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You can call us at any hour, day or night. We are here to help.
Call if you have a medical or dental problem, a question about your medication, or any other health concern. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
Call us if you are going to the ER and call to make an appointment when you return home from the ER. We can help coordinate your care.
The Emergency Room was designed to provide fast, life-or-limb-saving care. Many people, however, use the ER as a place to receive urgent care without realizing it. If you’re ever in doubt, it’s better to be safe and go to the closest ER.
How to know when to go to the Emergency Room (ER)!
When an emergency strikes, you know you need medical care fast. But what if you’re not sure if it’s a true emergency? How can you tell if what you or a loved one is experiencing should have you rushing to the ER?
Knowing the difference between urgent care and emergency care could save your life in an emergency.
Time for the ER
These are just a few of the health problems that are medical emergencies:
- Chest pain that won’t go away, especially if it spreads to your arm or jaw.
- Sweating and vomiting.
- Shortness of breath or wheezing that won’t go away.
- Strong pain in the abdomen or starting halfway down the back.
- Loss of balance or fainting.
- Difficulty speaking or confused.
- Weakness or can’t move (paralysis).
- Your heart beats really strong and fast.
- Sudden, really bad headache.
- Sudden bad pain and swelling in the genital area or testicles.
- Newborn baby with a fever.
- Intestinal bleeding.
- Anytime you fall and get hurt and you are taking blood thinner pills.
- Loss of vision.
- Head and eye injuries.
- Broken bones or dislocated joints.
- Deep cuts that need stitches – especially on the face.
- Bad flu or cold symptoms.
- High fevers or fevers with rash.
- Bleeding that won’t stop or a large open wound.
- Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy.
- Repeated vomiting.
- Serious burns.
- Seizures without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy.
When to call 9-1-1
Sometimes driving yourself or a loved one to the emergency room won’t get you the medical care needed fast enough.
Many people are confused about when to call 911. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you are in doubt, please call 911. Do not drive if you are having really bad chest pain or bleeding, if you feel like you might faint or if it is hard to see.
For certain medical emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, taking an ambulance is safer because paramedics can deliver life-saving care on the way to the hospital.
When to call HRHCare.
If your symptoms come on gradually or you already know the diagnosis, such as a urinary tract infection, you may want to try to get a same day appointment with your HRHCare doctor and health care team. While urgent care clinics are always available, your HRHCare doctor and health care team will have a better picture of your overall health for a more accurate diagnosis. You can call us day or night to answer your questions.
Urgent care is not emergency care
An HRHCare provider is available 24/7 to help you decide where to get your care.
We can take care of your urgent needs by calling for a same day appointment. Evening and weekend hours and walk-ins welcome.
Be prepared for medical care
Whether you’re going to urgent care, the ER or your HRHCare Health Center, put your medications including over-the-counter medications and vitamins in a bag and bring them with you. Many medications, and even vitamins, can interact with the treatment options your doctor plans to use.
Keep a list of any allergies, especially to medications with you; that also includes any previous invasive medical procedures and surgeries, the dates they were done and the names of the doctor or surgeon who treated you.
