When to Go to Urgent Care: A Simple Guide to Help You Decide
February 19, 2026
When you or someone in your family gets sick or hurt, it can be hard to know where to go for help. When your primary care provider is unable to see you, you can get the care you need through an urgent care center.
Presbyterian Urgent Care is open evenings and weekends. You can walk in to get care, although we do offer appointments if you prefer to schedule your visit. We also offer virtual urgent care services both in our clinics and that you can use from home, to help you get the care you need.
When You Should Go to Urgent Care
Urgent care centers help with health problems that need attention soon but are not life‑threatening. Here are some examples:
Colds, Coughs, and Sore Throats: If you’re feeling sick and want to know what’s going on (for example, flu, strep or allergies) we can help.
Minor Cuts or Burns: We can clean wounds, give stitches, or treat small burns.
Sprains, Strains and Broken Bones: Twisted your ankle or hurt your wrist? We can do X‑rays and check for broken bones.
Earaches and Sinus Pain: These can be very uncomfortable. We can diagnose the problem and provide treatment to help.
Mild Fevers: A low or medium fever (usually between 99.5°F and 100.3°F) that doesn’t go away can be checked, especially for children.
Rashes or Skin Problems: Hives, poison ivy, or unexplained rashes can be checked and treated.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) or Other Minor Infections: We can run quick tests and start treatment right away.
Nausea and Vomiting: If you feel nauseous or are throwing up, we can help figure out what is causing it and provide treatment to help.
When You Should Not Go to Urgent Care
Urgent care is helpful, but it’s not for emergencies. Go to the emergency room (ER) or call 911 if you or someone else has:
Chest pain
Any sudden or severe pain
Difficulty breathing
Head injuries
Sudden changes in vision
Difficulty speaking
Sudden confusion or dizziness
Suicidal feelings
Coughing up or throwing up blood
Major broken bones, such as a leg
Severe diarrhea or throwing up
Severe bleeding
Abdominal pain
If you feel that you are having a serious medical emergency, call 911 (or the emergency number for your area) or go to your closest emergency department as soon as possible.
