Know the Difference: Hospital ER, Freestanding ER and Walk-In Clinic

7/21/2022

When a medical emergency arises, it’s important to know the differences between a hospital-based Emergency Room, a freestanding Emergency Room, and a walk-in clinic. Knowing where to seek treatment could make a significant difference in the cost of treatment, and in the care that is delivered.

Hospital-based Emergency Room

Most people are familiar with the traditional hospital-based Emergency Room, which offers 24-hour medical care year-round. ERs are not designed for routine illnesses, and patients are not always seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, ERs use a triage system to ensure that the most critical patients get immediate care. This allows patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses, such as heart attacks, serious accidents, or victims of violent crimes to be treated first. People with less-serious injuries may have to wait before being treated. So knowing which conditions truly require a visit to a hospital ER is important. The question to ask oneself: “Is the condition life-threatening?”

Freestanding Emergency Room

Free-standing emergency rooms are facilities that provide round-the-clock care for everything from the common cold to heart attacks. However, the charge for the visit is usually the same as an emergency room visit – regardless of the nature of the ailment. As a result, a patient with a mildly acute condition, such as a cold or sore throat, who visits a freestanding ER, will end up paying approximately the same amount as a traditional ER.

Walk-In/Urgent Care Clinic

While hospital-based ERs and freestanding ERs must be equipped and medically staffed at higher levels, walk-in clinics/urgent care clinics are outpatient clinics that treat most illnesses and injuries, but do not handle life-threatening conditions like chest pain, stroke, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding. Typically, these types of facilities offer care by nurse practitioners, with costs considerably less than an ER—usually only requiring a co-pay.

Visit a Walk-In Clinic/Urgent Care Clinic if you have the following symptoms or problems:

• Allergy symptoms
• Cold or flu symptoms
• Cuts, bruises or burns
• Ear and eye infections
• Headaches
• Nausea and diarrhea
• Pulled or strained muscles

It is important to note that everyone should establish a relationship with a primary care physician. Having a ‘Medical Home’ ensures team-based healthcare delivery led by a provider. The goal is to maximize health outcomes and prevent escalation of conditions due to the lack of preventive care. Other benefits include comprehensive and integrated care, a history of medical records and treatments, and most often affordability of quality care.

For more information on any of these services, please contact Laredo Medical Center at (956) 796-3223.

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