Tips for Choosing Between an Emergency Room and Urgent Care There are certainly few other things as frightening as an unexpected injury or illness that occurs past your doctors working hours. The first thing that comes to a lot of peoples mind when confronted with a medical issue that calls for urgent treatment is an Emergency room. The truth is that a lot of people jump on the option for ER because they are ignorant of other options. What if you were told that a good alternative is seeking treatment from a clinic providing the best urgent care in Long Beach? Emergency Room Care versus Urgent Care According to report findings by the National Center for Health, 48 percent of patients who visit the ER will not be admitted. This means that a lot of people who rush to the ER can be treated through a different facility if they knew they had this option. The general rule of thumb is that if the health situation is not life threatening then you don’t necessarily have to go to the ER. You could visit an emergency physician in Los Alamitos either at the immediate care clinic or in their office without making an appointment. If your condition requires continuous monitoring but your doctor is unavailable or out of town the immediate care physician can offer their services and then, later on, update your doctor about your visit. The similarity between emergency rooms and the best urgent care in Long Beach services is that you can access both of them at any time and on any day. The ER is open 24 hours for potential life-threatening emergencies such as signs of heart attack, suicidal or homicidal thoughts, severe abdominal pain, pregnancy-related problems, poisoning, moderate to severe burns, gunshot wounds and deep knife cuts, heavy, uncontrollable bleeding, fever in newborns less than three months old, convulsions, seizure or loss of consciousness, and compound fractures among others. On the other hand, if your condition requires immediate medical attention but is less critical you can seek help from an emergency physician in Los Alamitos. Examples of these conditions include; a severe cough or sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration, bleeding or minor to moderate cuts, eye redness and irritation, minor fractures or broken bones, minor trauma like strain or sprain and falls or minor accidents. Emergency rooms categorize the nature of your condition and will offer services according to the order of the most severe first. This means if your issue is not very critical you can wait for long hours at the ER. You can get the best urgent care in Long Beach on a first-come, first-serve basis. Moreover, a visit to the ER is more costly compared to a visit to an urgent care clinic. Conclusion The best way of determining the type of urgent care you need in an emergency situation is to evaluate the severity of the situation. If you are doubtful of the decision you have made, call your insurance company on their 24-hour helpline phone and they will give you advice on the
best step to take. Understanding your options will help you make the best decision for quality health care for you or your loved one.