Know where to go for medical care

August 21, 2024

A reference guide on where to go for care

As we know all too well, life happens. Sometimes our bodies feel great, and an injury or illness can appear out of nowhere. Your child falls and sprains an ankle while playing at the park. You catch a bug, and now you’re running a high fever, coughing and more. It can be tough to distinguish where to go for medical care when your symptoms feel unbearable, and your primary care provider is unavailable.

Here are some key differences to help you decide:

Virtual Walk-In Visits

Animal or insect bites
Coughs
Cuts
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Eye injuries
Fever
Headache
Nausea or upset stomach
Rashes
Sinus pain
Sore throat
Urinary tract/ bladder infections
Vomiting

Primary Care or Walk-In

Animal or insect bites
Broken bone
Burns
Concussion
Coughs
Cuts
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Eye injuries
Fever
Headache
Nausea or upset stomach
Rashes
Sinus pain
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Urinary tract/ bladder infections
Vomiting

Emergency Department

Asthma Attack
Broken bone (if skin is punctured)
Burns (if severe)
Concussion (if loss of consciousness)
Cuts (if uncontrolled bleeding)
Fever (for patients under 3 months old or with fever over 105ºF)
Headache (if severe)
Seizure
Shortness of breath (if severe)
Vomiting blood

What to Expect at the Walk-In Center

UHS Walk-In Centers are created to provide patients with immediate care for situations that cannot wait for a scheduled doctor’s appointment. This typically includes many medical problems, such as coughs, fevers, flu or ear infections.

What to Expect at the Emergency Department

Emergency Departments are designed to assist patients experiencing life-threatening medical situations. When you come to the Emergency Department at any UHS hospital, a triage nurse will assess your condition. Although they are open 24-7, wait times vary because healthcare staff need to treat the most seriously ill and injured patients first.