It’s Saturday. The cold you have been suffering from for the last few days seems to be getting worse. You have a fever and you’ve vomited one time. You have a fever and you need to go to the hospital emergency department or urgent care clinic.
If you have ever wondered if you should go to an ER, or an urgent care center, you are not alone. My patients, their family members, and friends often ask me if they should go to the ER, an urgent care clinic, or manage their symptoms at home.
As we face the COVID-19 epidemic and the onset flu season, it is important to listen and assess your symptoms. To avoid overloading emergency rooms with mild injuries or illnesses, and to avoid overcrowding them with severe cases that cannot be treated elsewhere, It is possible to avoid a lengthy wait in an ER queue if the ER does not provide the care you need.
Mild symptoms like a low temperature, aches, pains or a slight cough could all be signs of the flu, COVID-19 and hundreds of other viruses. If this is the case, you should “do what mom used to say” – rest, drink lots, take Tylenol, as needed, and keep an eye on your symptoms.
Visit Intclinics to find your nearest ER or Urgent Clinic.
Your primary care physician can help you if you are experiencing symptoms that don’t get better or worsen over time. Virtual visits are available by many primary care doctors. Patients can be assessed via phone or video chat.
Keep in mind that if you feel you need more care, the provider will send you to the ER.
A trip to an urgent clinic can provide more immediate and after-hours care. A visit to an urgent care clinic is a better use than a trip to the hospital emergency room if it’s not an immediate need. Many of these services are available seven days a week, offer shorter wait times than traditional hospitals and are less expensive than traditional hospital emergency rooms.
Many urgent care clinics offer advanced diagnostic imaging, including X-ray machines and laboratory capabilities. This allows you to diagnose your condition or injury on the spot. When necessary, urgent care professionals can prescribe medications or recommend a higher level care.
If you are experiencing severe illness, such as a severe injury or allergic reaction, call 911 or go straight to the ER. This applies to anyone who has suffered a serious injury or an allergic reaction.
When to go to the hospital emergency room
To have these symptoms assessed and treated, call 911 or the ER.
A shortness of breath
Right jaw pain, left shoulder pain, or left chest pain
Serious burns or cuts (cuts which won’t stop bleeding and wounds that won’t close)
Seizures
Severe allergic reaction (swelling, difficulty swallowing, or breathing)
Stroke symptoms can include slurred speaking or sudden numbness/weakness anywhere on your body, facial wrinkles, loss or balance, and slurred speech.
A mental change (such as confusion).
If you’re unconscious, loss of consciousness
Multiple injuries or broken bones in areas such the skull, face, ribs, pelvis, and face could result.
If you are pregnant, have vaginal bleeding, or pelvic/abdominal discomfort
When to visit an Urgent Care Clinic
An urgent care specialist can diagnose and treat:
Fevers and colds
Vomiting or nausea
Diarrhea
Dehydration
Strains and simple bones breaks are when the body part is not pointed in the wrong direction. In the case of broken ankles, knees, or suspected broken ankles, it’s possible to walk on the injured side with some discomfort.
Minor cuts
Mild asthma attacks
Uterine pain
Keep in mind that if you feel you need more care, the provider will send you to the ER.