is a possibility, two options remain: visiting urgent care or going to the emergency room.

How do you know where to go, though? Typically, emergency rooms are ideal for fast emergency services, necessary for life-or-limb saving attention. Instances in which emergency room visitation is suggested include:

• severe pain, particularly in the chest
• weakness or paralysis
• intestinal bleeding
• newborn baby with a fever
• head or eye injuries
• broken bones or dislocated joints
• serious burns

Non-emergency patients can be seen in the emergency room, but those with any of the conditions above take priority. This could lead to long wait times, as less urgent situations could be put on hold for hours.

Furthermore, emergency room visits also come at a price. Typically, a visit to the emergency room, especially when the situation is not deemed an emergency, can cost visitors upwards of hundreds of dollars. In matters of life-or-death, emergency rooms are the way to go, but for less serious medical occurrences, urgent care may be the better choice.

Urgent care is typically ideal when ordinary medical attention is needed outside of usual office hours, or when appointments with a primary care doctor are unavailable. Visitors to urgent care are served on a first come first served basis. Situations that would merit an urgent care visit include:

• fever
• sprains
• painful urination
• persistent diarrhea
• severe sore throat
• vomiting

Urgent care can also be significantly less expensive for appropriate visits. Where emergency rooms can charge for both the visit and the doctor’s time, urgent care combines these charges into a more affordable rate. If the situation is appropriate, urgent care is likely the more convenient choice.

All in all, knowing when to choose the appropriate option between the ER and Urgent Care can be the difference between long waits and high costs, and getting your condition seen in a timely fashion. If more of us choose the right option for their needs, we can go a long way to improving the medical experience for everyone involved!