When seeking medical help for a painful issue in your body – whether that be sickness or injury – it can be difficult to determine whether you should visit an urgent care or the emergency room. Some conditions can feel like an emergency, but you may be able to get more specialized care for the problem at an urgent care and vice versa.
Understanding the differences between both and where to visit helps save people time and money. At UofL Health, we provide quality care for both situations and are dedicated to helping you determine the location that would be most beneficial to your specific issue.
When to Visit the Urgent Care
If you are suffering from an injury or sickness that is non-life threatening, visiting an urgent care is the best option. Urgent care locations typically offer relatively short wait times and there are no appointments necessary. Additionally, they are open longer hours than primary care offices.
Some common conditions and injuries that urgent cares treat include:
- Allergies and asthma
- Cuts and lacerations
- Colds and flu
- Ear infections
- Foreign body removal
- Migraines and headaches
- Minor injuries and illnesses
- Pink eye
- Sprains, strains and fractures (non-compound)
- Stomach issues such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Strep
- Urinary tract and yeast infections
Urgent cares can also offer physicals.
When to Visit the Emergency Room
If you are suffering from a sickness, pain or injury that is life-threatening, you should visit the emergency room immediately. Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, emergency rooms offer more resources provided by full-service hospitals, such as surgery and diagnostic testing.
It’s important to note that there is usually a priority system with waiting times at emergency rooms based on the severity of patient injuries and issues. Some common reasons to go to the Emergency Department include, but are not limited to:
- Chest pain, heart attacks and heart conditions
- Stroke
- Burns, environmental injuries and exposures
- Shock
- Infections
- Traumatic injuries and wounds
- Broken bones and hand injuries
- Respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Poison emergencies
- Psychiatric emergencies
- Pregnancy emergencies
If you believe you are suffering from a life-threatening condition, it is vital that you don’t wait to call 911 or visit an emergency room.
If you are in need of urgent or emergency care and are wondering where to visit, UofL Health offers six Urgent Care Plus locations and seven Emergency Departments around the Jefferson, Shelby and Bullitt county areas. To check UofL Health ER wait times, text ERWAIT to 511511 for approximate wait times.
