Urgent Care vs Emergency Room

Urgent Care: non-emergency situations	Emergency Room: life-threatening situations
minor fractures, sprains, and strains minor back pain minor headaches abdominal pain mild nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea urinary tract infections low-grade fever between 100.4 and 1.2.2 degrees ear or sinus pain cough or sore throat domesticated animal bites if not allergic stitches mild asthma allergies rashes and minor burns eye irritation, swelling, or pain cold or flu symptoms	severe chest pain severe abdominal pain severe head or eye injuries loss of consciousness difficulty breathing allergic reactions poisoning stroke severe bleeding vaginal bleeding with pregnancy severe burns loss of vision major fractures wild or feral animal bites. Bites from animals/insects that cause an allergic reaction stabbings gunshot wounds drug or alcohol overdose

Urgent Care vs Emergency Room Pros and Cons

Urgent Care - Pros	Emergency Room - Pros
Short Wait times	Available 24/7
No appointment needed	Sophisticated treatment options
Many open until 9 pm	Swift admittance to hospital/surgery if needed
$40 copay

Urgent Care - Cons	Emergency Room - Cons
Hours vary	$250/visit
Few 24-hour locations	Long wait times
Not suitable for life threatening emergencies	Aetna will not pay for non-emergency use of the hospital unless after urgent care hours