Emergency Department or Urgent Care - How to Make the Right Choice
It’s Saturday afternoon and you sprain your ankle playing ball with the kids. Or maybe your child has a rash that’s spreading. Do you visit urgent care or the hospital emergency department? Urgent Care and Emergency Department both imply there is a medical situation that needs to be addressed quickly, which can be confusing about where and when to go.
Making the right choice on where to receive care can save your life, save time and is cost effective.
- Signs of a heart attack, including chest pain
- Signs of a stroke, onset of numbness in the arms or legs, slurred speech or facial drooping
- Severe shortness of breath
- Poisoning
- Major life or limb threatening injuries
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
Emergency departments specialize in managing catastrophic illnesses and trauma injuries.
- Fever without rash
- Ear pain
- Painful urination/UTI
- Persistent diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Vomiting
- Minor injury such as a common sprain or shallow cut
- Minor burns
- Broken bones
- Stomach pain
An urgent care is a convenient option if your regular physician is unavailable or unable to offer a timely appointment. Or, when illness strikes outside of regular office hours.
When to call 9.1.1.
If symptoms arise suddenly and you believe that a life is in jeopardy, call 9.1.1. Calling 9.1.1. allows emergency medical services to begin lifesaving treatment upon arrival and to continue while en route to the hospital.
Halifax Health is pleased to offer ExpressCare – A Halifax Health Walk-in Clinic with locations in Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach Shores. ExpressCare offers access to affordable and high-quality care for non-emergency medical conditions, illnesses and injuries.
New locations in Deltona and Port Orange opening November 2021.
For more information about ExpressCare, please visit Halifax Health ExpressCare
