|
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
What is an Emergency?
When an illness or injury occurs, it is not always easy to tell when you need to come to the Emergency Department. Unfortunately, many patients who visit emergency rooms do not have a true emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Because of this, these patients often have to wait for many hours because they must be seen after other patients who have life-threatening illnesses or injuries.
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, call 911 immediately:
Bleeding profusely
Experiencing pressure or pain in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes
Loss of consciousness
Severe shortness of breath
Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
Confusion or slurred speech
In addition, if you feel that your illness, pain, or injury needs immediate attention, we encourage you to seek treatment at the emergency room.
If your need is not immediate, it may be faster for you to visit your primary physician or an urgent care facility. These needs include:
Colds and other minor illnesses
Back pain
Sore throats
Earaches
Minor burns or cuts
Sprains and simple fractures
If you need help in finding a primary care physician, please call us at (850) 416-1600 for a referral.
|
