It is an unfortunate fact of life that most of us, at some point in our lives, experience injury or illness that causes immediate alarm and needs same-day medical care. When injury or illness occurs, a quick decision needs to be made about how serious it is, and how soon you should seek care.
Before you find yourself in the middle of a stressful medical situation, learn what your choices are, and what healthcare facilities in your area are best equipped to treat various minor emergency health conditions.
Primary Care Provider Appointments
Your primary care provider is your first line of defense for sickness, pain, or other non-emergency health concerns. Your primary care practitioner is a partner in care, keeping you healthier as you age, and provides continuity of care throughout your lifetime.
Choosing a PCP means that you have someone who you can build a relationship with to help you manage chronic conditions, create health goals, prevent future illness, and who can expertly refer you to the right specialist when a condition is out of their scope.
Same Day Appointments
If you need same-day treatment for a minor injury, illness, or other health concern, reach out to our Family Medicine clinics to request a same day appointment. We have a limited number of in-clinic and telehealth appointments available for same-day patients, so please call ahead to reserve your appointment slot.
Walk-In or Urgent Care Clinics
The category, walk-in clinic, is a catch-all term that refers to any healthcare provider that allows you to be seen without an appointment. It should be noted that a walk-in or urgent care clinic is a supplemental healthcare option, and should never be used as a replacement for primary care, although some primary care clinics also offer same-day appointments or walk-in services.
Most walk-In clinics have extended hours, making them a great option if you are experiencing emergency symptoms at night or on the weekends. And there is a minimal waiting period before you are able to receive care. DispatchHealth also offers urgent care house calls to patients who are not able to get to a clinic.
Walk-in clinics are not appropriate for all situations, however, you should visit your nearest walk-in clinic if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Severe cold or flu
- Upsetting earache
- Unusual or extreme migraine
- Low-grade fever
- If you notice an abnormal rash.
In the case of injury, choose a walk-in clinic if you have a minor injury such as:
- Minor broken bone
- Minor eye injury
- Back pain
- Minor cut or burn
- A sprain
If you are experiencing pain or injury that is not life-threatening, a walk-in is often the best urgent care treatment facility. There are almost twice as many walk-in centers as there are emergency rooms in the United States.
This means that you are more likely to have a walk-in or urgent care clinic that is closer and more convenient than an ER. Also, the average walk-in patient waits 15 minutes or less to see a provider. while emergency rooms report an average wait time of 24 minutes but can often take much longer.
Humana reports that ERs are six times more expensive than walk-ins, so you can save money by avoiding the ER when it is reasonable. Reinforcing these points, a recent study shows that nearly 50 percent of diagnoses in an emergency room could have been treated at an urgent care or walk-in clinic at a fraction of the cost and wait time.
If you are experiencing pain or injury where the symptoms could be life-threatening, a walk-in facility is not the best option. In the case of serious pain or injury, serious circulation problems or trouble breathing, visit your nearest emergency room or call 911.
Emergency Rooms
In the case of severe injury or illness, time is not a luxury, and it is imperative that you receive emergency treatment right away. Emergency rooms are equipped and staffed for the most complex or critical needs, including life-threatening situations, and traumatic injuries.
The emergency room is meant for medical conditions that require rapid or advanced treatments. Symptoms that are best treated in an emergency include:
- Trouble breathing, or choking
- Unusual or severe headache
- Broken bones, especially if the bone is exposed
- Any type of severe pain, especially in the abdomen or mid to lower back
- Weakness in the body, dizziness or fainting
- Sudden difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech
- High fever, especially in children
- Ingesting poisonous substances or inhaling poisonous fumes
- Altered mental state including thoughts of suicide,
- Severe heart palpitations
- Sudden testicular pain and swelling
- Head or eye injuries
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
- Overdose of drugs or alcohol
- Coughing up or throwing up blood
- Severe allergic reactions, especially in children
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Severe and persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Serious burns
- Seizure without previous epilepsy diagnosis
If your gut is telling you that it is an emergency, don’t hesitate. Call 911 or rush to an emergency room. It is better to be safe than sorry. You should call 911 immediately if your symptoms include:
- Inability to breathe
- Head injury, fainting, or extreme confusion,
- Neck or spine injury
- Electric shock via power or lightning
- Severe burns
- Chest pain and/or pressure
- Seizure without previous epilepsy diagnosis
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above requiring emergency room treatment, do not drive yourself to the emergency room. Ask an unimpaired driver, or call 911.
If you are ever unsure about going to walk-in clinic or emergency room, call 911. They will be able to talk you through the appropriate steps you should take in case of an emergency. In the meantime, save the following numbers in your phone so that you will be better prepared for an emergency.
Save the number of:
- Your doctor
- The Poison Control Center
- The closest emergency room
- The closest walk-in care clinic
Patients have options for same-day care
View comparison chart of same day medical treatment options, including: same day primary care appointments, telehealth, urgent care clinic or house call, or the ER.
View chart >>