What’s the Difference Between an ER, an Urgent Care Center, and a Freestanding ER?

It’s the weekend.  You suddenly feel ill.  You know you should probably go see someone about your symptoms, but your primary medical provider isn’t working. 

What should you do?

In recent years, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers have been popping up all over the country, often in places where brick-and-mortar stores have left.  In some places, urgent care clinics are even within major grocery chains, located directly in their pharmacy departments. It would be easy to think freestanding ERs and urgent care clinics are the same, but there are notable differences.  We’re helping to solve the confusion so you know where to go when you need medical care as soon as possible.

What is an Urgent Care Center?

Years ago, hospital emergency rooms were being flooded by people without medical insurance, and those whose doctor’s offices were closed.  To help alleviate some of the overcrowding, which could impact patient care, urgent care centers were developed.

An urgent care center is a walk-in medical clinic, staffed by general medical staff, designed to provide medical care for those without health insurance, those without a primary care physician, and those with non-emergency medical needs outside the normal office hours of most medical providers.  They handle non-emergency medical situations, like less severe broken bones, flu, a fever of 102 or below, animal bites and insect stings, and so on.

Two of the best benefits of going to an urgent care center instead of a hospital emergency room is the short wait times and the lower cost.  Urgent care centers are not considered “emergency rooms,” so your deductible will be less than what is charged by hospital ERs, whether it’s freestanding or at the actual hospital.  And because most urgent care clinics allow you to check-in online, you can check-in, then drive to the urgent care, just in time to be seen by the doctor.

The biggest disadvantage of choosing an urgent care center first is that they cannot handle true emergencies.  If you go to an urgent care complaining of shortness of breath, one-sided weakness, chest pain, or a compound fracture, you are actually putting your health at risk. The urgent care can only do what you would have done at home – call an ambulance.  And because time is of the essence in those situations, the delay can mean all the difference in the outcome.

Isn’t a Freestanding ER the same as an Urgent Care?

A freestanding emergency room is just what the name says – an emergency room that’s not attached to a hospital.  It is different from urgent care in several ways, including:

• Staffed by emergency physicians and staff
• Affiliated with a hospital
• Can handle some medical emergencies

Because a freestanding ER is affiliated with a hospital and staffed by trained emergency medical professionals, they can handle some medical emergencies, depending on severity.  They can diagnose and treat more complicated illnesses and injuries than an urgent care would be able to. They are more likely to have on hand the equipment and treatment measures that regular ERs have.  They are also open 24/7, unlike urgent care.

One disadvantage of a freestanding ER is the cost; typically, the cost of a freestanding ER is more than three times the cost of an urgent care, and is considered by insurance to be an admission to a traditional ER, so your copay may be higher, depending on your insurance carrier.

Plus, you have to be careful that the freestanding ER is within your insurance plan.  If your insurance only covers certain in-network hospitals, you would have to pay a higher deductible if you go to a freestanding ER that’s out of network.

In addition, while freestanding ERs can treat medical emergencies, if the emergency requires admission to the hospital, you would still need to have an ambulance ride to the hospital, although your admission information would already be in the hospital’s computer system.  The hospital ride, though, could still delay the time of treatment, especially if surgery is needed, as in the case of a compound fracture, or if stroke, heart attack, or respiratory arrest are suspected. And you and your insurance would be responsible for the cost of the ambulance.

*Depends on copays and insurance coverage,  **Statistics from Debt.org, #Statistics from HealthLeaders , ^Statistics from Traveler’s Insurance

When your health or the health of your loved one is on the line, it’s important to know the best options available for treatment.  In a non-life-threatening emergency, the best place to go is your primary medical professional, or check out an urgent care center.

If you’re facing a medical emergency, a freestanding emergency room is a safe bet.  However, if it is a true medical emergency — heart attack, loss of consciousness, serious bleeding, head injury — the best place to be is in the hospital emergency room.