tips for protecting your good health

Should You Go To The Immediate Care Clinic Or The Hospital's Emergency Department?

9 May 2016 by Sasha Meyer

If you cut your finger while slicing vegetables for dinner or have a minor illness, then visiting an immediate care clinic is a good way to save yourself a lot of time and money over going to your local hospital's emergency department. Since emergency departments are designed to treat people with life-threatening situations, they are expensive and can have long wait times if they are busy with patients who have more severe issues than you do.

When you are struggling with the decision about where to seek appropriate medical care for you and your family, keep these important guidelines in mind:

Call Your Family Physician First

Your family doctor's office is equipped to treat your minor injuries and illnesses. Before you go elsewhere, you should always give their office a quick call to see if they can work you in your doctor's schedule or refer you somewhere else where you can receive appropriate medical care.

If your doctor's office is closed or unable to see you, sometimes they can call in a prescription for you, write you a note for work, or give you the supplies necessary to treat minor problems so it always makes sense to give them a call.

Appropriate Times to Visit the Immediate Care Center

There are many times where you need to receive medical care in an expedient manner, but you may not need to go wait in the emergency department. Some such situations include the following:

• colds
• flu
• headaches
• minor cuts and bruises
• minor burns

In addition, most immediate care clinics are also able to give you more info and see you for a worker's compensation appointment as well as basic physicals if you do not have a family physician or medical insurance.

Appropriate Times to Visit the Emergency Department

There are many medical situations that an immediate care clinic is simply not equipped to help you with. Some of these situations include the following:

• complex bone fractures
• breathing problems
• heart problems
• poisoning
• psychiatric issues
• head injuries
• overdoses
• poisonings

In each of the cases above, or when sudden and severe symptoms occur, you should always either call for assistance or go to your local emergency department.

Call 911 for Emergency Situations

Finally, if you have a medical or problem where your life or limb are at risk, then you should always call 911 for assistance and an ambulance transport to your local hospital. Issues such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and broken bones are all reasons to call for immediate emergency assistance.

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