Urgent Care or ER?

I was in a urgent care recently and came across a terrific magnet about when to call or see your primary care doctor, when to utilize urgent care, and when to head to the nearest emergency room (ER).

With all of the different ways of seeking medical care these days, I thought this was an excellent topic to think about, especially among heart patients who might require urgent medical attention. Also, as someone who has utilized all 3 options, I wanted to share my opinions on this important topic.

When do I call or see my primary care doctor?

In my opinion, this is my best option when something can wait for an appointment because I probably will not be able to see my primary care doctor that same day.

For example, again in my opinion, a runny nose, simple back ache, sore throat, etc. can wait to be seen by my primary care doctor (most of the time).

Keep in mind that at least for me, my primary care doctor is in an office with multiple doctors. So, if I want to see someone sooner, I can ask to be seen by any doctor in the office and/or be added to a cancellation list. But again, this is for concerns that can wait a few days at the least.

Examples of when I've gone to urgent care

I have gone to urgent care for things like COVID testing, sprains and strains, coughs, cold and sore throat, ear infections, rash or other skin irritations, flu-like symptoms and a broken toe! In my opinion, I will seek out urgent care when I am experiencing symptoms that are more urgent but do not require sophisticated equipment or specialists.

For example, you will not get a cardiology consult in urgent care, and if that is required they will tell you to go to an emergency room.

Some reasons to go to the emergency room

Which leads me to my main point, go directly to the emergency room if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe pain or serious injury, severe bleeding or head trauma, sudden loss of vision or blurred vision, any sudden numbness or weakness, to name a few. These symptoms can be a sign of conditions that require urgent treatment using specialists and specialized equipment.

For example, an urgent care does not have a cath lab. So, should you be having chest pain and need a stent or crash, an urgent care does not have the resources to treat you. Said another way, if you find yourself having chest pain or difficulty breathing, as an example, and think to yourself where I should go - think about the place that will have the required resources to treat you in a timely manner.

I also found some helpful information from the American Heart Association about when to go to the emergency room regarding heart attack and stroke. (You can find the information in the references section of this article.)

Make a plan for where to seek treatments with your heart failure care team

As a heart failure patient, I know that fluid buildup can become a really severe problem as well. For that, I would recommend asking your doctor about guidelines and what to do.

It is not a bad thing to be proactive and have a conversation with your medical team about when you need to seek sophisticated care immediately. At least then you will know, so if you find yourself in that situation, you are ready with a plan.