When you or your child has an unexpected injury, do you know when to go to urgent care vs. the ER? It is a crucial decision that affects not only your health and wellness but also your timeline and budget. While some situations require an ER visit, you often have a choice, not only between the ER and urgent care, but also between standard and orthopedic urgent care.
ER vs. Urgent Care
First, it is essential to distinguish between the emergency room and urgent care. You do not always have a choice. In some situations, you need to go to the ER. Both urgent care facilities and emergency departments are used by people who have acute or urgent health problems, such as illnesses or injuries, outside of regular office hours. Some people also use these options if they do not have an established primary care provider.
Urgent care is for injuries or illnesses that require immediate attention, ideally on the same day, but are not life-threatening. This can include things like minor cuts or burns, flu-like symptoms, sprains and strains, or eye or ear infections.
Use the emergency room when you or someone else has a serious illness, injury, or symptoms that could be life-threatening. Examples include difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, major cuts or burns, severe allergic reactions, and serious traumatic injuries, such as large bone or open fractures.
What Is Orthopedic Urgent Care?
Most urgent care centers treat all types of urgent but not emergency illnesses and injuries. What makes orthopedic urgent care different is that we only treat orthopedic conditions or injuries. You would not go to an ortho urgent care for the flu or a burn, for example.
Check out this video with Dr. Anthony Marois to learn more about orthopedic urgent care:
As Dr. Marois explains, “Orthopedic urgent care is really a streamlined option for orthopedic care on an immediate or walk-in basis. So, suppose you or one of your kids has an accident that day. In that case, you can come in almost immediately, get an X-ray, find out if something is broken, see a trained orthopedic provider, to see if there’s an injury we need to treat immediately.”
Orthopedic urgent cares are staffed by orthopedic specialists. Orthopedists treat injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joints. These include sprains, strains, pulled muscles, repetitive motion injuries, arthritis, and more.
Orthopedic Urgent Care vs. ER
For any emergency that needs care right away or that could be life-threatening, including orthopedic emergencies, demand a trip to the ER. If you have a choice, there are some good reasons to avoid the ER and go to an ortho urgent care instead:
- Specialist Care. Emergency room providers are skilled physicians and nurses, but they are not specialists. Ortho urgent care is staffed by trained orthopedic specialists who treat orthopedic injuries daily.
- Shorter Wait Times. Patients with orthopedic injuries, such as sprains, strains, and fractures that are not too severe, are rarely prioritized in the ER, so expect a long wait.
- Lower Costs. Receiving care at our orthopedic facility is likely to be more cost-effective than a visit to the emergency room.
- More Efficient Care. Your overall care will also be more efficient with urgent care. The ER will refer you to an orthopedist for follow-up care, but our urgent care can be your final stop for treatment and management.
Orthopedic Urgent Care vs. Standard Urgent Care
Standard urgent care facilities treat people for a wide range of nonemergency problems, including sprains and strains, infections, and burns. Our orthopedic urgent care only sees patients with musculoskeletal issues.
The obvious benefit of using ortho urgent care is that you will be evaluated and treated by an orthopedic specialist. Standard urgent care providers are not specialists. As with an ER visit, you will need to be referred to an orthopedist for additional care and follow-ups, so standard urgent care will not be your final provider.
How Long Do Orthopedic Urgent Care Appointments Take?
While we cannot guarantee urgent care patients are seen immediately, our process is generally fast and almost always quicker than visits to the ER. According to Dr. Marois, “we have a much more streamlined, fast approach, where we get you in and out probably within 30 minutes to an hour, versus an ER where musculoskeletal complaints like small sprains or strains usually get pushed to the back of the line, and you could be there for hours.”
Do You Need a Referral To See an Orthopedist?
Most insurers no longer require you to get a referral from a primary care provider to see one of our orthopedic specialists. This direct-access approach makes it easier for you to see the specialist you need. You can walk in and get a same-day appointment for urgent care or even self-schedule online. Check with your insurance provider to find out if you need a referral.
Find your closest orthopedic urgent care if you or a family member needs efficient, specialist care for orthopedic injuries.
