Know Where To Go
When You’re Sick
Walk-in, Urgent Care, Primary Care or ER
Get the right kind of care, at the right time and in the right place. Knowing when to use the available care
options can help you spend your time and money wisely.
Primary Care Provider
Your primary care physician (PCP) is your health care home base. PCPs help you manage your overall, long-term health. Visit your PCP for acute conditions, chronic disease or condition monitoring, wellness services and annual physicals.
Minute Clinic / Retail Clinic
Delivers convenient, affordable care for non-urgent illnesses and injuries.
Treats:
- Minor illness or injury
- Skin condition
- Vaccination or injection
- Screening or monitoring
- Smoking cessation and weight-loss programs
- Sports/camp physicals and DOT
Features:
- Open 7 days a week
- Seen by certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Provides visit summary to PCP with permission
- Prescribes medication when necessary
Urgent Care
Treats non-life-threatening conditions requiring immediate attention
Treats:
- Injury, cut or broken bone
- X-ray
- On-site lab services
- Acute conditions
- IV drips
Features:
- Open 7 days a week
- Visit if condition needs immediate attention
- Seen by doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Prescribes medication when necessary
Emergency Room
Expert care for life-threating conditions and severe injuries
Treats:
- Heart attack or stroke
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe Pain
- Head or neck injury
- Poisoning
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Sudden or severe pain
- Sudden changes in mental status or vision
Features:
- Always open
- Seen by doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Expertise with life-threatening emergencies
- Prescribes medication when necessary
Did You know?
ER visits are about four times as expensive as other
ambulatory visits and take an average of four to five hours versus the
usual one-hour visit in other care venues. – U.S. News & World Report