McLaren Health Care
Emergency Services

Emergency Care vs. Urgent Care

Emergency Care

An emergency is a serious symptom or medical condition that is caused by an illness or injury. Most emergency departments are open 24/7, as patients may arrive any time of the day or night. In deciding whether to seek treatment at an emergency department, consider the seriousness of the condition and symptoms. For serious injuries or medical conditions, you should go to an emergency room. The conditions that need care in an emergency department include, but are not limited to:

• Symptoms of a stroke, including sudden numbness in an extremity
• Symptoms of a heart attack, including chest pain and/or shortness of breath
• Seizures or loss of consciousness
• Severe injuries, such as fractures or head trauma
• Vomiting or coughing up blood
• Bleeding that won’t stop or deep cuts
• Severe burns
• Severe abdominal pain

Urgent Care

Urgent care centers are usually used to treat patients with medical conditions that require immediate attention, but are not serious enough to warrant a visit to an emergency room. Conditions that may be effectively treated at urgent care centers include:

• Sprains and strains
• Infections, including urinary tract or respiratory infections
• Minor cuts with controlled bleeding
• Colds, coughs and sore throat
• Flu symptoms and/or fever
• Skin rashes and minor injuries

Most urgent care centers have extended hours, including evenings and weekends, and offer walk-in appointments.

When in doubt, patients who feel their symptoms require immediate medical attention may choose to go to a hospital emergency department, where medical professionals can determine which level of care is required.

Signs of a Heart Attack and Stroke

Signs of a Heart Attack

• Fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest, lasting more than a few minutes;
• Pain spreading to the neck, shoulders or arms;
• Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath.
• Women may experience an indigestion-type feeling in the upper abdomen; nausea; profound fatigue or decreasing exercise tolerance; sudden and severe headaches; tightness in the right or left arm, often mistaken for joint pain; and shoulder or neck discomfort.

Signs of a Stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
• Sudden confusion and trouble with understanding or speaking;
• Vision problems with one or both eyes;
• Trouble walking or maintaining balance;
• Sudden and severe headache with unknown cause.
• If you experience one or more of these symptoms, and they don't go away within a few minutes, call 9-1-1.

Pay particular attention to these symptoms if you have the following risk factors:

• High blood pressure;
• History of high cholesterol or elevated triglycerides;
• History of heart disease or stroke in the family;
• You're a smoker;
• You're diabetic;
• You've been experiencing a very high level of stress;
• You weigh more than the standard for your height, age and body frame.