Stomach pain isn’t just uncomfortable; it can also be worrying enough to leave you wondering if you should go to an urgent care center or the nearest emergency room. Understanding when to visit an urgent care center for stomach pain versus the emergency room is vital to receiving timely and effective treatment.
Urgent Care for Stomach Pain: When It’s Appropriate
Urgent care is the ideal avenue for seeking medical attention if your stomach pain can be categorized as mild to moderate. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s wise to visit urgent care:
- Mild to moderate stomach pain – If your stomach pain is manageable and not severe, urgent care can provide the care you need to find relief. Skilled healthcare professionals at an urgent care center can evaluate your symptoms and provide appropriate treatment in a less crowded and frantic setting than the emergency room.
- Associated symptoms – If your stomach pain is accompanied by vomiting, headache or persists for several hours, it’s advisable to seek medical attention at an urgent care center. These symptoms can be particularly serious, and seeing a doctor is the safest course of action.
Emergency Room Care for Stomach Pain: When It’s Essential
Emergency rooms are equipped to handle life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical attention. Because stomach pain can sometimes indicate a severe underlying issue, it’s crucial to know when emergency care is necessary. If you’re experiencing the following symptoms, it’s best to head directly to the nearest emergency room:
- Severe or worsening stomach pain – If your pain is persistent, severe, or rapidly worsening, it could indicate a medical emergency.
- Associated symptoms – Distressing symptoms accompanying stomach pain like dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, vomiting blood or bloody stools, jaundice, or high-grade fever are causes for immediate concern. Emergency care is vital if you experience any of these symptoms alongside your stomach pain.
Why You Should Choose Urgent Care for Mild to Moderate Stomach Pain
Urgent care centers offer the accessibility and convenience you need on an immediate basis, with no appointment or long emergency room wait times required. CLEAR Immediate Care is equipped with experienced medical professionals and cutting-edge diagnostic tools, so we can perform necessary tests to determine the root cause of mild to moderate stomach pain.
Emergency rooms operate on a triage basis, meaning patients are seen in order of severity. If your stomach pain is not a medical emergency, you can expect long wait times and a high-pressure environment. Instead, contact CLEAR Immediate Care for quick, efficient, and effective treatment for your stomach pain.