Accidents are never planned for, and they can vary from mild to severe cases. Most people are usually caught between visiting an urgent care or emergency room for the best treatment. This particularly applies when the doctor’s office nearby is closed. How do you know where to go for specific health conditions or accidental incidents? Read on to discover answers to this question.

Urgent Care Vs. Emergency Room

Understanding the differences between urgent care and emergency room is crucial to help make informed decisions.

• Purpose: Urgent care centers are designed to treat non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries requiring immediate attention but not severe or critical. On the other hand, emergency rooms are equipped to handle life-threatening and critical medical situations that require immediate attention.
• Wait times: Urgent care generally has shorter wait times than emergency rooms.
• Staff: Urgent care is usually staffed by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and occasionally doctors. On the other hand, the emergency room is staffed by emergency medicine physicians and medical specialists to handle a wide range of critical conditions.
• Equipment: Urgent Care is equipped to handle basic diagnostic tests (X-rays, blood tests) and provide basic treatments. On the other hand, the emergency room is equipped for comprehensive diagnostic tests, advanced treatments, and life-saving interventions.
• Cost: Urgent care is often more affordable than an emergency room visit.

Common Conditions Treated at the ER

Here are some common conditions that are often treated in emergency rooms:

• Chest pain can indicate a heart attack or other severe cardiac conditions. ERs can perform rapid diagnostics and provide immediate treatment.
• ERs treat traumatic injuries such as major fractures, head injuries, deep cuts, and injuries sustained in accidents.
• Sudden onset of weakness, numbness, slurred speech, or difficulty understanding speech can be signs of a stroke. This requires urgent medical attention in ERs. 
• Various conditions, including seizures, heart issues, or neurological disorders, cause fainting or loss of consciousness.
• Seizures are caused by epilepsy, head injuries, infections, or other neurological issues.
• Uncontrolled bleeding, whether due to trauma or other causes.
• Individuals experiencing severe mental health crises or thoughts of self-harm may seek help in the ER for stabilization.
• Infections that have spread or are causing severe symptoms, such as high fever and difficulty breathing.

Common Conditions Treated at Urgent Care 

Here are some common conditions that are often treated at urgent care centers:

• Urgent care centers can treat minor injuries such as sprains, strains, minor fractures, cuts that may require stitches, and minor burns.
• Common illnesses like colds, flu, strep throat, sinus infections, ear infections, and urinary tract infections.
• Mild to moderate allergic reactions.
• Conditions like minor abscesses, boils, and skin rashes.
• Minor eye injuries and infections.
• Conditions such as mild food poisoning, gastroenteritis, and heartburn.
• Minor sports-related injuries.