ER or Urgent Care?

When someone is sick or injured and they need immediate care, how do you know when to come to Camino Medical Group’s (CMG) Urgent Care Center and when to go to the hospital emergency room (ER)?

“As a rule, if someone can walk, they can be seen in Urgent Care,” says KamHar Yung, M.D., CMG internist and Urgent Care physician. “In a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1 or, if the individual requires an ambulance or the help of a nurse to be moved, they should go to the ER.”

As a CMG patient, you should call your physician’s office before going to the Urgent Care Center. Based on availability, your physician may be able to see you even sooner. If you need care between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., call CMG’s 24-hour phone line at 650-934-7000 or 408-739-6000.

Below is a chart with examples of conditions that can be treated in Urgent Care and problems requiring ER care:

Go to Urgent Care	Go to Emergency Room
Sprains and minor broken bones	Difficulty breathing
Back problems	Unconsciousness
Cuts without profuse bleeding but requiring stitches	Severe bleeding
Mild to moderate burns	Poisoning
Mild to moderate asthma	Chest pain or pressure
Minor infections; sinus infections	Moderate to severe burns
Sore throats, colds, cold sores	Convulsions or seizures
Fever and body aches	Serious head, neck or back injury
Earaches	Loss of limb or severe broken bone
Female bladder infections	Possible stroke
Pregnancy tests	Overdose

Knowing First Aid can also be helpful when illness or injury strikes. CMG is offering a new Family First Aid Class designed to teach you basic First Aid and what to do in a medical emergency. For more information, visit caminomedical.org or call 650-934-7373.