In most communities in the United States patients with serious injuries will be seen in the emergency room. There are also urgent care clinics in many locations, and these facilities can deal with mild to moderate injuries and conditions that are not life-threatening.
The difference between urgent care and emergency care is really the risk of loss of life. The emergency department of the hospital has the full services, medical staff and operating theaters of the hospital to access. An urgent care clinic has some of the diagnostic tools and equipment but not the full treatment options that a hospital can offer.
If you are in a situation where you have to decide if someone needs emergency care or urgent care, consider the following issues:
- Severe or profound injuries or bleeding – if the patient has severe or profound injuries or bleeding from an accident, car crash, fall, physical assault or from gunshots or knife wounds than an emergency room is the only option to consider.
- Heart attack or stroke – if you believe the individual has suffered a heart attack or stroke it is essential to take the patient to a hospital emergency room. In these situations, time is of the essence to prevent further complications and health issues, do not hesitate to call the ambulance and have the patient moved immediately.
- Loss of consciousness or seizures – when a person has lost consciousness of any reason, including head injuries, possible overdose or other issues, get emergency treatment at an ER.
- Allergies or asthma –for a life-threatening allergic reaction, including anaphylactic shock, or a life-threatening asthma attack always use the services of an ER facility. In most cases, these patients will require monitoring and hospitalization at least overnight.
Just keep in mind that if the medical issues appear to be life threatening or if you don’t know the cause of the injury to the individual, always use emergency care. For non-life-threatening issues, the urgent care or your doctor is typically the best option for immediate diagnosis and treatment.
