Urgent Care and Emergency Services

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Services

From time to time, questions arise concerning the difference between Emergency Department and Urgent Care visits. Emergency services and urgent care services are provided by the same physician and nursing staff. As a team, the physician and nursing staff-as well as the admitting, laboratory, and radiology departments-all work together to focus on you. The level of service will depend on your health condition, the time of day, and the diagnostic testing or procedures performed. All potential Urgent Care patients are evaluated in the Triage Room located directly adjacent to ER Admitting. Once evaluation is completed, the patient is treated according to health condition, the time of day, and the diagnostic testing or procedures performed. Please remember that a visit that begins in Urgent Care may become an Emergency Department visit after the physician completes the exam.

Urgent Care Visits

Four urgent care rooms for your service at Southwest Health Center are located in close proximity to the main emergency department, which offers the latest in technology and monitoring with two fully equipped trauma rooms. The level of service, emergency or urgent care, will depend on your health condition, the time of day, and the diagnostic testing or procedures performed. All potential Urgent Care patients are evaluated by a qualified medical professional in the Triage Room located directly adjacent to ER Admitting. Once evaluation is completed, the patient is treated according to condition. The following hours and examples of conditions are determining factors for urgent care versus emergency care:

Urgent Care Services:

• Available Monday through Friday: 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
  Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays:  8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
  Are for minor things, such as earaches, sore throats, and urinary tract infections
• If lab work is done (besides a monospot, throat culture, or urine sample), the visit automatically becomes an Emergency Department visit.

A comfortable waiting area is nearby Urgent Care allowing staff to keep you, the patient, and your family informed. A separate family/consultation room allows privacy for the physician and family to discuss the conditions and treatments.