Dylan Wyatt, an emergency medicine physician, offers some advice for when we should visit a health care provider: “There are lots of ways to see acute care health professionals these days: virtual visits or clinic visits with your primary care doctor or provider, urgent care, and the emergency room. It can be hard to know where to go when we’re feeling bad.”

When should we see our primary care physician or provider?

Dy Dylan: Your primary care physician or provider should be your go-to for concerns that are not time-sensitive. They know you better than anyone in the healthcare system, and are best equipped to answer your questions as well as to follow up on the changes over time.

These include discomfort in the ears, a sore throat, minor skin conditions such as rashes or small bug bites, high blood pressure below 180 with no other symptoms, the first signs of urinary tract infections or cough without an associated fever, medication changes or refills, or vaccine questions.

How do we know it’s a job for urgent care?

Dr. Dylan: Urgent care can take care of more pressing issues that are not actively life-threatening. The lower acuity usually means they can see people close to the order in which they came in and get you in and out faster than an ER.

They are good at dealing with muscle aches, mild to moderate abdominal pain, diarrhea, minor trauma such as concussions or mild/moderate sprains, minor wounds,  UTI and STI testing, nose bleeds, and minor allergic reactions.

When should people see you in the emergency department?

Dr. Dylan: The emergency department can take care of all levels of acute care. However, we can be a very busy place due to the number of people we see who are sick. If someone suffers a traumatic injury, has severe abdominal pain or passes out, or has chest pain – or any symptoms associated with a medical history of severe illness such as stroke or heart attack I’d recommend immediately coming in for evaluation to the ER.

We have to use a triage system where we sort folks from sickest to least sick – often this means it is not a first-come first-served order of being seen.

What if you’re not sure?

Dr. Dylan: A good rule of thumb is what I call the “Rule of 2s”: If you don’t think you can make it 2 weeks with the symptoms, call your primary care physician or provider. If you don’t think you can make it 2 days with your symptoms, go to your local urgent care. If you don’t think you can make it 2 hours with your symptoms, go to the ER. Always err on the side of caution. Do know that certain environments can transfer to “higher levels of care” (such as urgent care to the ER), but that can delay treatment in very serious, time sensitive cases such as heart attacks. Go with your gut, but remember if you go to the ER and are waiting it probably means there are folks who are sicker than you who needed to go back first.

When is it important that we call 911?

Dr. Dylan: This can be a grey area – so if someone has severe pain, trouble breathing, has passed out, or is not acting their normal self you should bring them right to the ER. If someone is not responding, not breathing on their own, or you are worried about their immediate safety you should immediately call 911. Always err on the side of caution and use your gut! If something feels scary or dangerous, make the call no matter what the symptoms!