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Emergency Room vs Urgent Care

Call 844.467.6824

When to Call 911

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. Do not drive to the hospital. By calling 911 at the first sign of symptoms, you buy yourself time. Plus, you give emergency medical personnel the opportunity to start care on-site and enroute to the hospital. Always call 911 if: 

    • The person’s condition seems life threatening or could get worse on the way to the hospital
    • Moving the person might cause further injury
    • You can’t get to the emergency department quickly

This list of emergency symptoms and conditions should be treated immediately in an emergency room.

View Emergency Symptom List

Urgent Care

For minor illnesses or injuries that require advanced care, or at times when primary care is not available, our community has several primary care offices available. Whether it’s a sore throat that won’t go away, a rising fever, a household cut, sprained ankle or for just about any minor after-hours illness or injury, urgent care locations are your best choice.

Urgent care centers treat injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an ER visit.

Urgent Care is NOT intended for:

    • Heart attack or stroke symptoms
    • Pregnancy Issues
    • Infant Illness
    • Major Injuries or Trauma
Visit your Primary Care Physician for: Choose the Urgent Care Center for: Dial 911 or go immediately to the Emergency Room for:
Check-ups Minor cuts, burns & wounds Chest pain
Immunizations Minor eye injuries, infections or irritations Severe shortness of breath
Annual exams Severe cold & flu symptoms Numbness in the face, arms or legs
Prenatal care Sprains Other symptoms that may indicate a heart attack or stroke
Earaches Muscle aches & pains Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop
Colds Persistent fever Automobile or industrial accident
Fevers Allergies Poisoning
Non-urgent healthcare needs Severe earaches Complicated fractures
  Upset stomachs Major injuries
  Other non-life threatening but urgent needs Head injuries
    Suicide attempts or thoughts

Primary Care is a patient's main source of regular medical care including health maintenance, counseling, health education, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness. Primary care is offered by physicians, pediatricians and nurses. If you need a primary care provider, call our physician referral line at 844.GO.SOVAH.

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