Urgent Care vs. ER

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IF YOU EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Threat to loss of life or limb

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath

  • Seizure

  • Sudden paralysis or slurred speech

  • Uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea

  • Poisoning or suspected overdose

  • Uncontrollable or excessive blood loss

  • Intractable pain

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU MAY NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THE CLINIC IS OPEN, CALL YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN OR 911

When is Urgent Care Appropriate?

Knowing the difference between urgent and emergency medical conditions will help you determine how to obtain the most appropriate care. This can save you costly co-pays and ensure that you are treated quickly, based on your condition.

McAllen Family Urgent Care can treat most urgent care conditions successfully, without a need for you to visit the emergency room.

Urgent Care is appropriate and safe when individuals experience non-life-threatening medical issues that require prompt attention but are not severe enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room. Urgent care centers are well-equipped to handle conditions like minor injuries and acute illnesses that require timely attention. Urgent Care offers a middle ground between primary care and emergency care, providing faster service than a regular doctor’s office without the high-level interventions of an emergency room.

On the other hand, emergency care is necessary for life-threatening conditions such as chest pain, severe trauma, difficulty breathing, or symptoms of a stroke. In emergencies, where immediate intervention is crucial, it is essential to seek help at an emergency room to ensure timely and comprehensive medical attention.

  • Headaches

  • Coughs

  • Sprains

  • Stomach Pain

  • Cuts & Scrapes

  • Cold & Flu

  • Urinary Tract Infections

  • Fever

  • Sore Throat

  • Back & Neck Pain

  • Nausea & Vomiting

  • Broken Bones

  • Allergies

  • DOT, School, Sports Physicals

  • Immunizations

  • Urine Drug Screens

  • Workman’s Comp Injuries

  • Minor Motor Vehicle Accidents

Urgent Care Cost vs. ER Cost

On average, Urgent Care services cost substantially less than comparable services from an Emergency Room. And depending on your insurance policy, your copay may be lower too.
“Aetna estimates that more than 50 percent of ER visits are avoidable – meaning care could have been provided in an urgent care facility (or even a physician’s office) at a lower cost.”

Aetna

“While the emergency room can help care for any medical situation, it costs an average of three times more than a visit to an urgent care center. In a non-life threatening situation, you can most likely be treated at an urgent care center.”

Cigna

“In most cases, you’ll find that you save time and money by going to an urgent care center over an ER.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield

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