Medical Emergency: Should You Head Directly to the ER

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, your first instinct may be to go to the emergency room. However, this may not be your only option to get the treatment that you need in a timely manner. How do you know whether or not to head to the hospital if you feel ill, have just been bitten by an animal or are otherwise in need of medical attention?

Do You Need To Be Seen Right Away?

If you are not in serious pain or are otherwise able to stabilize your condition, you may not need to be seen right away. For instance, if you are experiencing back spasms, it may be best to put on a heating pad and make an appointment to see your doctor the next day. If you have been cut but have stopped the bleeding, it may be a good idea to clean the cut, wrap it in a bandage and seek medical attention only if you notice signs of infection.

Is There an Urgent Care Center Nearby?

Urgent care centers are generally open 24 hours or open well past normal business hours. This means that if you suffer an asthma attack at dinner or fall while jogging during the late evening hours, you can seek treatment without going to the hospital. Some urgent care centers, like Emergency Care Dynamics, know how long hospitals can take to see you, even in an emergency. Urgent care centers take most insurance policies, and it may be possible to negotiate a payment plan if you don't have coverage.

Is It Worth the Cost of Being Seen?

For minor cuts or scrapes, you can generally treat yourself with antiseptic spray and a bandage. If you can put weight on foot or leg, you may simply have a sprain as opposed to a break. Sprains and strains can generally be dealt with ice and adequate rest without the need to see a doctor. Remember, you may have to pay hundreds of dollars just to see a doctor for a simple evaluation, and an ambulance ride to the hospital can also cost hundreds of dollars on its own. Therefore, you may want to skip the trip to the ER unless you are in serious pain and don't think that you can manage it on your own.

Unless you are in severe pain or cannot stabilize your condition, it may not be in your best interest to go to the emergency room to seek treatment. Instead, it may be better to wait until you can see your own doctor who may be the right person to diagnose your condition.