{"id":249,"date":"2022-08-09T17:11:30","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T17:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clevelandbenefitpartners.com\/?p=249"},"modified":"2022-08-09T17:11:30","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T17:11:30","slug":"er-vs-urgent-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clevelandbenefitpartners.com\/er-vs-urgent-care\/","title":{"rendered":"ER vs. Urgent Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

All too often, illness or injury appears out of the blue: You wake up in the middle of the night with intense abdominal pain. You stumble while carrying groceries up a flight of stairs and can no longer put weight on your swollen ankle. Or your baby spikes a high fever on the weekend.<\/p>\n

These situations are stressful and it\u2019s hard to think when you\u2019re under stress. But you need to decide where to go to get medical care for yourself or a loved one. Understanding the levels of acute medical care before you need it can help you focus and get the appropriate help quickly.<\/p>\n

Urgent care centers and emergency rooms are both great options for times when you are unable to see your primary care physician (PCP). The reasons for choosing these facilities can be because the injury or sickness has occurred outside normal office hours for your doctor or that you are out of town when an emergency hits. As you know, the first choice for non-life or limb-threatening conditions should be your regular doctor\u2014they will have your medical history on file and your medication list at the ready. When this is not an option, you will need to make the choice on what level of care you need.<\/p>\n

Urgent Care Centers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Urgent care centers fill the gap between when you are sick or minorly injured but cannot see your PCP and when you can\u2019t wait for an appointment. Most urgent care locations are staffed by doctors or physician\u2019s assistants. These centers can get you in and out quickly and some even take appointments. Since you will not see your PCP at these clinics, it\u2019s always best to bring a copy of all the medications and dosages of meds you take. If you have a special condition, like epilepsy, make sure you disclose that to the urgent care provider you see. Most have access to x-ray machines and basic diagnostic tests. The typical range of costs for care at these centers is between $150-$200.<\/p>\n

Here are some <\/strong>conditions<\/strong><\/a> that typically can be seen at urgent care centers:<\/strong><\/p>\n