Tick what's happening right now. If any emergency sign applies, call 911. Otherwise urgent care can usually see you today — and our team will send you on if you need more.
Go to the emergency room for anything that could threaten life or a limb: chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke signs, severe bleeding, a serious head injury or a bone through the skin. The American College of Emergency Physicians lists these as reasons to go straight to the ER.
Choose urgent care for problems that need attention today but are not dangerous: fevers, coughs, sore throats, ear pain, sprains, cuts that may need stitches, burning when you pee, rashes, and minor burns. At our Westmont, IL clinic we can also do X-rays, lab tests and an EKG.
If you're unsure, call us at (630) 324-6825. If we think you need the ER, we'll tell you right away. See our guide on urgent care vs. ER cost for more.
Kids and older adults
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Babies under 3 months with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher should be seen in an emergency room, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For older children, our pediatric urgent care handles most fevers, ear infections, strep and sprains.
Older adults can have quieter warning signs, such as new confusion or weakness. Those belong in the ER. For coughs, UTIs and minor falls, urgent care is a good first stop.
Common questions
What is considered urgent but not an emergency?
Problems that need care within a day but are not life-threatening: fever, flu or COVID symptoms, sore throat, ear pain, sprains, small cuts, mild burns, rashes, and urinary symptoms. Urgent care can treat these, often with tests or an X-ray on site.
Can urgent care send me to the ER?
Yes. If our clinicians find something that needs emergency care, they will tell you and help you get there. That's a normal part of urgent care.
Is it faster to go to urgent care or the ER?
For everyday problems, urgent care is usually quicker because ERs see the sickest patients first. You can also book a time online with us so you know when to arrive.
