There is a common misconception between urgent cares and ERs. The fact of the matter is, urgent cares are not staffed or equipped like emergency rooms, and emergency room doctors treat more conditions than an urgent care can. We’re also open with no wait to be seen 24/7/365.
Can Your Urgent Care Do This? |
The Emergency Center | Urgent Care |
|---|---|---|
|
Treatment for minor acute injuries and illnesses (e.g. colds, flu, and fevers) |
|
|
|
Zero wait times |
|
|
|
Open 24/7/365 |
|
|
|
Treatment for more extensive injuries (e.g. broken bones) |
|
|
|
Basic lab work and advanced imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scan and ultrasound |
|
|
|
IV medications and procedural sedation |
|
|
|
Treatment for life-threatening emergencies |
|
|
|
Board-certified emergency medical physicians and ER- and ICU-trained nurses on staff |
|
|
|
Admitting privileges with local hospitals, in the event patients need more extensive treatment |
|
|
|
On-site pharmacy |
|
|
The Emergency Center honors most private and commercial insurance plans and is proud to offer transparent pricing and affordable self-pay rates, so our patients never receive a surprise bill.
-
The Emergency Center combines the quick service of an urgent care with the advanced capabilities of a hospital ER. The Emergency Center:
-
Adheres to standards established by the American College of Emergency Physicians
-
Features an on-site lab that enables accurate and efficient diagnoses
-
Administers IV medications and procedural sedation
-
Has a 64-slice CT scanner, digital x-ray, ultrasound and other advanced imaging modalities to quickly diagnose and treat serious medical issues
-
Can provide up to 72 hours of discharge medications thanks to our in-house pharmacy
Urgent Care or Emergency Room?
According to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, there is an almost 90 percent overlap between symptoms that require emergency care and those that could be treated by a primary care. Two people may have identical symptoms but have different diagnoses — one life-threatening, one non-urgent, but most patients lack the medical knowledge and training to determine the cause of their symptoms and shouldn’t try to self-diagnose if they are having a medical emergency vs a minor condition.
Don’t hesitate to seek emergency care if there’s the slightest chance you’re having an emergency. As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
During a medical emergency, being transferred from an urgent care clinic to an emergency room could not only drastically worsen your outcome or put your life at risk, but could also result in higher medical bills. Patients who suffer from a serious medical condition may face double costs if they’re transferred to an ER because the urgent care center doesn’t have the capability of diagnosing or treating their condition. Most importantly, going to an urgent care center for such an emergency can lead to inadequate diagnosis and wasted time, which can be dangerous to your health.
Visit The Emergency Center located near you and let our Board Certified ER doctors diagnose whether you’re having an emergency, and if you aren’t, we will facilitate your referral to an urgent care that’s right for you. If you are having a medical emergency or need more advanced testing than an urgent care offers, you will have come to the right place. By coming to us first, you avoid wasting time and potentially paying for an urgent care plus an ER visit.
Visiting The Emergency Center: Payment and Insurance
The Emergency Center accepts all private insurance and offers affordable self-pay rates for major and minor emergencies. We are proud to offer transparent pricing and never send surprise bills, no matter the severity of your condition and extent of treatment. Also, keep in mind that when urgent care centers are closed, most insurance providers recognize an emergency room is the prudent layperson’s only option, so don’t hesitate to visit us – especially after hours.
Don’t make the mistake of visiting an urgent care when you may need an emergency room. Our ER should be your first resort when your health is at risk. We have a convenient location near you in San Antonio.