The unfortunate has happened: maybe you have fallen desperately ill, or have gotten injured in some way. In general, but especially if you aren’t from the Evansville area, these can be scary experiences. How do you know when to go to the emergency room? What even is the difference between the emergency room and urgent care? All of this can be hard to navigate, so that’s why I’m here to help! This will not be a comprehensive breakdown, but hopefully, having read it, you’ll feel more prepared to handle emergency medical situations you may find yourself in.
In the most basic sense, the emergency room is for serious illnesses or injuries while urgent care is for less imperative afflictions. The emergency department is more for life-threatening illnesses or injuries, or for severe arm and leg injuries (like broken or fractured bones). The emergency room is not too large in most hospitals, so it should be reserved for people who have a high likelihood of being admitted for treatment. Don’t let this scare you from ever going to the emergency room—remember to think critically about the nature of your affliction when deciding if you need to go. If you do end up going to the emergency room for something that does not need to be treated immediately, expect to wait at least an hour to be seen. Bring something to distract you from any pain you may be experiencing, and go with a friend! Having another person with you is important because they can help you through the visit.
Now, for urgent care: This is where to go when you are not experiencing anything life-threatening, but still cannot wait the time needed to be treated by your primary care provider (the doctor you see for health check-ups). For example, you could go to urgent care to get treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI). The urgent care will likely also have a wait time, and you should still have someone go with you. Urgent care centers, unlike emergency rooms, are usually not open 24/7, so keep that in mind.
Unfortunately, not everything is precisely straightforward in the medical care process. There are instances when you might have a minor illness or injury but should still visit the emergency room. Some of these examples would be if you have a UTI but also a high fever (104° Fahrenheit or higher). Other special instances might be linked to your medical history. If you are on medications that can affect your immune system, or you have histories of cancer or illness, going to the emergency room is a good idea, just in case. How do you figure this stuff out? Ask your primary care provider about the types of medicines you are currently taking and ask if there are any signs or symptoms that would indicate complications from previous illnesses that you should be aware of. Taking control of your medical life can be daunting, but asking questions can act as preparation to help you through!
Now that you know some of the differences between the emergency room and urgent care, you should learn where some of the nearest facilities are located! Look at the list below to see a few of the emergency rooms and urgent care centers that are located near campus:
Ascension St. Vincent Evansville-Emergency
3700 Washington Ave
Evansville, IN 47714
Deaconess Midtown-Emergency
600 Mary St
Evansville, IN 47747
Deaconess Gateway-Emergency
4011 Gateway Blvd
Newburgh, IN 47630
Mercy Urgent Care S Green River Rd
710 S Green River Rd
Evansville, IN 47715
Mercy Urgent Care N Green River Rd
2101 N Green River Rd
Evansville, IN 47715
Indiana Exceptional Urgent Care
4972 Lincoln Ave #101
Evansville, IN 47715
Deaconess Clinic Urgent Care Franklin St
2007 W Franklin St Suite B
Evansville, IN, 47712
Deaconess Clinic Urgent Care and COMP Center Gateway
4011 Gateway Blvd Suite 100
Newburgh, IN 47630
St Vincent Evansville-Urgent Care Westside Crossing
100 Rosenberger Ave
Evansville, IN 47712
Save this information for later—you never know when you or a friend might need it! Being prepared is always good, and make sure to also continue taking care of yourselves. College already gives us enough stress, so, Aces, stay safe out there.
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