When to Use Virtual, Urgent and ER Services

Over the last few years, our healthcare system has evolved, offering more ways for providers to meet with their patients when they have a health or wellness need. Here we provide guidance on when to use different care options and tips for making your visit as smooth as possible.

Virtual Care

The rise of virtual care offerings is one of the most significant practices resulting from the pandemic. Virtual care provides people with the ability to see a provider from the comfort of their home, office or even out of state. Many people have benefited from this option, including those who have difficulty leaving home, immunocompromised patients or those who live far from a doctor’s office. Virtual care can provide consultation for:

Cold/flu, fevers, rashes, sleep issues, aches/pains, musculoskeletal injuries, infections and a variety of chronic health condition maintenance care.

There are important things to consider when prepping for a virtual appointment:

• Make sure you’ve downloaded the application that your provider will be using at least a few hours before your appointment time. This allows you to address any technical issues you may encounter prior to your appointment.
• Complete your electronic check-in prior to your appointment.
• Log on 10 minutes before your appointment time to work out any technical or Wi-Fi glitches.
• Ensure you’re in a quiet space.
• Note if you will need to access the camera on your phone or laptop so your provider can conduct a visual exam for issues like dermatology concerns.

Emergency Rooms and Urgent Cares are for a different level of care, when patients need immediate attention.

Urgent Care Facilities

Urgent Care facilities are meant to be used for less severe and acute problems. They are typically not 24/7 facilities, like an ER, but they often have extended hours beyond traditional primary care provider offices. This makes them a great option for care if you can’t get an appointment scheduled with your primary care provider. They should be utilized when you need same-day medical treatment, but for something that is not a medical emergency/life threatening. Urgent Care can be used for conditions that include:

Open wounds, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, simple fractures or sprains (not breaking through skin or uncontrollable bleeding), upper respiratory infections, allergic reactions (such as rashes and limb swelling—symptoms that are not compromising breathing ability or facial area), dehydration and upper respiratory infections.

Emergency Rooms

Emergency rooms are 24/7 facilities connected to hospitals in order to treat any medical emergency or life-threatening concern. Reasons to visit an emergency room include:

• Stroke-like symptoms (facial droop, unilateral weakness, sudden blurred vision, slurred speech)
• Heart attack symptoms (chest pain, trouble breathing/shortness of breath, pain radiating from jaw to arm)
• Head injury
• Loss of consciousness
• Allergic reaction (compromising ability to breathe, coughing, inability to catch breath or swelling in facial area)
• Psychological emergency (suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, threatening to harm others)
• Uncontrolled bleeding (inability to clot for 10 minutes or more)
• Poisoning (ingestion of hazardous substances or medication overdose)

For further information on when to visit the ER or Urgent Care, go here:

Urgent care or emergency room: Differences and when to visit (medicalnewstoday.com)

Now, you should better understand the medical options available to you so you can make the best decision for your care when you need it quickly! Make it a goal this week to research what Urgent Care facilities and ERs are closest to your home and are also in-network with your insurance provider. Then you’ll know where to go for care when you need it most.

We invite you to download this PDF filled with more Healthcare tips about when the Emergency Room is your best choice and when to go to Urgent Care instead.