When you have a medical emergency, the last thing that you should think about is where to go for treatment. Although the differences are striking, many people don’t know the differences between urgent care clinics and the emergency room, and aren’t sure which option to choose in the event of an injury or illness. For that reason, Perlman Clinic of San Diego, CA created an infographic that breaks down the major differences between the two options, so that patients have the information that they need to make an informed decision. Aside from not receiving the right type of care, choosing the wrong option for your situation can result in longer wait times & higher bills. Here’s a high-level breakdown:

Urgent Care: non-life-threatening injuries, such as minor burns & cuts, and sports injuries. Minor illnesses like strep throat, eye infections, and cold or flu.
Emergency Room: life-threatening injuries such as serious burns & cuts, loss of consciousness, and chest pain. Serious illnesses such as vomiting or coughing up blood and incessant diarrhea.

We hope that this becomes a useful reference for patients when determining the type of care that they need!

Infographic by urgent care vs er