This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Urgent Care, Emergency Care: Finding the Right Care

Doctor's office, urgent care, emergency room -- choosing the right care.

Choosing the kind of medical care you need depends on your situation. If you are injured or ill, going to the hospital emergency room may seem like an appropriate choice. But if you are not facing a life-threatening emergency, you may have other choices.  I spoke to Dr. Peg Petralia, medical director of the new Urgent Care by Des Peres Hospital, about finding the right care.

"Hospitals typically provide a full range of services for common medical conditions as well as some level of emergency care," said Dr. Petralia. "Urgent care centers offer medical care for conditions that need attention, but are not life-threatening. And in a doctor’s office, patients usually receive personalized service due to an established working relationship."

More than 300,000 Americans are treated in emergency departments daily. Emergency departments care for patients based on severity of illness or injury, not the order in which patients arrive. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, warning signs of a medical emergency include:

Find out what's happening in Kirkwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Problems breathing
  • Chest or upper abdominal pain
  • Fainting or sudden dizziness
  • Changes in vision
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Coughing or vomiting blood
  • Confusion or changes in mental status

 

"You do not need an appointment to go to the emergency room," said Dr. Petralia, "but you may have to wait if other patients have more pressing medical needs."

Find out what's happening in Kirkwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Some hospitals post their emergency room waiting times online, so you can check before going to the hospital. You also may want to contact your insurance carrier about coverage for a visit to the emergency room since you could have a higher co-pay than you would for a doctor visit.

"If you need medical care for a condition that is not a serious, immediate threat to life or health, you may want to go an urgent care center when you cannot see your primary doctor right away," said Dr. Petralia.

You do not need to have an appointment at an urgent care center. These clinics typically provide treatment for minor illnesses, cuts, burns, puncture wounds, fractures, bites, stings, sprains and strains. They often charge slightly more than a doctor's office, but with less waiting. These clinics also may offer convenient on-site laboratory and X-rays, as well as extended hours in the evening and on weekends.

The primary difference between an urgent care center and your primary doctor’s office is that you can walk in to an urgent care center without an appointment. While the wait at a center may be shorter, there is a trade-off. Compared with your regular doctor’s office, center staff may not be familiar with your medical history and your records will not be on file if you are not a regular patient there. In addition, some centers do not accept insurance from certain carriers.

Ultimately, the hospital emergency room is the best place to be if you need life-saving emergency medical care. In other situations, depending on when they occur and your ability to make an appointment to see your doctor, an urgent care center may be a more convenient, time-effective choice. 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Kirkwood