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St. Luke's Urgent Care

Emergency Care vs. Urgent Care

You never plan for injuries or illnesses, but sprains, broken bones and viruses never seem to be convenient. At some point you may find yourself trying to decide if an urgent care or an emergency department is a better choice; consider what you might be comfortable having your primary care physician treat. Those common conditions, including simple lacerations that need stitching, insect bites, urinary tract infections, strains and sprains, as well as animal bites, are all treatable at the urgent care.

Life-threatening issues, such as shortness of breath, severe pain, drug overdoses, situations that require a CT scan or complex lacerations should be seen at an emergency department as soon as possible. Call 911 or head to the nearest emergency room.

Here are some simple ways to decide when to go to a St. Luke's Urgent Care Center, and when to visit an emergency department.

Urgent Care Centers

  • Minor illnesses
    • Sore throats
    • Ear aches
    • Rashes
    • Cough
    • Fever
    • Vomiting
    • Diarrhea
    • Urinary tract infections
  • Minor injuries
    • Cuts and bleeding
    • Insect bites
    • Pain following a fall
    • Suspected broken bones

St. Luke's Urgent Care Centers are fully-equipped to provide lab and X-ray services. We can diagnose broken bones, splint them and do a variety of lab tests.

Emergency Department Care

  • Difficulty Breathing: Call 911 immediately if you recognize that you or your child is having trouble breathing. Breathing difficulties could be linked to a number of problems such as asthma, pneumonia or a severe allergic reaction. Immediate medical treatment provided by the ambulance personnel on the way to the emergency department can be life-saving.
  • Traumatic Injuries: Call 911 immediately if you or a child has experienced a severe traumatic injury, which may include excessive bleeding, head injury or severe pain.
  • Behavioral Changes: Bring your child to emergency department immediately if you notice any behavioral changes. Behavioral changes can include difficulty speaking, excessive sleep, change in eating patterns and unconsciousness. Behavioral changes in children often indicate a serious illness or condition.

St. Luke's seven Urgent Care Centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week with special holiday hours. Appointments are not necessary at the Urgent Care centers, so each center can see patients on a walk in basis and accept most types of insurance. Get more information about St. Luke's Urgent Care Centers.