Urgent Care

There is a difference between urgent care and emergency rooms based on the severity of the health problem. Go to an emergency room if the condition is life-threatening.

If there is threat to life or limb, patients should choose to go to an Emergency Room (ER) where they have a full contingent of specialists and equipment to deal with trauma and other emergencies. 

An urgent patient is someone who needs more urgent care than their primary care provider can give on short notice. Some examples may be:

• Broken bones & sprains
• Ear aches & infections
• Eye irritations (scratches, foreign bodies,  Pinkeye, etc.)
• Hives, rashes, Poison ivy exposure, Poison Oak exposure
• Kidney stones
• Mono
• Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Sinus infection, Strep throat
• Food poisoning, Stomach flu, vomiting & diarrhea, Urinary tract infections
• STDs
• Wounds (large abrasions, punctures, non-life-threatening cuts)

Generally people tend to go to urgent care in the morning and in the evening (before and after work). If you need to visit an urgent care center, try to go after 9am and before 5pm. You can always call ahead to the Urgent Care Center to see how busy they are.

Yes, most Urgent Care Centers can take care of most wounds that require stitches. If you have suffered a grievous wound, head to the ER. If you are concerned about the severity of stitches needed, call the Urgent Care Center.