Urgent Care or the Emergency Department? How to Choose the Right Care at the Right Time.

Sneezes, sprains, fevers, and falls—the transition from winter to spring brings no shortage of reasons to seek medical care. When something goes wrong, your first thought may be to head straight to the emergency department (ED). Though in many cases, urgent care may be the better choice with shorter wait times. It offers the same quality treatment for non-life-threatening conditions. So, how do you know when urgent care is appropriate and when the ED is the right place to be?

When in doubt, call your primary care provider or your child’s pediatrician first. They can help you determine whether you need emergency care, urgent care, or simply some rest and recovery at home.

Call 911
Sometimes an injury or illness is so severe that immediate action is needed. Don’t try to manage the situation yourself. Instead, call 911 for immediate care and safe transport to the hospital.

Call 911 when:

• Breathing stops, or a person is turning blue
• Broken bone is sticking out through the skin
• Choking
• Ingestion of an unknown amount of medicine
• Loss of consciousness after a fall
• Seizure
• Serious allergic reaction
• Uncontrollable bleeding from a large cut/injury
• Any instance where you think someone’s condition is life-threatening  

Head to the Emergency Department
The ED is open 24/7/365 and is best reserved for serious, potentially life-threatening situations. Using it for minor issues creates longer wait times for everyone as patients with more critical needs are always seen first. Go to the ED for things like:

• Chest pain, especially with sweating, vomiting or pain radiating to the arm or jaw
• Sudden severe headache or head injury
• Suspected poisoning or drug overdose
• High fevers, seizures (without a prior epilepsy diagnosis), or loss of consciousness
• Traumatic injuries, severe burns, or broken bones breaking through the skin
• Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
• Severe heart palpitations
• Eye injury
• Extreme or unexplained pain, weakness, or paralysis

Go to Urgent Care
Urgent care centers typically offer extended hours—early mornings, evenings, and weekends—with no appointment needed. They’re the right call when something needs attention soon but isn’t an emergency. Urgent care centers can handle:

• Mild fevers, coughs, congestion, and sore throat
• Earaches, pink eye, and sinus infections
• Sprains, strains, and minor broken bones
• Neck and back pain
• Cuts that may need stitches
• Rashes, minor burns, and bug or animal bites
• Vomiting, painful urination, and flu symptoms

Knowing the difference before something happens means one less decision to make when you’re stressed, sick, or in pain.

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Nicki Maxwell, DO

Nicki Maxwell, DO, serves as the Medical Director of Emergency Services at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills. She is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Maxwell completed her residency at Garnet Health Medical Center from 2016 to 2020. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, Washington (2012–2016), and holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a focus in Biochemistry from The College of Idaho (2005–2009).