Urgent care vs. ER? How to know where to go

While urgent care clinics and emergency rooms provide a number of the same services, there are substantial differences that can greatly impact uninformed consumers. Making the wrong choice when illness or injury strikes can cost thousands of dollars and hours of time—without the benefit of a better quality of care.

“Statistically, between 13 and 27 percent of emergency room patients could have been effectively treated in an urgent care setting—which could have saved those patients, on average, about $2,090 and more than three hours of their time—all without sacrificing quality of care,” says Stacey R. Gouzenne, MD, FACEP, national chief medical officer for FastMed Urgent Care and Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “In fact, patient research shows that treatment for common illnesses is equal or better at urgent care clinics [when compared to ERs].”

In recognition of May being National Urgent Care Awareness Month, FastMed Urgent Care created a new infographic, “Urgent Care vs. the ER: What You Need to Know” to help patients determine where to go the next time immediate medical treatment is needed.

Annually, patients spend $4.4 billion on unnecessary ER visits when treatment could have been provided at an urgent care clinic. Even for insured patients, the average co-pay for an ER visit can be as much as four times more expensive than an urgent care co-pay.

By having information tools on hand like the “Urgent Care vs. the ER: What You Need to Know”  infographic, you’ll be ready to make the best decision for your immediate medical treatment needs.

For more information on FastMed Urgent Care or to find a clinic near you, click here.

Infographic by FastMed