Injury and illness often happen when we least expect them: you slip and fall while bringing groceries into the house, twist an ankle doing yard work, or wake up in the middle of the night with serious stomach pain and a searing fever. There’s never a convenient time to experience one of these misfortunes, but getting treatment for a sudden medical concern can be all the more challenging on the weekend or after hours.

Some health concerns require immediate medical attention. However, you may experience uncertainty about where to go to get the care you need. It’s not always easy to determine whether or not you need to go to a walk-in clinic, an urgent care center, or the emergency room. Here are the differences between these medical centers to help you make a more informed decision.

Urgent Care

Urgent care clinics are medical care facilities specializing in diagnosing and treating non-life-threatening medical concerns. Urgent care facilities generally have set hours and offer walk-in appointments, so you can get seen without setting up an appointment in advance. This same-day availability differentiates urgent care services from primary care, where an appointment is required.

Urgent care centers are staffed by primary care providers, such as physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Most urgent care clinics will also have at least one primary care doctor—also known as a primary care physician—on staff.

Urgent care is recommended for conditions that require immediate medical attention but do not appear life-threatening.

Common medical conditions treated at an urgent care clinic include:

• Ear infections
  
• Sinus infections
  
• Eye infections
  
• Urinary tract infections
  
• Flu symptoms
  
• Allergic reaction symptoms
  
• Minor burns
  
• Minor injuries (like sprains or strains)
  
• Minor broken bones (like breaks in the hand, wrist, or foot)
  
• Sore throat
  
• Minor wounds (like a cut that may require stitches)
  
• Insect and animal bites
  
• Back pain
  
• Shortness of breath (caused by asthma or an upper respiratory tract infection)
  
• Vomiting
  
• Rashes or other skin conditions
  
  

Urgent care facilities are equipped with diagnostic capabilities like X-rays, CT scans, and labs for blood and urine testing. Most urgent care providers can definitively diagnose the conditions listed above while providing acute treatment such as medication prescription, wound care, bone casting, and vaccinations.

In addition to walk-in availability, urgent care centers usually offer extended “after-hours” availability, meaning you can be seen for a medical concern after other businesses have closed. Before going to a clinic, check out their hours online to see if you can receive walk-in urgent care services before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

The advent of telehealth platforms like Sesame has led to the introduction of online urgent care appointment options for patients seeking same-day medical care. These online visits are conducted via a video conference platform similar to Facetime or Zoom.

Online urgent care on Sesame connects the patient directly with a licensed health care provider specializing in diagnosing and treating urgent acute conditions. These appointments allow you to receive a high level of care without leaving home. This level of convenience may work well for a patient with family or work obligations who cannot take the time to wait in an urgent care lobby. Online urgent care is also cheaper than in-person care. An online urgent care appointment on Sesame starts at $30–$40 (for a 30-minute appointment). Most in-person urgent care visits start at about $100 out of pocket.

An online urgent care appointment can save you time and money. Depending on your condition, your health care provider can even write a prescription for medication during your video visit, so you get can started on treatment immediately.

Some conditions that can be diagnosed and treated during an online urgent care video visit include:

• Common cold
  
• Influenza (The flu)
  
• COVID-19
  
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  
• Sore throat
  
• Toothaches
  
• Sinus infection
  
• Skin infection
  
• Skin rash
  
• Poison ivy rash
  
• Vaginal infections
  
• Bacterial vaginosis
  
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  
• Back pain
  
• Asthma
  
• Allergies
  
• Migraines
  
• STI screenings
  
  

You may need to book an in-person visit for a definitive diagnosis. If follow-up testing, blood work, or diagnostic imaging is required, your provider will tell you how to proceed. Certain STIs can only be diagnosed via a blood test. This will require a visit to a clinic. If an in-person or follow-up appointment is needed, your provider will discuss the next steps with you.

Emergency Care

Emergency departments are also open around the clock. These health care facilities offer acute treatment for severe medical emergencies and life-threatening conditions.

Signs and symptoms of a potential medical emergency include:

• Chest pain (common during heart attacks)
  
• Difficulty breathing
  
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Fainting
  
• Head injury
  
• Concussions
  
• Eye injuries
  
• Broken bones
  
• Severe abdominal pain
  
• Fever symptoms accompanied by skin rash
  
• Seizures
  
• Deep wounds
  
  

These indications of a serious medical problem likely require emergency medicine. If you experience any of the symptoms or conditions listed above, call 9-1-1 or arrange to be taken to the nearest emergency room.

Emergency departments are staffed by doctors, surgeons, physician assistants, and specialists. These care centers house various medical devices like imaging machines, defibrillators, AEDs, and aspirators. Because of their staffing and technical capabilities, emergency departments are equipped to handle many medical emergencies.

Emergency room visits are generally more expensive than urgent care visits. An urgent care visit usually costs between $100 and $200, depending on the condition requiring treatment. ER visits typically cost upwards of $1,000. Depending on the situation and your health insurance plan, your co-pay price may be reduced, but it will likely be more expensive than urgent care.

When and Where To Go

Consider urgent care as the middle ground between primary and emergency care. If you’re experiencing minor symptoms of an acute illness, like a fever or coughing, you can likely wait a few days to see if self-care and rest alleviate your discomfort. If these minor symptoms persist, contact a primary care provider and schedule an appointment to examine these indications.

If symptoms occur suddenly, are moderately severe (like a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), or appear during “off-hours” (like over the weekend or in the evening), you should consider going into an urgent care clinic for an examination. It’s also recommended that you use urgent care for wounds that require stitches and minor injuries like sprains and strains.

If you are experiencing severe symptoms or the signs of a medical emergency (like chest pain or difficulty breathing), call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. Do not drive yourself to the ER. Ask a family member, friend, or neighbor to take you.

Sesame offers convenient and affordable online urgent care visits with licensed health care providers nationwide, often with same-day availability. These video appointments allow you to discuss your symptoms, receive a visual examination, and discuss treatment options with real health care providers offering a high level of care. If follow-up testing, blood work, or a physical exam is required, a visit to a clinic may be necessary. Your provider will discuss the next steps with you.

Skip the wait times and save up to 60% on urgent care when you book an appointment through Sesame.

Sesame content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical concern, it is critical to seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions. If you are facing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.

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Sesame's Editorial Team is committed to delivering useful, relevant and reliable health information to our readers. Our editorial policy ensures that all content is thoroughly researched and medically reviewed to maintain high standards of accuracy and integrity. For more details on our commitment and practices, please visit our Editorial Process and Review Standards Policy page.