Deciding what kind of care you need now …
Should you go to a clinic, urgent-care center, the ER, or back to bed?
When you feel awful and don't know what to do about it, you might wonder if you should go to the emergency room or just back to bed. Here are some ways to decide:
Do I have a broken bone or do I need stitches? Go to an urgent-care facility or the ER immediately.
Do I have chest pains or abdominal pain with vomiting? Get to the emergency room as soon as possible. These can be signs of serious illness.
Is my breathing so bad that I can't walk? It is well over-time to get treatment. Go to the emergency room.
Fever over 104 degrees? Get to the emergency room.
Sudden loss of vision (even if it returns)? Go to an emergency room. This could indicate a stroke.
If none of these are true, ask yourself if you can wait for an appointment with your primary care physician. If you can get an appointment quickly, it's the best place to go because they know your medical history.
Do I need treatment today because of my schedule? A quick -stop clinic might be the answer. You'll find them popping up at your pharmacy, offering flu shots and more. At the CVS MinuteClinic, they say the clinic is a good choice for someone who can't get in to see their regular doctor and has a minor ailment like sore throat.
At the MinuteClinic, the nurse practitioner says sometimes people just want advice on what to do for themselves. Patients might feel bad, and want to know if their symptoms are serious. If it's just a bad cold, they can quickly leave with an over-the-counter treatment and head back home to bed.
With less-expensive urgent-care facilities and store clinics available, it's worth considering in advance where you should go.
Cost is a growing concern for many families. Going to the emergency room can be very expensive, but many illnesses can be treated at a clinic for far less.
Clinics are convenient and can provide treatment today.
