Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

If you believe your life is at risk then call 911 or go to the Emergency Room; however, urgent care can typically handle non-life threatening medical issues. Benefits of urgent care over the emergency room include lower overall costs, lower co-pays, convenient locations close to home, and shorter wait times.

Below are conditions and guidance when one should visit the ER vs. Urgent Care:

Urgent Care

Emergency Room

  • Allergic reactions (minor)
  • Allergies (seasonal)
  • Animal, insect, or spider bite (minor)
  • Asthma attack (minor)
  • Back pain or strains
  • Broken bone (bone not sticking out of skin)
  • Burn (small)
  • Common colds and coughing
  • COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen testing
  • COVID-19 treatment for mild to moderate cases
  • Cuts / lacerations (minor) and stitches removal
  • Dehydration, not drinking and eating
  • Dental pain
  • Dizziness, weakness or loss of coordination or balance
  • Earache
  • Ear wax removal
  • Eye problems (pink eye, eye irritation, styes)
  • Flu (influenza)
  • Foreign object removal
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Head injury (without passing out)
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Immunizations
  • Incision and drainage; abscess
  • Injuries (falls, sprains, minor concussions, fingernail/toenail, work-related)
  • Medication refills (non-narcotic)
  • Pregnancy test
  • Rash
  • Skin problems (eczema/dry skin, poison ivy/poison oak, infections)
  • Sinus infections
  • Sore throat / Strep
  • Sprain or strain
  • Stomach pain (minor)
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Acute weakness or paralysis
  • Asthma attack (severe)
  • Heavy bleeding/amputations
  • Broken bone (bone sticking out of skin)
  • Burn (large)
  • Chest pain or severe chest pressure
  • Coughing or vomiting blood
  • Fainting or seizure
  • Fever unrelated to common cold/flu (infants under 8 months old)
  • Headache — sudden and severe; chronic migraines
  • Pregnancy-related complications (pain, bleeding)
  • Severe abdominal/stomach pain
  • Severe shortness of breath/unable to swallow/anaphylaxis
  • Stroke or stroke-like symptoms (FAST: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911)
  • Sudden vision changes
  • Swallowed object
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or others