American Family Care
Emergency Room / Emergency Care
Don't wait to get the medical attention you need.
When You Should Go to the Emergency Room or an Urgent Care Clinic
While your first thought may be to immediately take someone to the emergency room when they are injured or ill, you should know that there are other options. Emergency rooms are often associated with long wait times and costly fees. In instances where the illness or injury is not life or limb-threatening, urgent care may be the better choice.
What’s the Difference Between the Emergency Room and an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic?
Hospital emergency departments provide medical care 24 hours a day. They are equipped and staffed to handle the most complex or critical needs, including life- and limb-threatening situations ranging from heart attack and stroke to traumatic injuries following a car accident.
Urgent care is the level of healthcare that lies between your primary care physician (PCP) and the emergency room. When you go to an urgent care clinic, you can expect treatment for non-emergency and non-life-threatening illnesses and ailments.
Urgent care centers are known for being convenient, quick, and often more affordable than the emergency room. Most of these centers don’t require you to make appointments, but some allow booking time slots.
By going to an urgent care center for a non-life-threatening illness or injury, you are cutting medical costs while ensuring that you will receive the care you need when you need it. On top of this, you also allow physicians and nurses in the ER to attend to patients in desperate need of treatment or surgery.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Certain medical conditions are considered emergencies because they can require rapid or advanced treatments, including surgery, that are only available in a hospital setting. Symptoms that are best evaluated in an emergency room include:
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Weakness/numbness on one side
- Slurred speech
- Fainting/Change in mental state
- Serious burns
- Head or eye injury
- Concussion/confusion
- Broken bones and dislocated joints
- Fever with a rash
- Seizures
- Severe cuts or arterial bleeding
- Facial lacerations
- Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
When to Go to an Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic
Urgent care centers are known for providing top-quality healthcare services to patients experiencing non-emergency ailments and injuries. They are perfect when you can’t wait for an appointment with your doctor but don’t quite need an emergency room.
An urgent care center is a good choice if you have experienced any of the following:
- A cold or the flu
- Fever
- Rashes or a skin infection
- Pinkeye
- Strep throat
- Urinary tract infections
- Sprains or strains
- Mild to moderate asthma attacks
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Mild to moderate dehydration
- Bleeding or cuts that need stitches
Head to AFC for Convenient and Affordable Healthcare
American Family Care is a foremost provider of convenient and budget-friendly urgent care solutions. Our primary goal is to deliver exceptional healthcare within a compassionate environment, upholding the rights of every patient, all while maintaining cost-effectiveness and offering services at times and locations convenient for them.
What distinguishes us from other urgent care clinics is our commitment to on-site technology and services, encompassing:
- Dedicated providers and care teams
- Cutting-edge digital X-ray facilities
- State-of-the-art diagnostic procedures
- Expert teams of support staff
- Comprehensive clinical lab testing
Our focus on seamlessly integrating advanced technology with compassionate care sets us apart in the realm of urgent healthcare.
How Can We Help?
- URGENT CARE
- PEDIATRIC URGENT CARE
- PRIMARY CARE
- WALK-IN CLINIC
- FAMILY CARE
- SEASONAL ALLERGY TREATMENTS
- BRONCHITIS TREATMENT
- EXPRESS LAB SERVICES
- STD TESTING
- ANNUAL PHYSICALS
- SCHOOL/SPORTS PHYSICALS
- IMMIGRATION PHYSICALS
- MEN’S PHYSICALS
- WOMEN’S PHYSICALS
- WELLNESS PHYSICALS
- VACCINATIONS – IMMUNIZATIONS
- FLU SHOTS – VACCINATIONS
- TRAVEL MEDICINE – VACCINATIONS
- X-RAYS
At AFC national clinics, we offer walk-in urgent care services and more!
RECENT BLOGS
Why Cold Weather May Cause Body Aches and Joint Pain
As the temperature drops and winter settles in, many people struggle with increased body aches and joint pain. It’s a
Read More
How Many Vaccines Do Kids Get? Standard Procedure in the US
Vaccinations are a cornerstone of public health, especially for children, as they protect against a range of serious and potentially
Read More
Can Humans Get Fleas from Dogs?
Can humans get fleas from dogs? Fleas are tiny, persistent parasites that primarily target our beloved pets, such as dogs.
Read More