How sick do you have to be to go to Urgent Care?

Urgent Care clinics frequently treat patients suffering with asthma, bronchitis, cold and flu symptoms, earaches, minor back and shoulder pain, minor burns or lacerations, allergies and rashes, sprains, and common infections.

Not everyone with a stuffy nose or nagging cough needs medical attention; sometimes they may just need to stay home for a day or two, get some rest, and drink plenty of fluids, says Dr. Remmer. “However, if you have severe symptoms, or if you’ve had symptoms for some time and aren’t getting better, or if you have underlying conditions that put you at risk for developing into something more severe, you probably should be seen.”

At the other end of that spectrum, Dr. Remmer and Urgent Care physicians sometimes see patients who really should be in the Emergency Room. “If a patient truly has a life-threatening condition – if they are having a stroke or a heart attack, for instance – we will stabilize them and then activate EMS,” he says.

He adds, “Or sometimes, a patient’s condition may not be life-threatening, but they still need to go to the Emergency Room. Maybe they thought they had a kidney infection, but we found it was appendicitis and that they are going to need surgery.”

In those cases, he says, the patient may be able to be driven to the Emergency room by a family member or friend. The Urgent Care team also will alert the Emergency Room that the patient is on their way and tell them which tests had already been run and why they are being sent to the ER.

That communication can help the patient have a more positive experience, lessen their anxiety, and even help them begin to feel better sooner.

“I think sometimes people aren’t sure what to expect in an Urgent Care setting,” Dr. Remmer says. “Our focus is on being accessible, convenient, and meeting the needs of the patient in a caring way.”