Where to go? Urgent Care or ER?
Urgent Care or Emergency room?
Often we face some medical health problems and we ask ourselves would we go to an urgent care or an emergency room? This is our recommended road map..!!
Medical Complaint
Headache
Urgent Care and walk-in clinic
Most headaches including Migraines can be evaluated and treated in the urgent care except when there is a red flag
If you have those symptoms, visit Medical Care 1 in Ypsilanti. No appointments needed.
ER
The red flags that require ER evaluation are:
- High fever with stiff neck
- High blood pressure
- Worst headache 10/10
- Abrupt onset severe headache (Thunder clap)
- Stroke symptoms (new numbness or weakness)
- Head injury
- Loss of or altered consciousness
- Patient is taking blood thinners
- Headache is worse with exertion
- Deterioration or worsening of usual known headache
- Headache with fever and tender scalp vessels
- Headache with blurred vision
Head Injury Complaint
Urgent Care
- Minor head injury
- No loss of consciousness
- Minimal headache
- No neurological deficit
ER
All non minor head injuries should be evaluated in ER.
Head CT is indicated for:
- Serious mechanism of injury
- Any of the following symptoms:
- Severe Headache
- Vomiting
- Seizure
- New numbness or weakness
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Short memory deficit
- Physical evidence of serious injury
- Age over 60
- Abnormal neuro exam
- On Narcotics or drinking Alcohol
- Taking blood thinners
Eye Complaints
Urgent Care
Most acute eye problems can be screened, evaluated and treated in urgent care with the option to refer to the eye doctor if deemed necessary
ER
Any patient with acute eye problem experiencing severe pain or blurred vision should be evaluated by the eye doctor or ER
Head Congestion Complaint
Urgent Care
All of the head congestion causes can be evaluated in the urgent care setting
Including:
- Colds
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
ER
Throat and Ear problems
Urgent Care
ER
Chest Pain
Urgent Care
Most chest pains can be evaluated in urgent care setting except when there are red flags
ER
The red flags requiring ER evaluation are:
- Elderly patients
- Patient with multiple medical conditions
- Patient with history of heart disease
- Unstable vitals: high or low blood pressure, rapid or slow heart beat
- Significant symptoms:
- Severe chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Coughing up blood
- Sudden chest pain shooting to upper back in a smoker with high blood pressure
Shortness of Breath
Urgent Care
Most mild breathing problems can be evaluated in the urgent care setting including asthma and COPD exacerbation in addition to mild pneumonia
ER
You should go to ER if you have:
- Severe trouble breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Elderly
- Multiple medical conditions
- Chest pain
- Swelling in throat
- Dizziness
- Gradually worsening trouble breathing
- Exposed to Corona Virus
Cough
Urgent Care
Most of the cough can be evaluated in the urgent care setting
ER
Abdominal Pain
Urgent Care
Almost all abdominal pain initial evaluation can be done in the urgent care settings unless there is a red flag
ER
The red flags that require ER evaluation are:
- Severe or worsening persistent pain
- High fever
- Unable to pass gas or have a BM
- Nausea and vomiting leading to dehydration
- Passing blood in stools
- Elderly
- Immunosuppressed
- Having multiple chronic medical conditions
- If you are pregnant
- If you have abdominal wall or groin bulging or hernia
- Severe kidney infection with fever and vomiting
- If you have testicular swelling or pain
UTIs and STDs
Urgent Care
Almost all urine tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases can be adequately evaluated and treated in the urgent care setting
ER
Please go to ER if you have:
- Severe Kidney infection (fever, back pain and vomiting)
- You are pregnant
- You are elderly
- You have multiple medical conditions
- You are not improving or getting worse after initial treatment
Back, Neck and joints Pain
Urgent Care
Almost all back, Neck and joints pain can be evaluated and treatment can be started in the urgent care setting and if it is related to trauma proper evaluation including taking X-Rays can be started
ER
Please go to ER if you have:
- Neck or back pain associated with:
- Numbness or weakness in arms or legs
- Incontinent to urine or stool
- Possible joint infection
- Unexplained sudden arms or shoulders pain in patient with risk factors for heart disease
- Back pain with chest or abdomen pain
- Pain is not affected by movement of the affected part
- Severe trauma
If you think you have any of the symptoms above, Contact Medical Care One is an urgent care and Walk-in clinic in Ypsilanti.
Visit Urgent Care Near You. All Walkins are welcome and no Appointment Necessary. Can’t make it to the urgent care? Meet your doctor online with Telemedicine. Read about COVID-19 safety info.