Sick Visit vs Urgent Care vs ER: Where to Go in Palm Beach County, FL

What it involves

MedlinePlus frames the decision around one question: how quickly do you need care. If a person could die or be permanently disabled, it is an emergency. If the problem is not life threatening but you are worried and cannot wait for a regular appointment, a same-day visit or urgent care fits. The offices at Serenity By A Dr. Sareen take same-day appointments and walk-ins, which covers a large share of ordinary illnesses.

Who this is for

• Patients with a cold, flu symptoms, sore throat, earache, or a low-grade fever
• Parents and caregivers who need help deciding where to go tonight
• Patients who ended up in the ER for something their own provider could have seen
• Patients who want a plan to follow before the next illness

What to expect

• A same-day or walk-in visit for common illnesses during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
• A clear answer on whether your problem fits the office or needs a higher level of care
• Guidance on the warning signs that mean calling 911 instead
• A note in your chart so follow-up care stays with one provider

Call 911 for these

MedlinePlus says to call 911 or the local emergency number if someone cannot wait, for example with:

• Choking or stopped breathing
• Severe chest pain or pressure, or severe shortness of breath
• A head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion
• A seizure lasting more than 1 minute, or one the person does not rapidly wake from
• Suddenly not being able to speak, see, walk, or move, or sudden weakness or drooping on one side

Go to the emergency department for these

MedlinePlus lists more problems that need the emergency department or a 911 call, including trouble breathing, passing out, an unusual or bad headache that started suddenly, dizziness or weakness that does not go away, sudden confusion, heavy bleeding, a deep wound, a severe allergic reaction, coughing or throwing up blood, severe pain anywhere, a high fever with headache and stiff neck, a high fever that does not get better with medicine, and vomiting or loose stools that will not stop. Vomiting that will not stop, together with signs of dehydration, is a clear example of when to be seen, and the stomach flu and dehydration guide lists the signs NIDDK and MedlinePlus describe.

What urgent care is meant for

MedlinePlus says an urgent care clinic fits problems that are not life threatening when you cannot see your provider soon enough. It names common mild illnesses such as colds, flu, earaches, sore throats, migraines, low-grade fevers, and limited rashes, and minor injuries such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and burns, minor broken bones, and minor eye injuries. A back strain after lifting is a common example of a problem that can start with an office visit, and the low back pain evaluation guide lists the signs that mean you should be seen sooner.

What a same-day office visit covers

Many of the problems on the urgent care list can also be handled by your own provider. The practice's same-day sick visit information explains how walk-ins work at each office, and a few of the problems above have their own guides, including when a cut needs stitches and headache and migraine evaluation. A visit with your own provider also puts the result in your own chart. Dizziness that is not accompanied by chest pain, weakness, or trouble speaking can often be evaluated at a same-day visit, and the dizziness evaluation guide explains lightheadedness versus vertigo. A same-day office visit also suits hay fever symptoms that have stopped responding to medicine, and the seasonal allergies guide explains what a provider checks. Wheezing that keeps returning is another reason to book, and the asthma symptoms evaluation lists the emergency signs that mean calling 911 instead. A rolled ankle that you can still put some weight on is a good example, and the ankle sprain guide lists the signs MedlinePlus says mean going to the hospital instead.

Why the choice matters

MedlinePlus notes that treatment in an emergency department can cost two to three times or more than the same care in your provider's office, and that your insurance may require a higher copayment there. That is not a reason to avoid the ER when you truly need it. It is a reason to choose the right place for an ordinary illness.

If you are not sure

MedlinePlus says that if you are unsure and do not have a serious condition from the lists above, call your provider. Describe your symptoms to whoever answers and ask where to go. If you are thinking about hurting yourself, MedlinePlus says to call or text 988 or call 911. Save your provider, the nearest emergency department, and an urgent care clinic in your phone before you need them. If the problem is chest pain, read the chest pain guide on when to call 911 or book a visit first, and when in doubt about a heart attack, call 911 instead of waiting for an appointment. For symptoms such as heartburn that keeps returning, a same-day office visit is one way to start, and the heartburn and acid reflux evaluation guide lists the signs that should not wait. Diarrhea that has lasted more than a few days is a reason to call the office rather than wait, and the persistent diarrhea evaluation explains the causes and tests.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — When to use the emergency room, adult
• MedlinePlus — Emergency Medical Services