Where To Go for Care
The cost of care and the time you wait can vary greatly depending on where you go. Below is a simple guide to choosing the right place for health care.
| DOCTOR’S OFFICE When it’s not an emergency, see your Primary Care doctor first |
URGENT CARE Immediate attention for non-life-threatening or after-hours care |
EMERGENCY ROOM Immediate attention for serious or life-threatening conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Routine care | Back pain | Chest pain |
| Wellness screenings | Escalating symptoms from a chronic condition | Deep cuts or wounds |
| Annual physicals | Diabetes | Difficulty breathing |
| Immunizations | High blood pressure | Poisoning |
| Chronic conditions | Minor burns | Overdose |
| Medication refills | Minor cuts | Severe abdominal pain |
| Fever | Minor eye injuries | Severe burns |
| Colds and flu | Pneumonia | Severe head injuries |
| Allergies and asthma | Minor fractures | Sudden numbness, weakness, or speech difficulty |
| Cough and sore throat | Stitches | Seizures |
| Sinus infection | Worsening fever | Uncontrolled bleeding |
| Pink eye | Minor asthma | Severe eye injury |
| Bladder infection | Dehydration | |
| Sprains and strains |