Knowing where to go: ER, Urgent Care or Primary Care?
When you’re sick or injured, knowing where to go for help can be overwhelming.
Emergency rooms are often overcrowded, urgent care centers are readily available, and primary care doctors can be booked weeks in advance.
Dr. Salma Elfaki, a physician at Lake Nona Pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of understanding which facility is most suitable for your specific situation.
“Yes, we have all these resources for our health care, but people need to understand when it’s appropriate to go to what facility,” Elfaki said.
She recommends consulting your primary care doctor first, when possible.
“That’s where they know you, they know your history,” she said. “But urgent cares are super convenient for non-emergency or non-life-threatening issues. Versus an emergency room, which is for ‘Am I going to die?’ type of things.”
Consider the Cost
Cost is another factor that often gets overlooked in the moment.
“A strep test in the emergency room may cost $300, whereas at your doctor’s office it could be $30,” Elfaki said.
Patients say it’s complicated
Many Central Florida residents say it’s not always clear where to go.
“Ears, nose, throat, chest — it gets a little complicated,” said Elly Garcia of Mount Dora. “Then people don’t know and have to rely on urgent care or ER to tell them.”
Some families default to the emergency room, especially with young children.
“We have a 6-year-old — she’s normally sick all the time, so we go to the ER,” said Gary Williams of Tampa.
Naufil Monin, who was visiting from the Cayman Islands, rushed his son to the ER for a swollen mouth.
“He had this teeth issue and his lips were swollen, so we had to go immediately,” he said.
Garcia said she likes her primary care doctor but doubts how much they could do in a serious situation.
“If I had any severe issues, they would just send me somewhere else,” she said.
A General Guide to Know Before You Go
Elfaki says it helps to understand what conditions are best treated at which type of facility. She created a list of where is best to go:
Primary Care Doctor (PCP)
Go here for routine care and non-urgent issues:
- Annual physical exams
- Chronic condition management (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)
- Prescription refills
- Preventive care (vaccines, screenings)
- Mild cold, cough, or flu symptoms
- Minor skin issues (rashes, acne, eczema)
- Mild allergies
- Non-urgent lab tests or blood work
- Mental health check-ins or referrals
- Long-term health planning
Emergency Room (Hospital ER)
Go here for life-threatening emergencies or very serious symptoms:
- Chest pain or pressure (especially with shortness of breath)
- Signs of stroke (slurred speech, facial drooping, weakness on one side)
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- Major trauma (car accident, serious fall)
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Severe burns
- Seizures or loss of consciousness
- Severe abdominal pain (especially with fever or vomiting)
- Broken bones with deformity or exposed bone
- Suicidal thoughts or severe psychiatric crisis
- Poisoning or drug overdose
- High fever in infants (under 3 months)
Urgent Care
Go here for non-life-threatening but urgent issues when your doctor isn’t available:
- Minor broken bones or sprains
- Mild to moderate asthma attacks
- Ear infections
- Mild dehydration (can’t keep fluids down, but not severe)
- Flu, COVID, or strep throat testing
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Pink eye
- Minor cuts needing stitches
- Rashes, insect bites, or minor allergic reactions
- Fever without serious symptoms
- Vomiting or diarrhea (if not severe or prolonged)
Standalone ER vs. Hospital?
With so many new standalone emergency departments opening across Central Florida, some wonder if they’re as good as a hospital.
“I think they’re both fine,” Elfaki said. “Standalone ERs have a lot of resources and tests, and they can transfer you if needed.”
The Bottom Line
Knowing where to go not only gets you the right care faster, but it also helps relieve strain on overcrowded emergency departments.
“And you never know what you’re going to walk into,” Elfaki added.
Elfaki also recommends checking if your primary care doctor offers same-day telehealth visits or after-hours support. Many now do.
