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Natural Awakenings Dallas -Fort Worth Metroplex Edition

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Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

When we’re sick or injured, deciding where to get care is the last thing we want to worry about. Understanding the options of a hospital emergency room (ER) and an urgent care facility will make decisions easier when the time comes.

Our primary doctor is the best place to start when we’re sick or hurt because they know our health history, including any underlying conditions we may have. When we visit the doctor for an illness or injury, they can best make informed choices about treatment and necessary tests.

But if we get sick or injured when the doctor's office is closed and our condition isn’t life-threatening yet needs to be taken care of right away, then urgent care may be the right choice. They are usually open after normal business hours, including evenings and weekends, and many offer on-site diagnostic tests. In most situations, we’ll also save time and money by going to urgent care instead of an ER.

However, the ER is the best place for treating severe and life-threatening conditions. They’re open 24 hours, seven days a week, and have the widest range of services for emergency after-hours care, including diagnostic tests and access to specialists. That specialized care also makes it the most expensive type, and we may have to wait a long time to get treated. The important thing is to use our best judgment when choosing where to get care.

Smartphones have superseded printed directories, and can not only provide a comprehensive list of the nearest facilities, but also show a map of the most direct route, so when we need immediate care, we’ll know right where to go.

 The emergency room should be reserved for serious and life-threatening situations that require immediate medical attention. If a patient comes to the emergency room with a minor illness or injury, the total amount of time they spend at the emergency room could be much longer than a visit to their primary doctor or an urgent care center.

When we have a life-threatening situation  the emergency department of the nearest hospital is the only option. If we went to an urgent care clinic, they'd just send us on to the ER in an ambulance. If our condition is less serious but still requires immediate attention, choosing an urgent care facility can save time and money, as well as keeping the emergency room free to handle more serious situations.

If there is a serious condition, which includes stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding, head injury or other major trauma, go straight to the nearest ER. Don't take a chance with anything life-threatening.The ER is also the best place for these and other critical conditions such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding or head trauma, loss of consciousness and sudden loss of vision or blurred vision.

An urgent care center may better meet needs in cases of minor burns or injuries, sprains and strains, coughs, colds, and sore throats, ear infections, allergic reactions (non-life-threatening), fever or flu-like symptoms, rash or other skin irritations, mild asthma, animal bites and broken bones.

And when in doubt, call ahead. If the urgent care clinic in question can't accommodate a patient’s condition, they will advise them about where to go the nearest emergency facility. Urgent care clinics are also a resource for flu shots and physicals for sports or school.

For more information, visit PrimaCare.com.