When to visit urgent care, emergency room or doctor’s office

Emergency rooms (ER)

ERs are open 24/7 and they’re the most expensive place to go for care. Use them only for serious or life-threatening issues, such as:  

• Serious injuries, including excessive bleeding, burns or broken bones

Other health conditions that require an ER visit:

• Difficulty breathing
• Seizures
• Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or discomfort in arms, back or jaw
• Signs of stroke, such as sudden change in vision, weakness or trouble talking

If your situation is life threatening, call 911 immediately.

Urgent care centers

Urgent care centers are open after hours and on weekends/holidays for walk-in care. Visit an urgent care center for concerning (but not life-threatening) injuries or illnesses that need immediate attention, such as:  

• Sprains, strains and minor broken bones
• Simple cuts and burns
• Minor illnesses, such as strep, ear infections, bladder infections, or cold/flu symptoms
• Skin rashes and infections
• Eye injuries

Doctor office visits 

Primary care clinics are typically open weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and sometimes after hours. Your primary care doctor is in the best position to assess and manage your ongoing health needs. Visit your primary care doctor for most of your medical needs, such as:  

• Minor injuries, such as burns, bruises or blisters, that can wait until regular clinic hours
• Minor illnesses, such as strep, ear infections, bladder infections, or cold/flu symptoms
• Allergy symptoms, rashes or skin infections
• Preventive visits, annual check-ups or sports physicals to detect health risks or diseases before they become bigger problems
• Vaccinations/immunizations
• Help managing your medications
• Follow-up care after an illness or injury
   

Other options for medical care

Your primary doctor is usually the best option to treat you regularly. However, these options provide you with a convenient and cost-effective way to get care for minor injuries and illnesses.

Consider a walk-in clinic for quick, convenient and cost-effective care. Look for walk-in clinics at the mall, in a grocery or drug store, or at work. The average cost is about half of a visit to a doctor’s office.

With online doctor services, you can talk to a board-certified doctor via video for a small fee, or sometimes at no cost depending on your health plan.  Learn more about Doctor On Demand medical visits.

Your health plan may include 24-hour access to a nurse line to talk about your health concerns with a registered nurse by phone.