How to know whether to visit the ER, urgent care or primary care

Whether it's a deep cut, sudden chest pain or a persistent headache, knowing where to seek medical care can be confusing in the moment.

Dr. Stacy Chronister, an internal medicine specialist with OSU Medicine, offered guidance on how to determine whether a situation calls for the emergency room, urgent care or your primary care provider.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Life-threatening conditions should always be treated in the emergency room, where physicians are trained to handle the most severe medical issues.

“You have emergency medicine physicians and specialists that are there to treat life-threatening conditions,” Chronister said. “They are advanced for this. They are equipped for this advanced care.”

Emergency rooms have specialists and surgeons on call 24/7 to respond quickly. However, Chronister said patients should be prepared for longer wait times and higher costs.

“There might be one of the physicians that you’re waiting to see that is actively saving someone’s life in that time,” she said. “The tests that they’re going to run are going to be expensive, trying to rule [life-threatening conditions] out.”

Conditions that typically warrant an ER visit include chest pain, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, broken bones with visible deformity or bone exposure, and head injuries with concerning symptoms.

When to Choose Urgent Care

Urgent care clinics are a valuable option for non-life-threatening conditions that still require prompt attention.

“Or something you can’t even get into your physician with,” Chronister said.

Examples include minor cuts, headaches, mild abdominal pain, flu symptoms, and infections. Urgent care providers—either physicians or advanced care practitioners—can treat these cases efficiently, often with shorter wait times.

“If you do have insurance, it’s usually about $50 for that copay to be seen,” Chronister said.

Many urgent care clinics have extended hours but may close by 8 or 9 p.m., making the ER the only overnight option in some cases.

When to See Your Primary Care Provider

Primary care doctors are ideal for ongoing or less urgent health concerns, especially when there's an established relationship between doctor and patient.

"It’s someone who knows you," Chronister said. "I saw someone yesterday with abdominal pain, and had they been to the ER, it would've been a huge cost. I was able to talk to the person and say, 'is this the same thing you’ve been having since August? Are we just now talking about it again?'"

Having a primary care provider allows for continuity in care, which can help avoid unnecessary emergency room visits.

Common Scenarios: ER or Urgent Care?

Chronister shared a few examples to help clarify the decision:

1. Repeated vomiting: ER, although you could go to Urgent Care to get IV fluids to try to make it stop.
2. Skin rash: Urgent Care
3. Animal or insect bite: Urgent care—unless you have a big bite or anaphylactic shock, then go to the ER.
4. Broken bone: ER or urgent care—depending on the severity of the break.

Plan Ahead When Possible

Discuss and plan ahead for potential medical situations, especially for parents and caregivers.

By understanding the differences in care settings, patients can make informed decisions that save time, money and potentially lives.