When to visit the ER?

Sometimes when you’re not feeling well it can be easy to worry and seek care at the hospital Emergency Room. But not every illness or injury is considered an emergency and it’s important to know if you should go to your primary care provider, visit an urgent care center or head straight to the ER, depending on what the situation is. Here are some steps you can take to figure out what your best course of action is.

Step one: Consider the symptoms

Many mild illnesses and injuries can be treated without ever leaving home, especially minor symptoms like a low-grade fever (less than 100 degrees), aches and pains, a runny nose or a mild cough. The University of Chicago School of Medicine recommends rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking over-the-counter medications. After a few days, if symptoms don’t improve, consider calling your doctor.

 

If possible, it’s best to start with a call to your primary care doctor. With advancements in telemedicine, visits can often be done by phone or video the same day. If a primary care doctor isn’t available, an urgent care clinic may be another good option. However, if symptoms continue to worsen or if the injury is life-threatening, it’s best to visit the emergency room.

 

Step two: Determine PCP vs. urgent vs. emergent

If you need immediate healthcare attention, there are 3 options: call your primary care provider, go to an urgent care center, or head to the emergency room. Here are some common situations that may help make the decision on which is best for you: 

 

When to call your primary care provider:

  • General sickness with mild symptoms including cold, flu, covid and UTI
  • Need for lab work
  • Specialist referrals
  • Minor aches and pains including earaches, stomach aches and arthritis

Urgent care clinic:

  • Back or muscle pain
  • Cuts and minor burns
  • Sprains or joint pain
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Vomiting and diarrhea

Emergency room:

  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Severe bleeding or severe head injuries
  • Loss of consciousness or a “blackout”
  • Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision

Step three: Understanding why this matters

A doctor’s visit will be less expensive than a trip to the hospital and won’t tie up emergency services. Over time, this can help improve quality and availability of care as well as healthcare costs. Emergency departments are staffed with providers specializing in trauma and emergent care, but saving those trips for real emergencies will save you time and money while also saving room in the hospital for patients who have a real emergency.

 

The best thing to do is evaluate each situation and decide how urgent the need is and the best place for treatment. Please remember you should call your PCP to help you evaluate your symptoms and make the decision that is best for you. *

 

*https://www.convivacarecenters.com/en/disclaimer.html

 

 

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