Emergency Department or Urgent Care? Know Where to Go.
- Published in Healthy You
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When an injury or illness is too severe to stay home, but not life threatening, you can get the right care immediately by visiting an urgent care center near you. Learn more about when urgent care is the best choice for your medical needs.
When you’re ill or injured, there are times when home treatment just isn’t enough. If your regular doctor cannot see you quickly, urgent care – a middle ground between your doctor and the emergency room – might be the best option for quick, expert treatment.
“While an Emergency Department is always there for a life-threatening health issue, urgent care is often a better option when you have a non-life-threatening condition and are unable to get a same-day appointment with your primary care doctor,” says Aaditya Desai, DO, emergency medicine physician. “Urgent care offers convenient care every day of the week with expertise for minor accidents, injuries, and illnesses.”
The following conditions can be treated at an urgent care center:
- Sore throat
- Asthma
- Back pain
- Allergic reactions
- Burns
- Flu vaccination
- Lacerations
- Sports-related injuries
Once you arrive at urgent care, the staff will conduct a thorough assessment. If they determine that you require a higher level of care, they will refer you to an emergency room.
If you are experiencing the following symptoms, call 911 or go straight to an emergency room:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Severe abdominal pain
- Head injury or sudden and severe headache, weakness or paralysis
- Bleeding that won’t stop
St. Joseph’s Health has Urgent Care locations in Clifton and Totowa, offering convenient care for treatment for patients ages 2 and up. St. Joseph’s Urgent Care centers offer expert care for minor illnesses and injuries, in addition to X-rays to determine if a bone is broken, testing for respiratory infections, and blood work. Walk-ins are welcome.
Clifton Urgent Care: 973-928-2880
Totowa Urgent Care: 862-657-3000
