While urgent care clinics and emergency rooms have similarities (they’re open 24/7 and accept walk-ins), they also have many differences. Emergency rooms can treat any condition that an urgent care facility can treat, but the reverse is not true. Emergency rooms tend to have more medical professionals on staff and have a greater range of capabilities. Patients at our emergency rooms also benefit from seamless admission to the nearest St. Joseph Health hospital, if necessary.

Emergency care is any type of medical service necessary for the prevention of death or severe harm to a patient.

If you experience any life-threatening symptoms, a trip to the emergency room is necessary. These include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fever in babies and toddlers
• Chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Sudden changes in speech
• Trauma
• Excessive bleeding
• Etc.

If you think you may be experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. You can request that they take you to a St. Joseph Health emergency room.

It is safe to go to the ER during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have implemented additional safety procedures, including mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing, and innovative cleaning techniques, to keep our patients as safe as possible. In fact, avoiding the emergency room due to the pandemic can be dangerous, as putting off care for a medical emergency can result in severe complications.

Patients can go to the emergency room for any symptom, but it isn’t always the best option. For example, a patient could seek emergency care for the common cold. However, they may end up waiting for an extended amount of time, as emergency rooms prioritize patients with life-threatening conditions, even if they arrive later. If the condition is not life-threatening and you can reasonably wait for treatment, a virtual or in-person visit with a specialist may be a cheaper and more efficient option.