Should I Go To The ER or Urgent Care? According to Research
Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care: When to Go, Differences, Costs, Treatment
Deciding between seeking care at the emergency room versus an urgent care clinic can seem confusing, but it doesn’t need to be. You should only go to an ER if you are experiencing an imminent, serious, and/or life-threatening medical complication. Alternatively, you should go to an urgent care clinic if you are experiencing mild symptoms that do not pose an immediate threat to your survival.
Cost should never be a barrier to accessing medical care. With Mira, you can sign up today and access care for as little as $99 per visit. With our comprehensive coverage for lab tests, discounted prescriptions, urgent care visits, and primary care visits join Mira today and become a healthier you.
When to Go to the ER vs. Urgent Care
The decision to visit the ER versus an urgent care clinic should largely depend on your symptoms and situation. While an emergency can provide all the services that an urgent care clinic can, it may be more cost-effective to visit an urgent care center for medical care if you believe it is suitable.
ER’s are meant for serious, life-threatening medical issues that pose an immediate threat to survival. This includes symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. If you are doubting whether your medical issue merits the level of care offered at an emergency room, you should trust your gut. If personal instinct tells you that it is serious, don’t hesitate to go to the nearest emergency room.
While it may be clear that emergency care is required, whether or not to call 911 adds another layer of complexity to accessing care. If your medical condition may prevent you from traveling to the emergency room safely and/or quickly (e.g. severe bleeding or fainting), you should call 911 immediately and wait for an ambulance to arrive. It can seem intimidating to call 911, but for many medical emergencies, an ambulance and paramedics can help save an individual’s life.
Urgent care is not meant for emergency care. Many people visit emergency departments without realizing that urgent care clinics are an option merely because their doctors’ offices are closed. However, urgent care clinics can oftentimes treat medical issues that require immediate attention but are not true emergencies. Some of these issues include minor cuts that may require stitches and low-grade fevers.
We outline a few of the symptoms that necessitate emergency or urgent care below.
When to Visit the Emergency Room vs. ER, by Symptoms
| Emergency Room | Urgent Care |
|---|---|
| Shortness of breath | Fevers and colds |
| Chest pain, left arm pain, left jaw pain | Vomiting and nausea |
| Serious burns and cuts that will not stop bleeding or will not close | Diarrhea |
| Seizures | Dehydration |
| Severe allergic reactions | Strains or minor bone breaks |
| Stroke symptoms | Minor cuts |
| Changes in mental status | Minor asthma attacks |
| Loss of consciousness | Pain with Urination |
| Multiple injuries or possible injuries in the ribs, skull, face, or pelvis | |
| Pregnant and have vaginal bleeding or pelvic/abdominal pain |
*Please note this is not a comprehensive list. The symptoms described above are merely meant to serve as a framework to help you decide which medical location is better suited to help you.
Differences Between the ER and Urgent Care
The difference between emergency and urgent care can certai
Get affordable doctor copay without paying insurance premiums
Join 39,000 people and get Mira, the best alternative to traditional insurance. Enroll and use immediately. Plans start at only $45/mo.
Madeline is a Senior at UCLA majoring in Human Biology & Society with a minor in Spanish. She's currently a Healthcare Research Analyst at Mira, writing content for the blog to help the public better understand certain medical issues, technologies, testings, and the importance of healthcare.