When you’re sick or injured, the last thing you want to do is worry about where to go for treatment. If your symptoms aren’t severe, you may be able to simply make an appointment with your primary care physician. However, this is often not the best option for immediate medical care.
Doctor’s offices usually fill up fast, and you may not be able to get an appointment for a few days. When you need treatment fast, your best choices are usually an urgent care center or the closest emergency room. Knowing the difference between the two will help you quickly decide on the best course of action.
In the simplest terms, hospital emergency rooms are for treating life-threatening injuries and illnesses. In a situation that is clearly an emergency, don’t hesitate call 911 or go directly to the closest emergency room. Failing to do so can have catastrophic results.
Urgent care centers, on the other hand, are designed to treat non-life-threatening medical issues. If you have symptoms that could typically be treated by your doctor, but you prefer immediate medical care, an urgent care center is your best bet.
Understanding what constitutes a medical emergency is the key to making good decisions about your medical care. Go to the hospital emergency room if you’re suffering from any of the following:
Note that this list is not exhaustive. Always use your judgment. If in doubt, remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If your symptoms aren’t life-threatening, you may want to do your bank account a favor and skip the emergency room.
The cost of emergency room visits has skyrocketed in recent years. Depending on your health insurance coverage, a single visit can set you back anywhere from $50 to over $3,000. If you need a surgical procedure or other critical care while you are there, you could be looking at a bill closer to $20,000!
When you need immediate medical care for non-life-threatening conditions, an urgent care center is usually your best option. Treatment is often far less expensive than an emergency room visit, and the wait times are usually much shorter.
Some of the most common ailments treated at urgent care include:
Urgent care centers usually also provide x-rays, lab tests, vaccinations, and physicals for work and school.
If you’re in the Baton Rouge area and need immediate medical care, Coastal Urgent Care is here to help. We’re open seven days a week from 9 am to 8 pm and accept most major insurances.
Avoid waiting days to see your doctor or overpaying for unnecessary emergency room visits. Next time you need convenient, quality healthcare, look no further than Coastal Urgent Care.
