If you hurt yourself or your child suddenly falls ill in the middle of the night, you may be unsure whether you should go to the nearest emergency room immediately or wait until morning to visit an urgent care center. It helps to understand the difference in the level of care in an emergency room versus an urgent care center because rising healthcare costs strain both the healthcare system and patient pocketbooks.

A visit to the emergency room can be expensive because numerous tests are often done to diagnose the problem, and you or your child may receive intensive treatments. Diagnostic tests typically performed in an emergency room include blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, MRIs and other high-tech hospital tests. Emergency rooms also can sedate a child who needs to have a painful procedure. Many ERs have surgeons and specialists on-call 24 hours a day.

When to Head to Urgent Care

If possible, it’s best to see your primary care doctor or your child's pediatrician for routine healthcare needs because they are already familiar with the relevant medical history. However, if you're unable to see your regular doctor and need to be seen the same day, a visit to an urgent care center is a convenient, cost-effective option.

Urgent care centers can treat moderate, unforeseen medical problems in adults and children that – while not emergencies – require care within 24 hours. Urgent care situations can include:

• A cut that needs stitches.
• Abdominal pain.
• Fever.
• Sore throat.
• Ear pain.
• Vomiting and diarrhea.
• An eye scratch.
• Worsening of an existing condition, such as mild to moderate asthma.
• A spike in blood pressure.
• Routine injuries, such as sprained ankles and back problems.
• Simple broken bones.
• A non-life-threatening accident or fall.

When to Head to the Emergency Room

A true emergency is when an illness or injury places you or your child's health or life in serious jeopardy and treatment cannot be delayed.

In these situations, call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room:

• Facial drooping, arm weakness and difficulty speaking (signs of a stroke).
• Dizziness, sudden confusion and difficulty seeing or moving your body.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Chest pain.
• Head injury with blacking out.
• Severe allergic reaction.
• Spurting blood.
• Seizure or unconsciousness.
• Ingestion of a toxic substance.
• High-speed car accident or a high fall.

Be Prepared Beforehand

Before you or your child ever have a serious medical problem, you should know the choices available to you through your insurance company. Also learn the locations of the closest emergency department and urgent care centers and how to get there.