Reasons to Visit an Emergency Room Instead of an Urgent Care : Experience and top professionals are in ERs
When you go to an ER, you know your issue is being handled by some of the most knowledgeable health care professionals in their field. They’re also highly trained for life-threatening situations, which makes them perfect for handling true emergencies. Because ERs are hospitals on site, they also have access to a wide range of diagnostic tests and imaging tools that can help detect more subtle problems than urgent cares do. For example, if your pain is due to arthritis or a damaged nerve, instead of providing ibuprofen or another over-the-counter medication, they can provide treatments like physical therapy or even joint replacement surgery that will relieve pain and restore quality of life. Finally, since ERs are on-site at hospitals they are easy access and even offer same day appointments.
That means less time spent driving from one place to another, waiting around, and dealing with red tape. And it means less stress for you as well! No need to sit around worrying about your diagnosis, treatment plan, or what happens next; everything’s just a phone call away. On top of all that, because they don’t specialize in primary care workflows (and may not accept insurance), patients are likely paying cash — so there’s no potential bill shock at checkout when all is said and done. The bottom line: While urgent cares aren’t bad options for uncomplicated injuries and illnesses, only emergency rooms treat true emergencies (and those in dire need) quickly and effectively. Other perks include quicker service times when compared to urgent cares—some report up-times as short as 20 minutes–and immediate access via walk-in scheduling.
