The difference between ER and urgent care and when to go

When should the sick or injured go to the ER versus urgent care? Going to an ER when a visit to urgent care might be the better option can result in lost time, money, unnecessary strain on medical staff and the same can be said for the opposite situation.

Samia Kadri, a Banner Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner, joined “Arizona Horizon” to explain different scenarios requiring an ER visit and ones for urgent care.

“The urgent care sees minor illnesses, minor injuries,” Kadri explained, “But we’ll see people with a common cold, flu or COVID.”

Kadri said those that are having lower urinary symptoms or sexually transmitted concerns can go to an urgent care. They are also able to diagnose and treat pneumonia as well as simple lacerations.

“If you fall and you have your hand outstretched and you hurt your wrist, we can X-ray that,” Kadri said, “Usually we can stabilize it until you see a specialist.”

Kadri explained the majority of the X-ray technicians are capable of treating injuries from the knee down, the shoulder and the collarbone out.

“Then we do chest x-rays for infectious reasons,” Kadri said, “So no spine, no neck, no head and no hip.”

Those with symptoms of severe chest pain, numbness, weakness, loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pain or hitting your head should go to the emergency room. While some may make the mistake of going to an urgent care in those situations, Kadri assured there are no ramifications.

“We want you to be seen somewhere,” Kadri explained, “So the only thing that people run into is they come to urgent care, we assess them, and we deem them necessary to go to the ER.” Kadri added, “Essentially, we want the best outcome so we will just recommend ER, call 911, do non-emergent transport if they have not arrived.”