Madison Melton - Department of Emergency Medicine
Americans commonly use hospital emergency departments for non-emergency care. It is estimated that “13.7-27.1% of all emergency department visits could take place at” an urgent care center or retail clinic and that correcting this could potentially save “$4.4 billion annually” (Weinick). This reliance on emergency department (ED) care is often attributed to long wait times for appointments, limited after-hour care at doctors' offices, and other barriers to access. However, it causes lengthy wait times in the ED, an increase in patients choosing to leave without treatment, higher out-of-pocket costs, and creates a strain on national healthcare spending.
So, when you need medical attention, how do you decide where to go?*
Urgent care provides walk-in care for acute conditions and flare-ups of chronic conditions. They have extended hours, on-site x-ray machines, and laboratory testing, and “cost less than and are of comparable quality to care provided in the emergency department” (Weinick). The most common conditions treated in urgent care include upper respiratory infections, muscle strains and fractures, cuts, burns, and other minor conditions. If necessary, urgent care can also refer you to higher-level care at the Emergency Department.
The ED is typically for more serious or even life-threatening conditions. Some common conditions seen in the ED include open-wound injuries, chest pain, abdominal pain, and altered mental status. They can also treat allergic reactions, poisonings, asthma attacks, viral symptoms, swallowed foreign bodies, etc.
*When in doubt about seeking medical attention, get advice from a doctor, and in case of an emergency, don’t hesitate to call 911 or go to the Emergency Department.
References:
Weinick, R. M., Burns, R. M., & Mehrotra, A. (2010). Many emergency department visits could be managed at urgent care centers and retail clinics. Health affairs (Project Hope), 29(9), 1630–1636. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0748
Bickley, Daniel, and Anwar Isabell. “Urgent Care vs Emergency Room: What’s the Difference?” UChicago Medicine, 1 May 2023, www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/when-to-go-to-the-emergency-room-vs-an-urgent-care-clinic.
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