Where to Seek Care: It’s Based on Your Health Needs!

Deciding where to seek care—whether it's the Emergency Department (ED), Urgent Care, your Primary Care Provider (PCP), or Virtual Care—depends on the severity and type of your health issue. Here's a breakdown to help guide your decision:

Go to the Emergency Department (ED) if you have:

• Life-threatening or severe symptoms: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, major trauma, severe bleeding or a suspected stroke.
• Severe injuries: Broken bones, head injuries, burns, deep wounds or major cuts.
• Signs of a serious condition: Sudden weakness or numbness (possible stroke), uncontrolled bleeding, severe allergic reactions or drug overdoses.
• Severe pain: Uncontrolled pain that cannot be managed by over-the-counter medications.
• Potential for a life-threatening emergency: Convulsions, high fever in infants, signs of a heart attack or severe difficulty breathing.

Why the ED?

The ED is equipped for handling critical situations and can provide advanced diagnostics, immediate treatments, and specialized care, including intensive care and surgical interventions if necessary.

Go to Urgent Care if you have:

• Non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses: Minor cuts, sprains, strains or small fractures.
• Cold or flu symptoms: Mild fevers, coughs, sore throats, earaches or sinus infections.
• Minor burns or rashes.
• Minor infections: UTIs, pink eye or simple skin infections.
• Mild to moderate asthma flare-ups.

Why Urgent Care?

Urgent Care centers are designed for non-emergency issues that require prompt attention. They're generally faster and less expensive than the ED for these conditions.

Go to your Primary Care Physician (PCP) if you have:

• Routine health issues: Chronic disease management (like diabetes, hypertension), preventive care (annual check-ups, immunizations), or follow-up appointments for ongoing conditions.
• Ongoing or stable health concerns that need monitoring, like back pain or mild migraines.
• Prescription refills or management of existing prescriptions.
• Health concerns that are not urgent: New symptoms that don't seem to be emergencies, like mild headaches or mild fatigue, where you need a long-term treatment plan or diagnosis.
• Need for a medical consultation for things like routine vaccinations or physical exams.

Why PCP?

Your PCP knows your medical history and can provide comprehensive care, including preventive services and treatment for ongoing health conditions. They may also coordinate referrals to specialists if needed.

Go to Virtual Care if you have:

Minor health issues that don’t require a physical exam, such as:

• Cold, flu, or mild allergy symptoms.
• Mild rashes or skin conditions.
• Minor infections like urinary tract infections or conjunctivitis (pink eye).
• Mental health concerns like anxiety, depression or counseling needs.
• Prescription refills or follow-ups for chronic conditions.

Why Virtual Care?

Virtual Care provides convenience for minor issues or follow-ups that don't require a physical examination. It allows access to care without needing to leave home, especially for people in remote areas or with busy schedules.

"Choosing the right place for medical attention is important to ensure timely and effective medical care,” says Bayhealth’s John Fink, MD, MSHQS, Vice President, Quality and Medical Affairs. “It really depends on your symptoms, as they play a key role in determining the appropriate place to be treated.”