Convenient, Urgent, or Emergency Care?

What’s the difference?

With so many options out there, figuring out where to go get “checked out” isn’t always so clear, especially on a weekend or late at night. And that can lead some people to go with their first (and not always best) instinct: the emergency department (ED). If you go to the emergency department, you’re typically going to be there a long time and treatment will cost more than in a non-emergency setting.

Urgent Care and Convenient Care clinics aren’t meant to replace your primary care physician. They are for people who can’t get into to see their physician. Their services are convenient, take walk-ins, and are a much faster alternative to the emergency department.

Convenient Care

Convenient care tackles the most minor of cases, such as ear infections and sore throats, as well as sports physicals. Staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and treating patients older than age 2.

• allergies, except severe reactions
• animal and insect bites
• coughs, colds and sore throats
• ear infections
• fever and flu-like symptoms
• immunizations (TDAP, Tetanus, and Flu)
• minor burns and rashes
• preventive care such as sports physicals and blood pressure checks
• skin and soft tissue infections
• skin issues
• urinary tract infections

Urgent Care

Urgent care is designed to handle those less serious medical conditions that still require immediate treatment but aren’t life-threatening. A fever, bronchitis, or a cut that looks like it could require stitches can all be handled at Augusta Health Urgent Care. Patients of all ages are seen.

• accidents and injuries such as sprains, strains, and broken bones
• acute illnesses such as fevers, respiratory infections, colds, and flu
• adult and pediatric care
• employment physicals
• in-office labs and x-rays
• lacerations and contusions
• work-related injuries

Emergency Care

Emergency care is provided by physicians and Emergency Department (ED) staff in the hospital’s ED for those cases where not receiving immediate treatment could result in a loss of life or other complications—for example, conditions such as stroke, heart attack, or poisoning.

• abdominal pain
• any injury to the head, neck, back or abdomen
• bleeding that isn’t easily controlled with pressure
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• loss of consciousness
• sudden loss of vision or blurred vision
• sudden weakness of an arm or leg or difficulty speaking