Laguna Beach Urgent Care

Understanding the Difference Between Urgent Care Centers and Emergency Rooms

Posted on Apr 14, 2023 in Blog, Urgent Care | No Comments

Understanding the Difference Between Urgent Care Centers and Emergency Rooms

Urgent care centers and emergency rooms offer Laguna Beach residents quality healthcare services that help them recover from illnesses and injuries. Although both facilities provide similar services, they have key differences that distinguish them from one another. However, most people don’t understand the difference between urgent care centers and emergency rooms.

That’s why our team at Surfside Urgent Care put together some common differences to help you decide which facility best suits your needs.

Surfside Urgent Care is one of Laguna Beach, CA’s leading urgent care clinics. We offer reliable medical services that help you recover from ailments or injuries expeditiously, allowing you to return to your daily routine without delay. When you come down with the flu or have a broken arm, Surfside Urgent Care is here for you.

The Difference Between Urgent Care Centers and Emergency Rooms

Understanding the difference between urgent care centers and emergency rooms ensures you receive the correct medical services for your specific needs. Going to the wrong facility can cause you to wait longer for treatment or receive inadequate service if the clinic doesn’t have the proper medical equipment. Below are some key differences between emergency rooms and urgent care facilities.

Urgent Care

Urgent care centers specialize in primary care and tend to less serious medical conditions like minor bone fractures, colds, and lacerations. They offer numerous rudimentary to moderate healthcare services when your family doctor isn’t available. Although most have advanced medical equipment and provide high-quality treatment, they don’t have the supplies or manpower to handle severe or life-threatening medical issues.

However, urgent care centers can treat the following medical problems:

  • Fevers
  • Abdominal pain
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Minor burns and broken bones
  • STDs
  • Colds
  • Flu

Emergency Rooms

Emergency rooms specialize in treating severe and life-threatening medical issues that require immediate attention. They feature the latest medical equipment and have several doctors, surgeons, and nurses on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You should only visit emergency rooms when you experience serious ailments or physical trauma that jeopardizes your well-being.

Below are a few common reasons to visit an emergency room:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Chest pain
  • Seizures
  • Concussions and severe head injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Severe cuts and blood loss

Contact Surfside Urgent Care for Medical Services in Laguna Beach, CA

If you experience a minor to moderate illness or injury in Laguna Beach, CA, and need professional care, contact us at Surfside Urgent Care. Our team provides exceptional medical services that improve recovery without excessively high prices. We’ve helped countless Laguna Beach residents recover from their medical issues, and we can do the same for you.

Give our Surfside Urgent Care team a call at (949) 715-7278 and schedule your appointment today!