ER vs. Urgent Care vs. Your Doctor: How a Family Physician Decides

¿Sala de emergencias, atención urgente o su médico?

Written by a family medicine physician & certified medical interpreter · Ambos Health

Choosing the right place saves time and money — and in a few situations, it saves lives. This is general guidance; your own doctor's advice comes first, and when in doubt, call 911.

Call 911 or go to the ER

• Chest pain or pressure
• Trouble breathing
• Stroke signs (below)
• Fainting or a seizure
• Severe bleeding
• Swelling of the lips or tongue, or hives with trouble breathing
• Sudden confusion
• Fever in a baby under 3 months (100.4°F / 38°C or higher)
• Thoughts of harming yourself — call or text 988

Urgent care

• Sprains and possible simple fractures
• Cuts that may need stitches
• Painful urination
• Ear pain or sore throat
• A rash without breathing trouble
• Minor burns
• Vomiting or diarrhea when you can still keep fluids down

Your clinic or telehealth

• Refills and follow-up of ongoing conditions
• Mild cold symptoms
• Check-ups, vaccines and screenings
• Forms and work or school notes
• A problem that is slowly getting worse

Stroke: BE FAST (English) and RÁPIDO (Spanish)

Balance loss · Eyes: sudden vision change · Face drooping · Arm weakness · Speech trouble · Time to call 911.

R — Rostro caído · Á — Alteración del equilibrio · P — Pérdida de fuerza en el brazo o una pierna · I — Impedimento visual repentino · D — Dificultad para hablar · O — Obtén ayuda y llama al 911 (American Heart Association).

General education, not medical advice. Your own clinician's advice comes first. In an emergency, call 911.