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Should You Go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care?

Frontline ER is a 24-Hour Freestanding Emergency Room in Richmond where you can obtain Emergency Care quickly in Richmond, TX. No one ever knows why but it seems that it always happens that loved ones get sick in the middle of the night.

Or, after work you have bought groceries, you are tired, and while carrying in those groceries, you trip and fall up the steps, and notice quickly that you can’t put any weight on your swollen ankle that keeps getting blacker. And your baby never gets sick until Saturday morning at 1:30 a.m. with a rash and a fever of 104.2.

It happens when you are faced with what to do and where to go for their care. And it makes it harder when the symptoms seem severe, and your regular physician will not be back in his office for two more days.

When should you go to the Emergency Room in Richmond, TX?

There is a myriad of medical issues that need to be considered emergencies as it is necessary to use rapid or advanced care (such as surgery) that can only be obtained in a hospital setting.

Symptoms that need to be evaluated in the emergency room are:

  • Weakness or numbness on one side
  • Fainting or change in mental status
  • Head or eye injury
  • Broken bones and dislocated joints
  • Seizures
  • Facial lacerations
  • Vaginal Bleeding with pregnancy
  • Chest pain or difficulty breathing
  • Slurred speech
  • Serious burns
  • Concussion or confusion
  • Fever with a rash
  • Severe cold or flu symptoms
  • Severe cuts that might require stitches
  • Severed appendage

In some cases, you must trust your gut. If you are not sure, to be covered and have no regrets later, go to the emergency room. It is not always the right place. Emergency care is for real emergent cases, and urgent cases should not go to the Emergency Room and take away care time for those who are critical.

But, then when should I go to the Urgent Care?

Remember that urgent care IS NOT emergent care. It seems most people go to the emergency room because their doctor’s office was not open and they had good insurance.

So many go to the Emergency Room to receive care after-hours of the clinics for those minor injuries and illness and do not even realize they have other avenues from which to choose.

Urgent Care Centers are Same-Day Clinics that can handle many different kinds of medical issues that should be treated as soon as possible, but still not considered true emergencies.

Symptoms that should be evaluated and can be treated in the urgent care setting are:

  • Vomiting
  • Persistent diarrhea
  • Fever with no rash
  • Wheezing/shortness of breath
  • Moderate flu-like symptoms
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dehydration
  • Small cuts that might require stitches
  • Sprains and strains

If your symptoms are coming on a little at a time, or you might already know the diagnosis; like you have urinary tract infections all the time. Maybe your child has a lot of ear infections, and it is during the week. Optimally, you should try to see your primary care physician because they are familiar with your health issues and treatment protocols. But if it is not when your doctor is in, the urgent care clinics are there for you, and the very best resource that you can depend on when your loved one is ill.

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