Tips For When To Seek Emergency Care - Legacy ER

You never know when a medical emergency will happen. In a pinch, one of the easiest ways to find emergency medical care is by googling “24 hour emergency room near me.” But is the ER the best option at that moment? Here are tips regarding when to seek emergency care.

Should You Go To The ER?

Consider how serious your medical condition is before doing that search for a 24 hour emergency room near me. If it’s not immediately life-threatening, then consider if heading to an urgent care center or waiting until the next day to see your doctor are better alternatives. The most common illnesses treated at urgent care centers involve upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, coughs, and similar diseases. Many people who experience these things head for the emergency room first but could receive faster and more convenient medical care by visiting urgent care clinics.

Symptoms such as breathing difficulties and chest pain are critical reasons to go to the emergency room. Trust your gut when something doesn’t feel right. If you have never experienced your current symptoms before, you can head to the emergency room to be on the safe side.

Removing The Wait From ER

If you don’t have a life or death emergency, you could end up waiting around four hours to be seen, depending on how busy the facility is. There are things you can do to speed up how fast your seen. Have your medical history and health insurance information ready before you go. Explain all your symptoms upfront when you register. This will help doctors and nurses diagnose issues more quickly. If you do have to wait, try to be as patient as possible.

The day and time you go can greatly impact how much time you wait. Emergency rooms typically get busy around 6 p.m. They generally get quiet between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Heading to the ER on a Monday may keep you waiting for a long time as well.

Before automatically searching for a 24 hour emergency room near me, take time to consider other alternatives. You can save time, money, and unnecessary stress seeking convenient medical treatment facilities that offer less waiting times. Whichever option you choose, the most important thing is seeking immediate care when you need it most.