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Where to Go: Express Care, Urgent Care or the Emergency Room

When your child needs medical care and can’t wait until your doctor’s office opens, where should you go? This chart will help you know whether a visit to Urgent Care, Express Care or the Emergency Room. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Choosing the right place for care

Symptom Emergency Room Urgent Care Express Care
Allergies ✓ ✓  
Animal bite ✓ Minor Minor – no stitches
Asthma attack Severe Mild to moderate  
Bleeding that won’t stop ✓    
Broken bone Looks bent, curved or deformed Not bent, only children > 1 year old
Not bent, only children > 1 year old
Select care at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic
Bronchiolitis ✓ ✓  
Burn ✓ Minor, only children > 1 year old Minor, only children > 1 year old
Cast problems ✓   Only at Ortho Injury locations
Cold or cough   ✓ ✓
Cut ✓ Minor – glue, stitches or staple repair Minor – glue or staple repair
Dehydration ✓ ✓ No IV fluids
Diarrhea With blood and fever ✓ ✓
Earache and ear infection   ✓ ✓
Fainting ✓    
Fever Infant less than 2 months old Children over 2 months old Children over 2 months old
Foreign object removal ✓ ✓  
Head injury Loss of consciousness/vomiting or extreme impact No loss of consciousness/vomiting, minor impact  
Insect bite ✓ ✓  
Migraine or severe headache ✓    
Motor vehicle collision ✓    
Nausea, vomiting   ✓ No IV fluids
Neck injury ✓    
Pink eye   ✓ ✓
Pneumonia Diagnosed with worsening symptoms ✓ ✓
Poisoning ✓    
Rash   ✓ Minor
Seizure ✓    
Sore throat   ✓ ✓
Sprain or strain   ✓
✓
Select care at the Orthopedic Injury Clinic
Stomach pain Severe or concern for appendicitis Mild Mild
Swallowed object ✓ Not magnet or battery  
Trouble breathing ✓    
Urinary infection   ✓ ✓
Ultrasound, CT scan or MRI ✓