Difference Between the ER, Urgent Care, and a Freestanding ER
When faced with an emergency, knowing where to go for the right care can make all the difference. Through modern health care, patients now have a wide range of services available to them, from urgent cares for non-life-threatening conditions to emergency departments for more serious illnesses and injuries. Understanding the differences between your options can help you make informed decisions about where to go to get the best and timeliest care possible.
Urgent Care
An urgent care is often defined by providing immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions that require prompt attention.
“Urgent cares typically treat minor injuries from sprains and fractures, to illnesses including colds and flus,” said Dr. Larisa Traill, medical director of emergency services at McLaren Greater Lansing. “They can also provide additional health care services such as vaccinations and physicals.”
Urgent cares are usually staffed by a mix of general practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. The facility also may provide extended hours, including evenings and weekends — times when your primary care office is closed. The visit cost can also be lower than emergency care facilities as well.
Traditional Emergency Department (ED)
What most people know of as the “ER”, an emergency department (ED), is located within a hospital and provides comprehensive emergency care for serious and life-threatening conditions.
“Our emergency department includes a wide range of health care professionals, including board-certified emergency medicine physicians and specialists,” said Dr. Traill.
Open 24/7, the ED is within the hospital, so if additional care is needed, inpatient admission can be provided onsite.
Freestanding Emergency Department (FED)
One of the fastest-growing emergency care facilities becoming available now are freestanding emergency departments (FED). Like a traditional ED, a FED treats a wide range of medical emergencies, including serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe injuries, but they are a stand-alone facility, independent from a hospital.
Opening this fall, McLaren Greater Lansing’s new freestanding emergency department, located on the corner of Nixon Road and Saginaw Highway in Grand Ledge, will be the first of its kind in the west Lansing region.
“Like a traditional ED, the FED will be open 24/7, and patients will have access to state-of-the-art medical and diagnostic services for fast-acting treatment and interventions,” said Dr. Traill.
FEDs provide outpatient care only, but if additional or specialized care is required, the health care team can facilitate a seamless transfer to a nearby hospital.
No matter the care you need, emergency services are available and close by. To learn more about the new freestanding emergency department coming soon to Grand Ledge and Delta Township, click here.
To learn more about emergency care services at McLaren Greater Lansing, click here.
For more articles on health and wellness, click here.