Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: What’s the Difference?

When you are sick or injured, you undoubtedly want to get the best care possible so that you can start on the road to recovery. However, not every situation that requires medical treatment warrants a visit to the emergency room. How, then, do you ensure that you get the attention you need when your doctor’s office is closed? Most people would first think to go to the emergency room, when they would instead benefit from going to an urgent care center close to home. In fact, of the 130 million visits to the emergency room in America each year, only 13.3 percent result in a patient being admitted to the hospital, and up to 27 percent could have been easily taken care of at an urgent care center.
Knowing the difference between Costa Mesa urgent care centers and the emergency room will give you information you can use to make the best decision regarding your healthcare when you need attention. Being able to determine if an urgent care center is right for you will allow you to save time and money the next time you are sick or injured. Learn more about the difference between urgent care and the emergency room by viewing the following short video: