Comparing Urgent Care Services to Emergency Room Care – What’s the Difference?

Visitors and residents of Cape May Court House, Wildwood, and Marmora, NJ, can turn to Cape Regional Urgent Care to receive prompt medical care from experienced physicians for the treatment of non-life threatening conditions. If you need to see a doctor right away, you may wonder whether your condition requires emergency room care or if an urgent care center is a more appropriate option. Read on to learn more about the main distinctions between the two.

What is an Urgent Care Facility?

Urgent care facilities treat minor or moderate injuries, illnesses, and other conditions on a walk-in basis. Anyone who has had a child become ill after business hours, or who suffered a possible broken bone on a national holiday, likely understands the need for such health care services. Unfortunately, medical issues aren’t confined to a 9-to-5, Monday-through-Friday schedule like many physicians’ offices are. In the past, this conflict would leave patients with two choices – wait it out until their primary care physician’s office opens again (and hope that they can get an appointment), or visit the emergency room. Sometimes the former option isn’t viable, while the latter can be prohibitively slow and expensive, particularly when the ER trip isn’t warranted by the extent of the injury or illness. That’s why walk-in medical clinics like Cape Regional Urgent Care have long hours, are open seven days a week and most holidays, and welcome patients without appointments. We are here to provide a much-needed service to individuals needing medical care right away for non-life threatening conditions.

How to Choose Between Visiting an Urgent Care Facility & the ER

Often, the choice between going to an urgent care facility and an emergency room is a hard one to make. How can you tell the difference between a true emergency and a less urgent condition? First thing’s first: If you suspect that it’s an emergency, but you’re not sure, it’s better to err on the side of caution and call 911 or head to the hospital. Serious issues that need immediate attention include heart attacks, strokes, and injuries to the head, neck, and eyes. Severe or uncontrolled bleeding also warrants emergency care.

On the other hand, general illnesses and minor injuries can be addressed at Cape Regional Urgent Care’s facilities in Cape May Courthouse, Wildwood, and Marmora, NJ. We can help people who are experiencing the following issues and many others:

• Strep throat
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Minor burns

To learn more about Cape Regional Urgent Care and how we serve Cape May Courthouse, Wildwood, and Marmora, NJ, residents and visitors, contact us today. With our knowledgeable physicians, experienced nurse practitioners, and helpful staff members, one of our three facilities should be the first place you go for urgent care. We’ll gladly provide you with information about our services and answer any questions you have.