There are emergency rooms and urgent care offices in almost every city in the country. You might think that you can get by with going to an urgent care location, but your symptoms might require the attention of immediate medical care at a hospital. There are a few ways that you can determine the difference in the kind of help that you need to seek.

If you are experiencing any kind of severe pain, especially in the chest or abdomen, then a visit to the emergency room would be beneficial so that any tests of scans can be done to rule out anything serious. An immediate medial care situation often involves bleeding that won’t stop, difficulty breathing or seizures that occur that haven’t been present. If you have a cold or virus, then an urgent care office can write you prescriptions so that you can get better. The office assists with minor cuts, burns and other injuries that might occur at home, school or work. A fever that doesn’t have a rash present can likely be treated at an urgent care facility. Tests can be done to determine if you have a urinary tract infection, strep throat or the flu. An urgent care facility is a place to go so that the emergency room isn’t overwhelmed with people who don’t have medical emergencies.