When a sudden accident or illness occurs, your first thought is to go to the emergency room. However, depending on the type of assistance you need, you can find help at an urgent care clinic where experienced doctors can treat you with little waiting. Knowing when to go to which facility will help you when time is of the essence.

What is the Difference Between Urgent Care & the Emergency Room?

What Do Emergency Rooms Treat?

Emergency rooms are for life-threatening illnesses and injuries. For instance, if you’re experiencing chest pains or shortness of breath, it could be signs of a heart attack. The physicians at the ER can treat the condition.

With some sudden onset conditions, like a stroke, ER doctors have MRI or CT machines to make a proper diagnosis.

Those experiencing head injuries resulting in concussions or seizures should go to the ER. So should those with damage to their limbs, such as dislocations, fractures, and severe burns. 

Slurred speech and numbness on one side of your body are symptoms of several conditions that emergency rooms are prepared to investigate.

However, in some cases, patients aren’t admitted from the ER to the hospital because their conditions were minor. When that happens, urgent care facilities are available to help.

What Do Urgent Care Facilities Treat?

Urgent care facilities are for conditions that aren’t life-threatening but still need treatment within 24 hours, and your primary care physician is unavailable.

In their facilities, you’ll see a doctor much sooner, who can treat a variety of conditions from wounds that need stitches to sudden pain. If you’re stomach pains, rashes, or strained or pulled muscles, their doctors are available to provide solutions.

Their doctors are equipped to perform several diagnostic procedures, including x-rays and diagnose conditions like yeast and urinary tract infections.

Like ERs, they can treat people of any age range and can suggest a specialist if they’re needed to treat your condition.

When cold or flu symptoms persist, it could be a sign of chest congestion or a minor respiratory infection. An urgent care doctor can perform tests to discover if you’re dealing with a stubborn cold or flu or something more. 

For those dealing with chronic pain, like rheumatology, some facilities have medical marijuana recommendations. They can also perform physicals, including for the Department of Transportation, for truckers on the road.

For nearly 20 years, the residents of Albany, NY, and its surrounding areas have trusted Urgent & Primary Care for their comprehensive medical services. They provide personalized and compassionate attention, along with experience and dedication. From their offering immunizations and flu shots to weight loss help and rheumatology, their doctors are ready to help you. For more information on their primary and urgent care services, visit their website. To make an appointment, reach out to them at (518) 463-8262.