What’s the Difference Between Emergency and Urgent Care?

We’ve all been there — it’s a Friday night, and you or a loved one spikes a fever heading into the weekend. With your doctor’s office closed, you start to wonder where to seek care if needed outside of normal business hours. The two options are the emergency room, or urgent care. But what’s the difference between emergency and urgent care? While they have some overlap, there are distinct differences between the two. We’ll share when to utilize either option so that you aren’t left scrambling to find medical care for unexpected or inconvenient illness or injuries. 

When to Seek Urgent Care 

Urgent care is for non-life threatening medical care. Think minor cuts that need stitches, but aren’t bleeding profusely, or sprained ankles and sore throats or nasty, lingering coughs. Xpress Wellness Urgent Care clinics can run diagnostics, take x-rays, and provide treatment for a variety of ailments within the clinic making us perfect for conditions that can’t wait until Monday, and  don’t need the full emergency room (ER) treatment.

When to Seek Emergency Care 

Emergency care is for the “big” stuff — chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, profuse bleeding, or any situation that would make you consider calling an ambulance. The ER is specially equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies, so serious situations warrant a trip in. And, if you or a loved one has an underlying medical condition that could complicate their care, it’s probably wise to seek emergency medical attention. 

Other Differences Between Emergency and Urgent Care 

If you have health insurance, your card or summary of benefits more than likely has copay or deductible amounts listed separately for urgent care and ER visits. You’ll notice that urgent care visits are less expensive than trips to the ER. Even if you don’t have insurance, you’ll likely pay more at an ER than you would at an urgent care facility. This is because emergency departments are staffed around the clock with specially trained professionals, and are stocked with medical and diagnostic tools used in performing life-saving measures. 

This type of pricing is to encourage patients to seek urgent care for appropriate visits rather than heading to the ER for sore throats, minor injuries, or anything other than a true emergency. By utilizing urgent care for non-life threatening conditions, ERs and their staff are more readily available to render aid to patients experiencing medical emergencies. 

Urgent Care with Xpress Wellness 

Xpress Wellness Urgent Care offers fast, convenient care 7 days a week. Our clinics  are open late to offer visits to accommodate a variety of work and school schedules. Find a location near you to be prepared the next time an inconvenient illness or injury strikes. We also offer online check-in to minimize your waiting time, so that you can get back to feeling better, faster.