Urgent care vs. emergency room
When to go to urgent care
Urgent care is for when you need to see a doctor quickly, but it is not an emergency. It is meant for sicknesses or injuries that you would usually visit your regular doctor for. Urgent care clinics are open when most doctors' offices are closed. You should not go to the emergency room for urgent care unless your doctor tells you to.
When to go to the emergency room
Emergency care is help you need right away. You should go to the emergency room if you think your life is in danger because of an injury or sudden sickness.
When to call your doctor
If you are not sure whether to go to the emergency room or urgent care, you can call your doctor for help. They can tell you what to do. If your problem is not serious, you might have to wait a long time in the emergency room. For most health problems, it’s best to call your doctor first. Your doctor knows your health history and can give you the best care. It’s important to see the same doctor for ongoing issues like asthma or sickle cell disease. If your life is in danger, go to the emergency room right away or call 911 for an ambulance. When you arrive at the emergency room and can, call your doctor.