A person with a medical condition wondering if they should seek primary care vs urgent care.

Going to Primary Care vs. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

Sometimes you have a medical issue that needs attention but you don’t know where to go to get the help you need.

Deciding between primary care vs. urgent care vs. emergency room care can be a challenge, especially when you’re already dealing with the stress of a medical condition. But with the right information, it’s easy to figure out where to find the appropriate medical care.

First, Is it an Emergency Room Issue?

Before deciding between a primary care or an urgent care center, make sure you don’t need the emergency room.

If you have a life-threatening condition, neither your doctor or an urgent care doctor will be equipped to help. If you’re suffering from any of the following, contact the closest emergency department for immediate medical attention:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heart attack or severe chest pain
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Knife or gunshot wounds
  • Wounds with uncontrollable bleeding
  • Severe burns
  • Poisoning or drug overdose
  • Head injuries
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Choking
  • Stroke
  • Severe neck, back, and limb injuries, including broken bones
  • High fevers, especially in children or if accompanied by a rash
  • Difficulty speaking or walking
  • Sudden changes in mental state such as extreme confusion
  • Pregnancy-related complications such as severe pain or bleeding

If you have any of the symptoms above, dial 911 for emergency care now.

The Difference Between Urgent and Primary Healthcare

What Is a Primary Care Clinic?

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are family medicine and general practitioners. (Typically, you see the same primary care provider for years at a time.) They are your first point of contact for all your healthcare needs, keeping track of your medical history, helping you manage your chronic conditions, and conducting yearly physicals.

What Are Urgent Care Clinics?

Urgent care facilities are walk-in clinics where you get immediate medical care services for minor illnesses and injuries. Usually, when you go to an urgent care clinic, you’re seen by a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant.

Urgent cares are great facilities for receiving after-hours medical care but they’re not equipped to handle life-threatening medical emergencies.

When to Go to Your PCP

Outside of your annual checkups, you can make an appointment with your family doctor’s office to help with a wide range of non-emergency health concerns. A primary care doctor can assist with the following:

  • Headaches
  • Sleep issues
  • Minor injuries
  • Sunburn
  • Food sensitivity
  • Ear infections and sinus infections
  • Sprains
  • Bronchitis
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Pulled muscles
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Upper respiratory infections
  • Diabetes I & II
  • Flu
  • Sore throat
  • Whiplash
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Minor burns
  • High blood pressure
  • Insect bites

When to Go to Urgent Care

Urgent care is perfect for immediate, minor medical treatment. These locations are often open outside of normal office hours and over the weekends, providing care when your regular doctor’s office is closed. Some are even open 24-hours a day.

Often urgent care facilities have shorter wait times than your PCP office. However, if your primary healthcare provider is working out of a well-staffed integrated care clinic, they can frequently see you the same day, too.

Since these facilities deal with urgent medical conditions, they’re often prepared to do X-rays, blood tests, and other screenings. If you can’t get into your PCP’s office, urgent care can also see you for minor injuries and illnesses like sprains and ear infections.

Additionally, they can assist with the following concerns:

  • Rashes
  • Minor fractures and broken bones
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration
  • Small cuts requiring stitches
  • Mild allergic reactions
  • Mild difficulty breathing such as asthma
  • Eye infections

Can I Use Urgent Care Instead of Having a PCP?

Having a reliable PCP is essential to your wellness.

While it’s great to have an urgent care facility option, especially when you need minor but immediate medical attention, it doesn’t replace a primary care doctor.

Having access to a reliable PCP extends your life expectancy and lowers healthcare costs over time. In fact, regularly seeing a PCP results in 33% lower healthcare costs and a 19% lower chance of dying prematurely.

PCPs provide important preventative healthcare, education, and emotional support as you navigate health challenges.

While urgent care practitioners may be able to provide vaccinations or specialist referrals, it’s better to secure this kind of medical treatment through your PCP. They have a more comprehensive understanding of your medical history, and even when you go to an urgent care unit, they often recommend you follow up with your PCP.

Additionally, depending on your type of insurance, urgent care usually carries a higher co-pay than seeing your PCP.

How Do I Find a Primary Care Provider?

It’s no secret that there is a shortage of PCPs in America, which may have you turning to urgent care for a lot of your healthcare needs. But, plenty of reliable PCPs are out there.

Check with your insurance or ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also find high-quality primary care services at local healthcare organizations like Meridian HealthCare. We’re proud to provide a wide range of patient services, including behavioral and primary healthcare.

Know Where to Go

When you need medical treatment, you don’t want to worry about where to go.

Now that you know the difference between primary care vs. urgent care vs. emergency room care, you can decide which one is best.

Urgent care is a great option when you need attention outside of your family doctor’s regular office hours. However, they can’t take care of all of your medical needs.

When it comes to ensuring your health (and your family’s health), you need to have a reliable PCP. They monitor your wellness, get you in touch with necessary specialists, and help you manage any long-term conditions.