Do you know the difference between the emergency room and an urgent care? Do you know where to go when you are in need of medical care?
In general the emergency room should be visited if the problem is life threatening. Urgent cares, like Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine in Colorado, should be visited if the problem is non-life-threatening, but is too pressing to wait to see your primary care doctor.
Urgent Care or ER?
When Should You Consider Going to Urgent Care Clinics?
You should consider going to an urgent care clinic for many of the same ailments you would go to your family medicine doctor for. This includes the following acute illnesses or injuries, but is not limited to:
- COVID-19
- Allergies
- Pink eye
- Insect bites or minor animal bites
- Neck or back pain
- Ear infections
- UTIs
- Mild fevers
- Cold or flu symptoms
- Minor sprains, strains, or breaks
- Strep throat
Emergency Room Visits
Going to the emergency room, or calling 911, is important when you are experiencing a medical emergency that is life threatening. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Severe allergic reactions
- Severe animal bites
- Severe chest pain or shortness of breath, heart attack symptoms
- Sudden blurring or loss of vision
- High fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more days
- Loss of consciousness or signs of stroke
- Severe breaks or loss of limb
- Repeated vomiting or vomiting blood
Emergency Room or Urgent Care: Key Differences
The key differences between emergency departments and urgent care centers include more than just what you are being seen for. Other differences include the cost, wait times, and hours of operation.
- Insurance companies accept visits to urgent cares and emergency rooms. However, the average cost for an urgent care visit is $125-$160 and the emergency room can cost $400-$2,000.
- Generally the wait times are shorter at the urgent care. At Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine you can reserve your visit time. This helps minimize wait times, but we also accept walk-in patients.
- Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine’s clinics are open 7 days a week. Emergency rooms are typically always open.
Emergency Room and Urgent Care Similarities
You will receive the utmost medical attention at the emergency room and urgent care centers. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates work at both while providing high levels of care. Many urgent cares are equipped with x-ray, just like an ER. Ultrasound, CT scans, and MRIs are generally not offered at the urgent care, but are available at many emergency rooms or hospitals.
Walk-in or Reserve Your Spot for a Visit With Us!
Walk-in or reserve your spot for a visit with Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine in Colorado for acute illnesses or injury. We have locations across the Denver metro area. Click here for a list of locations and to reserve your spot for an in-clinic or telehealth visit today.