The reader will understand what information is essential (important) to bring to the emergency room (ER), how to prepare an individual for an ER visit, and what to do during an evaluation in the ER.

With this in mind, we have provided a simple reference chart (ER vs. Urgent Care) of common medical conditions and where they should be treated.

Contact 911 to access emergency medical services as soon as possible. Note: Ambulances only go to hospitals, not primary care providers or urgent care. You can find detailed information on the …

Highlights In 2021, there were 107.4 million treat-and-release emergency department (ED) visits in the United States, with aggregate costs amounting to $80.3 billion (B). Aggregate costs were higher for …

Emergency rooms are the best option in cases where conditions are life-threatening and may require advanced treatment, such as having chest pain. Because life-threatening conditions are the number …

To proactively address the issue of unnecessary ED utilization, a practice can take steps to better understand their patient population and anticipate and address reasons patients may go to the …

Only visit the ER for serious or life-threatening emergencies. Use the guide below to match your symptoms with the right option.