ER vs Urgent Care

Specialties Home Health

Published

Specializes in Pulmonary, Lung Transplant, Med/Surg.

During normal daylight hours do you send your patient to the ER or an urgent care center in the area for non life threatening issues?

This obviously excludes chest pain, stroke, etc.

I sometimes have a hard time stomaching that a PCP made me send a patient to the ER for something that could easily be handled at an urgent care. Of course, I do what is requested by MD but what is your experience? ER for everything?

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I don't know about your area but around here there really aren't many urgent cares...in fact there are 2 ers within 10 miles of my house....the closest urgent care it's at least 20..maybe that's who he said ER......just a thought...plus if it's an old school dic he might not even know about urgent cares ;)

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Specializes in ICU, BURNS, TRAUMA, TRANSPORT, HH.

It isn't our call.

It is up to the MD and the patient, unless your nursing judgement suggests more urgency than the physician comprehends. In that case, advocate and document. If you believe that the MD is making a dangerous choice, notify your supervisor of the situation pronto.

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Specializes in Pedi.

I send my patients to their pediatrician's office or to the oncology clinic during normal business hours.

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