Should I Go to the Emergency Room or the Urgent Care Room?
In an emergency, you and your family want the best care available in the
fastest time possible. While you may require medical treatment, an Urgent
Care center—such as one of our Butler Memorial Hospital Fastercare
sites—may be an appropriate alternative to an emergency room in
some situations. Use this guide to determine when to visit the emergency
room or if an Urgent Care center is a more fitting choice.
When to Visit an Emergency Department
Get to an Emergency Department immediately—or call 911 if you have
no one to transport you and you are unsafe to drive—if you experience
symptoms that are severe, life-threatening, or come on suddenly:
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Weakness one side/facial droop, garbled speech
Fainting/loss of consciousness/change in vision
Deep cuts/bleeding that won't stop
Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
High fever/fever with rash
Seizures
Severe or repeated vomiting
Serious burns
Change in mental state
When to Visit a BHS FasterCare Center
Consider visiting an Urgent Care Center if you don't feel well and are
suffering from symptoms/conditions such as:
Colds/flu/fever/cough
Sore throat
Ear aches
Sprains/strains/simple fractures
Scrapes/cuts
Urinary tract infections
Rashes without fever, such as poison ivy or insect bites
Emergency MedicineView Profile
BHS Foundation