When you experience a medical issue, there are many options available. So many that sometimes it can be hard to determine where to go for care. What are your choices if you experience a medical emergency and can’t see your primary care physician (PCP) or your crisis is after hours? Understanding the difference between an urgent care center and an emergency room (ER) is crucial to receiving the appropriate treatment.

Frontline ER is a Standalone Emergency Room

Our standalone or free-standing ERs provide 24-hour emergency care and are staffed with highly trained medical professionals. Frontline ER is a full-service emergency room with on-site laboratories, digital imaging capabilities, and even state-licensed pharmacies (for patient care). We can treat symptoms ranging from chest pain, vomiting, urinary tract infections, and abdominal pain to more severe wounds and potentially life-threatening conditions.

Urgent Care Centers

Urgent care centers provide treatment to patients with less severe conditions when their primary care physician is unavailable. An urgent care may or may not be staffed by a physician at all times, and they are generally not equipped to handle major trauma, injuries, or other serious conditions. They also, typically, do not have imaging or lab capabilities, which means that if your condition requires these services, you will be sent to an ER for more comprehensive care.  Urgent Cares are not open 24 hours.