Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care Facilities

Mid Fall 2012 Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care Facilities

Many people make the mistake of going to the Emergency Room for non-life threatening issues.  This may be due to their doctor's office being closed or because they feel it is more convenient.  Remember going to the Emergency Room for treatment is usually the most expensive way of getting medical attention.  In addition, they are geared around serving those with life threatening emergencies first, so the wait time to see a doctor or nurse can be extensive.

There are options in dealing with your healthcare needs when your doctor's office is closed.  Below are procedures to consider in lieu of running to the Emergency Room:

First and foremost, if you are dealing with ANY LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, go directly to the emergency room, or depending on the situation, call 911 for assistance!

If you do not feel your issue is an emergency, contact an advice nurse offered by your health insurance carrier. This is usually a free service where licensed nurse practitioners offer medical advice over the phone and can give you direction when it comes to your particular need.

If the advice nurse feels that your issue is not urgent, she or he may recommend you wait until your physician's office opens to call for an appointment.

If your issue is more of an urgent nature, they may recommend that you go to an Urgent Care facility to be seen or go directly to Emergency.

It is wise to locate your nearest in-network Urgent Care BEFORE you have a medical need. Using an Urgent Care facility will save you money in a time of need.