What Is the Urgency of Your Emergency?
Planning ahead is one of the best
things we can do to protect the
health of our family.
But despite our best efforts, emergencies can and do happen. Knowing where to go in a health emergency is key to getting the best treatment possible, and it isn't always the emergency room, or ER. Urgent care centers are walk-in clinics designed to treat minor injuries and illnesses when you can't wait to get to the doctor. You don't need an appointment and many times can get treated faster and at a lower cost than in the ER. Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) offers both an Urgent Care and an ER that are roughly a mile apart from each other. Here are a few tips to help you get to the right place.
When to Go to the ER
The ER is open around the clock to treat
serious, life-and-death problems. Get to the
ER right away if you or a family member
have sudden symptoms that need
emergency care, including:
- chest pain
- trouble breathing
- uncontrolled bleeding
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness
- choking
- poisoning
- sudden slurred speech
- seizures
- severe burns
- head or back injuries.
Urgent Care offers many of the same services as the ER, such as X-ray and blood testing. But they don't treat life-threatening conditions. It is the best bet if you need treatment right away for a less serious problem, including:
- sinus or ear infections
- urinary tract infections
- minor cuts and burns
- sprains or broken bones
- fever and sore throat.
Quick Tip
The Urgent Care is located at the LLUMC East Campus hospital on 25333 Barton Road, Loma Linda, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Emergency Department is open 24 hours. For more information, call
November/December 2005 Healthy Tomorrow
The editorial content of this online publication is taken from the print version of A Healthy Tomorrow published by Loma Linda University Medical Center.