Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: What’s the difference?
When dealing with urgent or acute illness or injury - especially on weekends or after hours when typical medical practices are closed - patients often turn to urgent care centers or hospital emergency rooms to get the medical attention they need. However, there are differences between the two care settings and your choice can have important consequences, including cost, convenience and ability to be seen.
Why do you need medical attention?
The reason you are seeking care helps determine whether you should go to the ER or to an urgent care center. Many urgent care centers and hospitals post lists of medical conditions treated online. It’s a good idea to find the closest options near you and check to see what services they provide before you have an urgent need so you can make a swift decision when needed. Virtual appointments may be available for certain types of illnesses, including cold, flu or Covid-19 symptoms.
Specific medical services
Generally, urgent care centers are for acute illnesses and injuries that require a same day appointment but are NOT life-threatening. This includes things like:
- Cold/flu symptoms, sinus infections or sore throat
- Minor cuts, burns or skin rashes; animal or insect bites
- Muscle strains/sprains
- Eye and ear infections
- Minor bone fractures – Some urgent cares can x–ray suspected bone fractures. Call the urgent care center ahead of time to make sure imaging services are available before heading to the clinic.
Emergency rooms are for serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses and injuries. This includes:
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Stroke
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
- Severe burns or allergic reaction
- Serious trauma or injury
- Deep cuts or uncontrolled bleeding
- Poisonings
- Large bone fractures
Other considerations
Urgent care centers are usually faster and less expensive than the emergency room. However, urgent care centers typically close in the evening so treatment may not be available after 8 p.m. Also, urgent care centers are not legally obligated to see all patients in need of care. They operate under the same laws, rules and policies as private medical practices.
Emergency rooms are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are required by law to stabilize any patient who arrives with an urgent or emergent medical need. Patients are seen based on the severity of their illness or injury, so wait times are unpredictable and can be long. In addition, emergency care is almost always more expensive than urgent care.
