Generally, if you are experiencing a life-threatening or severe medical condition, it is best to go to the ER immediately. However, an urgent care clinic can provide timely and cost-effective medical care for minor to moderate acute conditions that do not require immediate attention. Emergency Rooms are open 24/7, so care is always available. However, ER visits are more expensive than urgent care visits, and wait times can be longer for non-life-threatening conditions. Urgent care clinics are often more accessible than ERs, with more locations in a given area than emergency rooms.
It’s always a good idea to call your primary care physician or a healthcare professional for guidance if you are unsure about the appropriate level of care for your medical condition. Remember, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER immediately.
In the case above, unless there’s uncontrollable bleeding or a compound fracture, urgent care is probably the best choice. Most urgent care clinics are equipped with X-ray capabilities and can assess the extent of the injury, diagnose and triage during a visit. They can even help direct when and where to go for follow-up care. By choosing urgent care, there’s a good chance treatment was timely and less expensive than the same care at an emergency room.
Prisma Health Urgent Care is open 365 days a year with extended hours in the mornings and evenings. With locations throughout the greater Greenville area, you can count on us to be right around the corner with quality, compassionate care when you need us. If your day goes awry, walk in or book ahead at your nearest Prisma Health Urgent Care today for quality care from the health system you trust.
