ER or Urgent Care? What’s the Difference?

School is out and so are your kids ‒ as in outside, playing with friends, and enjoying those sunny summer days.

One day, you may have a child return home limping, crying, and explaining how that swollen ankle came to be. You know they need medical attention, but where is the appropriate place to seek health ‒ your hospital emergency department or a nearby urgent care provider?

You’re not alone in wondering which option makes the most sense for this or other injuries or illnesses. So, let’s take a closer look at your options.

An Emergency Department treats more serious conditions in people of all ages ‒ think anything that threatens life or limbs. It is the best option when you or a loved one require immediate medical attention. In fact, the word “stat” that you often hear in medical dramas on TV is derived from the Latin term “statim,” which translates to “immediate.”

Urgent Care is the middle ground between your primary care provider and the Emergency Department. If the ailment is a minor illness or injury that can't wait until tomorrow ‒ such as that likely sprained ankle that could be a hairline fracture ­‒ Urgent Care is the way to go. It is an appropriate option if you have illnesses or injuries without other symptoms, or if you do not have other underlying health conditions.

That distinction is important because while something like an earache or stomachache can easily be treated in Urgent Care, if the ache is accompanied by a high fever or the person has an underlying condition (say, a history of cancer), the better care option is an Emergency Department.

To further define the options and their differences, here is a quick breakdown of both types of care.

Emergency Departments

• Staffed 24/7 with physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses trained in delivering emergency care.
• Access to expert providers in advanced specialties such as Cardiology, Neurology, and Orthopedics.
• Equipped with imaging and laboratory resources needed to diagnose and deliver care for severe and life-threatening situations.
• Typically treat these types of conditions:
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Compound fracture (bone that protrudes through the skin)
  • Head injuries
  • Pneumonia
  • Seizures
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sudden, severe headache, paralysis, or weakness
  • Uncontrolled bleeding

Urgent Care

• Staffed with physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses (some have physicians on staff).
• Can order basic labs and imaging tests, such as X-rays, to help them provide diagnoses and develop treatment plans.
• Have set hours and an established list of conditions treated (which is partially why they are often less expensive and can have shorter wait times than Emergency Departments).
• Typically treat these types of conditions:
  • Back or muscle pain
  • Bronchitis
  • Cuts and minor burns
  • Diarrhea
  • Earache
  • Skin conditions
  • Sprains or joint pain
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Vomiting

So, in the instance of the child’s ankle injury, ignore what your gramps used to say ‒ “Just rub some dirt on it” ‒ and visit an Urgent Care clinic for same-day care.

And if it is ever something more serious ‒ such as difficulty breathing, signs of stroke or a heart attack, or a severe injury ‒ immediately head to your local hospital’s Emergency Department. And if you are the one injured or ill, call 911 and don't try to drive yourself to the hospital.

If you don’t have an urgent care: Cleveland Medical Clinic offers same-day appointments – the primary care equivalent to urgent care. To schedule, call 662.846.2227.

If you DO have an urgent care: Cleveland Walk-In Clinic is located at 810 East Sunflower in Suite 100-I.

Bolivar Medical Center's emergency department is located at 901 East Sunflower Road in Cleveland.