When should I go to the emergency room, urgent care or my primary care provider?
You want to go to the right place to get the right care. But it can be confusing to know where to go and when.
When you don’t feel good, or you suddenly get sick, you may feel you should go straight to the emergency room.
But unless you have a life-threatening emergency, you will probably get faster treatment and better follow-up care if you go to urgent care or your primary care provider (PCP).
Here are your care options, plus tips on where to go based on your symptoms.
When should I go to the emergency room?
Go to the emergency room if you have a life-threatening illness or injury. A true emergency is a sudden illness or injury that could cause severe problems or death if you aren’t treated right away.
What are examples of medical emergencies?
- Broken bones – severe
- If the bone is sticking sideways out of the skin
- The skin around the bone is blue
- You broke the bone in a high-impact injury (like a car crash)
- The broken bone is in the neck, back, and/or hip
- Signs of a heart attack
- Bad chest pain or squeezing
- Arm feels weak or numb
- Shortness of breath
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Signs of a stroke
- Face drooping
- Speech is slurred
- Arm feels weak or numb
- Losing balance
- Head injury that causes confusion, vomiting, or makes you pass out
- Hard time breathing
- Severe pain that doesn’t go away with home treatment
If you believe your health is in serious danger, go to the nearest hospital or call 911 for help.
For more information, visit: colpachealth.org/members/physical-health
When should I go to urgent care?
If you need to see a provider right away but it isn’t life-threatening, urgent care is the best place to go.
What kind of issues can I go to urgent care for?
- Sore throat
- Ear pain
- Clogged sinuses causing pain
- Swelling and pain after a minor injury that needs an X-ray
- Twisted ankle or wrist with skin still intact
- Small broken bones
- Stubbed toe or finger
- Suspected small break in the hand, wrist, forearm, foot, or ankle
You can also go to urgent care if:
- You need immediate care and your PCP tells you to go to urgent care or can’t see you
- You don’t know your PCP
Urgent care centers can take X-rays, apply splints, provide pain medicine, and arrange follow-up with a bone specialist. Before going, call ahead to confirm the center has X-ray available.
You can use our Find a provider tool to search for an urgent care clinic near you.
You can also use the MyCareOregon app to search for urgent care near you or find out who your PCP is.
For more information, visit: colpachealth.org/members/member-resources
When should I go to my PCP?
Visit your PCP for routine care like checkups, tests and health screenings. You should also go for reasons like:
- Cold or flu
- Sprains
- Constipation
- Back pain
- Allergic reactions that don’t affect your breathing, like itchy skin
- Managing chronic conditions, like diabetes
Your PCP is listed on the back of your Member ID card.
What should I do if I need care after hours?
If you need care after hours and your issue is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you need care after hours and your issue isn’t life-threatening, call your PCP (the number is on the back of your Member ID card). They always have someone available by phone and can help you decide what to do.
If you need immediate care and your provider can’t see you, go to an urgent care clinic instead of the emergency room.
Urgent care is available on a walk-in basis. Some urgent care clinics will also let you make an appointment or check in online.
You can use our Find a provider tool to search for an urgent care clinic near you.
You can also use the MyCareOregon app to search for urgent care near you.
For more information, visit: colpachealth.org/members/member-resources
What should I do if I don’t know whether to go to the emergency room, urgent care or my PCP?
If you don’t know whether you should go to the emergency room, urgent care or your PCP, call your PCP’s office. They have an after-hours line.
How can I find contact information for emergency care, urgent care or my PCP?
For emergency care: Dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room at a hospital.
For urgent care: Search for nearby urgent care clinics using the Find a provider tool.
For your PCP: Call your PCP’s office. Their number is on the back of your Member ID card.
After hours or advice: Call your PCP’s office. They often have an after-hours line.
What should I do if I or someone else is saying they want to hurt themselves?
If you or someone you know is saying they want to hurt themselves, call or text 988. This free 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline can help you. It’s available in English or Spanish.
Where to get help
| Emergency room | Urgent care | Primary care provider |
|---|---|---|
For life-threatening emergencies, like:
| If you need to see a provider right away but it isn’t life-threatening, such as:
| For routine check-ups, medication management and chronic conditions and minor illness, like:
|
My child has a high fever. What should I do?
A high fever means 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. What you should do depends on how old your child is and how long they have had it.
- 3 months and younger: Go to the emergency room
- 3 months and older:
- If it’s been over 3 days but they are able to drink, urinate, and be alert, go to your PCP or urgent care
- If it’s been over 5 days or they are not drinking, urinating, and not alert, go to the emergency room
Related pages
Dental health
Read what to do if you have a dental emergency
Mental health and substance use treatment
Learn what to do if you have a mental health crisis
Rides to care
