URGENT CARE VS. E.R.

Urgent care clinics

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

Why Urgent Care Centers Make Sense

Urgent Care clinics are a category of walk-in clinics focused on the delivery of ambulatory care in a dedicated medical facility outside of a traditional emergency room. Urgent Care clinics primarily treat injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an ER visit.

Many Emergency Room Visits Could Be Treated By an Urgent Care Facility.

The New England Health Institute reports that 56% of emergency room visits were “totally avoidable.” Several studies suggest many of these cases could have been handled in urgent care.

Time and Costs Favor Seeing an Urgent Care for Non-Emergency Matters

The cost difference alone should be enough to encourage people to go to urgent care centers. The average urgent care visits range from $50 to $150, depending on the patient’s co-pay and level of treatment, according to the American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine.

Average emergency room costs vary wildly based on treatment, but a 2013 National Institute of Health study put the median cost at $1,233. Other estimates push it to as high as $2,168.

Then there is the time factor. Patients at urgent cares are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis with an average wait time of about 30 minutes. Compare this to being seen at an emergency room, where patients are seen based on the severity of condition. Patients with life-threatening injuries go first. The average wait time in the ER is about 2 hours or more.

How to Decide Between an Urgent Care vs. ER

How to Decide Between an Urgent Care vs. ER

When deciding between urgent care clinics and emergency rooms the question to answer is:  “Are these life-threatening injuries or symptoms?”.  If the answer is “Yes”, then the choice is simple: Go to an emergency room.

If the injuries and symptoms are non-life threatening, then an urgent care center should do.

Temecula 24 Hour Urgent Care is open 24/7.

Carlsbad Urgent Care and San Marcos are open for extended hours seven days a week.

Should I go to the ER or Urgent Care?

If you have a life threatening injury or condition call 911 or go to your nearest hospital now.

URGENT CARE

For injuries or conditions that are not life threatening but need to be taken care of right away, then an urgent care may be the correct choice.

Temecula 24 Hour Urgent Care is open 24/7.  

Carlsbad Urgent Care and San Marcos are open for extended hours, seven days a week.

All Clinics offer on-site diagnostic tests.

EMERGENCY ROOM

To be seen for severe and life-threatening conditions, the Emergency Room is correct choice. Emergency Rooms have the widest range of services for emergency care, including access to specialists.

REASONS TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM:

  • Severe chest pain
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Paralysis
  • Intestinal bleeding
  • Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
  • Repeated vomiting
  • Poisoning
  • Severe head or eye injuries
  • Unconsciousness

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

Our Urgent Care
Emergency Room

Care for Non-Emergency Injuries and Symptoms

Our ability to provide episodic care for acute, non-life threatening illness and injury is an important community resource, keeping patients out of the emergency room for non-emergency care.

This results in cost savings to both consumers and employers in terms of total charges.  More and more, individuals and companies are evaluating the availability of a strong local urgent care network when choosing their health plan benefits.

Urgent Care Definition

Urgent Care facilities provide “medically necessary services required for an illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately, but does require professional attention within 24 hours.” (source:  TriCare)

These illnesses or injuries do require professional attention, and should be treated within 24 hours to avoid development of further complications.

Temecula 24 Hour Urgent Care, Carlsbad Urgent Care and San Marcos Urgent Care

Our providers can fill a need that may exist between primary care physicians and the hospital emergency room, especially during times a doctor’s appointment is not readily available.

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