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Do people get a lot of education on what constitutes an emergency vs what can be treated at an urgent care? I certainly don't remember getting taught much. In
by justinph 8y ago
Do people get a lot of education on what constitutes an emergency vs what can be treated at an urgent care? I certainly don't remember getting taught much.
In my experience, an Urgent Care feels more like a screening room to real medicine than a place where treatments can occur. If you think you're sick, you might just go to the ER because they have everything there.
- Spooky23 8y agoMany people lack the knowledge about what an ER is for. If they don’t learn in their own, the bill and the experience teaches them quickly. ER is for critical issues. If you have time to think about where you should go, it’s probably not the ER. ER is like 40% serious stuff and 60% bullshit. My brother is a fireman — there are even people who use it as a cheap, high latency way to get a free cab voucher. Urgent care is a place to deal with lesser acute issues that cannot wait for you to go to a primary care doctor.
- dragonwriter 8y agoAn urgent care is largely for things where you would see your primary care physician, but they are closed, on vacation, or don't have appointments available (urgent cares usually can do more treatment and diagnosis on site than your PCP, but your PCP would screen and refer) without excessive delay. An ER is largely for “I might imminently die if this issue isn't addressed”. Not necessarily an imminently life threatening condition, but symptoms that suggest that might reasonably be the case. For doubtful cases, if your primary care physician (usually, their medical group) has a 24-hour nurse advice line, it's good to call them (both for direction, and often because they need to authorize urgent care, so calling them first avoids delays.)