You know the drill. You feel sick, so you seek medical care. However, if you need prompt treatment for a minor medical problem, but your primary care physician isn’t available, what should you do? Should you go to the emergency room?
Don’t be too fast – it may not be necessary at all. Have you heard of an urgent care facility? In this blog, we’ll learn about the key differences between these two types of medical facilities.
When to Go to an Urgent Care Facility
Urgent care is for people with non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses who don’t have a primary care doctor or who don’t want to wait to see one. Urgent care clinics are staffed with healthcare personnel, often with emergency medicine background, who treat patients with the following medical problems:
- Colds and flu
- Minor cuts and burns
- Sprains, strains, and minor fractures
- Ear and eye infections
- Allergic reactions
Unlike emergency rooms, in which patients are treated based on the severity of their condition, urgent care facilities accommodate patients on a first-come, first-served basis.
When it comes to medical costs, urgent care visits are generally less expensive than ER visits. However, you need to consider what’s covered by your insurance; check with your provider.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
The emergency room (ER) is a hospital department equipped to provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is the go-to for people with serious or life-threatening conditions or injuries, such as the following:
- Symptoms of a heart attack (e.g., chest pains and shortness of breath)
- Gunshot or stab wounds
- Severe bleeding
- Head injuries
- Suspected strokes
If you’re not sure whether your condition is an emergency, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and go to the ER.
Urgent Care Near Me in Fairless Hills, PA
If you’re in search of a trusted urgent care facility near you in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, your search ends here – visit Patient Care Now Urgent Care. Our practice is owned and operated by highly credentialed emergency medicine physicians, and we pride ourselves on providing high-quality urgent care and an extensive range of ancillary services. Whatever you need, whether treatment for a minor orthopedic injury, a DOT physical, blood work, or workers’ compensation assistance, you can count on us.
Simply hop in! We are open 7 days a week, 365 days a year – no appointment necessary. However, if you like, you can call ahead at (267) 202-6433 and let us know you’re coming, or you can check in here to shorten your wait time.
