Do I go to my Primary Care Provider, to An Urgent Care center, or to the Emergency Room?
Dr. Moustafa Shamma practices Emergency Medicine in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Shamma assesses patients who seek immediate medical attention at any time of work day. Emergency Medicine Physicians are trained to efficiently work with each patient and situation no matter how acute or life-threatening. Dr. Shamma examines patients,... more
Todays Healthcare delivery services are confusing. Many ask where should I go to get my evaluation and treatment.
Sometimes the answer is simple and obvious, but occasionally, the answer is not straight forward.
In case of a true emergency, the answer is clear, go to the emergency room, or in certain situations, an ambulance is needed. The situation gets to be complicated when the patient, or the one in charge, doesn't want to go to the emergency room for various reasons, such as insurance coverage, financial burden, waiting time, or some other consideration. In a true emergency, such a hesitation can be very detrimental and results in undesirable outcome. Those emergency cases, if taken to a facility that lacks the resources to evaluate and treat those conditions, it causes delay of care, frustration for both the patient and the facility. Many individuals don't know the resources available for each facility, whether it is a primary care clinic, an urgent care center, or an emergency room.
Emergency rooms are usually part of a hospital. Hospitals are not equal in their services. Some hospitals are designated as trauma centers, stroke centers, have cardiac catheterization labs, and other advances capabilities. While other hospitals don't have such services available.
Most urgent care centers have limited diagnostic capabilities, especially, advanced imaging and on-site full-functioning laboratory. Also, most urgent care centers are open certain hours during the day.
Both emergency rooms and urgent care centers (when open) don't require prior appointments. Although, some primary care providers welcome walk-ins.
It is important for patients to familiarize themselves with Healthcare facilities in their communities. If the condition and time allows, consulting a primary care is advisable. If thinking about seeking service at an urgent care center, a call to the center can save significant time to find out if the service sought can be delivered at that particular center.
Please, keep in mind, that all different facilities are present to serve the Healthcare needs of the community. Those facilities appreciate the community they serve, and most of the time, the community appreciate those facilities who are present to serve the Healthcare needs of the community.
