For many people, the term “emergency room” is synonymous with immediate medical attention. Emergency room waiting times have never been longer, and all the treatments in the emergency room can have a higher cost than a doctor’s office or urgent care center. Having an ambulance take you to the ER doesn’t mean that you will be treated right away; you will be triaged and treated with the same priority as if you walked in. If there are higher priority patients ahead of you, you may be told to go to waiting room until treatment. So if you don’t think you need an ER or expect to be admitted into the hospital, you could consider an urgent care or your private doctor instead.

Urgent care

For those requiring immediate care, local urgent care facilities are an excellent alternative. One recently opened in town, and emergency room physicians staff it. They may not have the same equipment as an emergency room, but if you’re emergency is not life-threatening, it may be a great place to start. I'd recommend being aware of your local services. You can call an urgent care and ask them what services they offer before you go there.

Urgent care centers:

•Focus on diagnosing and treating conditions that aren’t life-threatening yet need to be taken care of urgently

•Offer quality care on a walk-in basis

•Have extended evening and weekend hours

•Typically provide more complex services than a doctor’s office

•Similar to a doctors office, they can refuse to treat you

You may choose an urgent care center if you have:

•Sprains, strains and muscle aches

•Fever or flu-like symptoms

•Simple allergic reactions

•Minor burns or injuries

•Broken bones

•Vaccines

•Coughs, colds, sore throats

•Animal bites

Calling your doctor or specialist

Your doctor knows your history better than any urgent or emergency facility. If you contact them with a non life-threatening emergency, they can either treat you or direct you to the appropriate care with out burdening any unnecessary resource. They are the best to treat you for chronic conditions, check ups and regular health maintenance. They say no one knows you like your private doctor.