Why Choose Urgent Care over the Emergency Room?

June 13, 2024

by Isaac Zefo | Jun 13, 2024 | Urgent Care Clinic

Why Choose Urgent Care Over the Emergency Room?

Life is unpredictable, and so are medical situations that arise at inconvenient times. Your primary healthcare provider is the one you are most comfortable seeing. When they aren’t available to help with a problem requiring immediate medical attention, you are left trying to decide if the emergency room or an urgent care center is your best option. Whether it’s a minor injury, a sudden fever, or a serious health concern, deciding between them can be challenging especially when you aren’t totally sure what distinguishes them from each other. Add in care options, wait times, and costs and it can become even more confusing.

What is Urgent Care?

Urgent care centers, like AFC Hickory, are designed to bridge the gap between emergency rooms and primary care providers providing same-day appointments and handling non-life-threatening conditions that require prompt attention beyond regular doctor office hours. They can be found as standalone buildings, or within other retail spaces.

We offer accessible quality healthcare and diagnostic services that are convenient, less stressful, and at a lower cost. Urgent care centers like AFC Hickory are the best non-emergency option for many situations. There are over 10,000 urgent care centers in the U.S., so people living in more urban areas may have one within a short distance. Their welcoming atmosphere and shorter wait times lead to higher patient satisfaction than ERs.

Urgent care is ideal for non-critical, time-sensitive conditions. We have a physician on staff as well as other trained professionals like physician assistants and nurse practitioners providing quick and efficient health services when your situation cannot wait for an opening at your primary care doctor, and during evenings and weekends. Due to treating less severe issues, wait times can be much shorter than at an ER.

Urgent care centers treat a variety of conditions, including:

Minor illnesses (e.g., respiratory infections, upset stomachs)
Minor injuries (e.g., fractures, sprains, cuts)
Allergic reactions
Pain- not life-threatening
Flu-like symptoms
Conditions like abdominal pain or dehydration require prompt attention but are not necessarily life-threatening.

Urgent care visits tend to be less expensive than ER visits with insurance plans typically covering more urgent care visit expenses than ER expenses. For non-emergency situations like cold symptoms or minor allergic reactions, urgent care is usually the best option. Not all examinations or testing can be done virtually but telemedicine consultations offered by many urgent care centers can help keep services more convenient and affordable.

What is an Emergency Room?

Emergency rooms (ERs) are equipped to handle medical needs across a wide spectrum from common urinary tract infections to more acute illnesses such as severe chest pain, high fevers, or traumatic injuries that require CT scans or surgical procedures. Where the ER stands out is in its ability to care for more critical medical conditions quickly and efficiently.
Many choose to go to an ER believing that they are a faster option than urgent care centers. However, ER wait times can be considerably longer due to the prioritization of more severe cases, leading to you being bumped further down the list if your condition is less acute than other patients. ER visits often result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to urgent care visits. ER visits may include separate bills for the doctor’s time, which is not always included in hospital fees and can result in higher co-pays and deductibles. You can’t assume your health insurance plan will cover all ER services.

If you have a life-threatening emergency such as a suspected heart attack or stroke, severe pain or difficulty breathing, or severe burns the nearest emergency room is your safest choice. There, the triage nurse can expedite your care according to the severity of your symptoms.

Choosing Your Care

Moderate health issues, such as abdominal pain or dehydration can represent a gray area that can be tricky to navigate and figure out where the line is between needing swift medical care and the potential for more acute complications.

The choice between urgent care and an emergency room depends on the severity and immediacy of the health condition. ERs cater to complex, life-threatening conditions that warrant extensive medical interventions. Less critical conditions can be handled at urgent care centers which tend to be a more cost-effective alternative.

Urgent Care: Ideal for non-life-threatening injuries, and immediate care needs.
Emergency Room: Best for severe, life-threatening situations.
Primary Care Provider: Should be the first call for non-emergency issues, but urgent care is a suitable alternative when the office is closed.

When you or a family member are suffering, nothing is more important than receiving the right medical treatment at the right time. ERs and their hospital setting can heighten anxiety for some, so a more relaxed and welcoming urgent care environment might be a better fit. By using urgent care centers whenever possible, we can all help ERs reserve their critical care resources for those who need them most.

Are you looking for quality urgent care services with a physician on staff? Check out our AFC Hickory location.