When To Go: Emergency Room vs. Urgent Care
When your child needs medical care and can’t wait until your doctor’s office opens, where should you go? This chart will help you know whether a visit to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room is best.
Emergency Room
The Emergency Room can help with serious or severe illnesses and injuries. If your child's condition is life-threatening, call 911.
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Asthma attack (severe)
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Bleeding that won't stop
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Broken bone (looks bent, curved or deformed)
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Burn (severe)
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Cast problems (soiled or wet)
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Cut (severe)
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Fainting
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Fever (infants less than 2 months old)
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Head injury (loss of consciousness or extreme impact)
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Headache (migraine)
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Pneumonia (diagnosed and with worsening symptoms)
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Poisoning
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Seizure
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Stomach pain (severe)
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Swallowed object
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Trouble breathing
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Ultrasound, CT scan or MRI
Urgent Care
Urgent Care centers are a great option for minor illnesses and injuries. Children's Mercy urgent care providers care for children with conditions like:
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Allergies
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Asthma attack (minor)
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Broken bone (not bent)
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Bronchiolitis
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Burn (minor)
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Cold
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Cough
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Cut (minor)
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Dehydration
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Diarrhea
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Dizziness
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Earache and ear infection
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Fever (children over 2 months old)
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Headache
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Head injury (no loss of consciousness, minor impact)
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Insect or minor dog bite
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Nausea/vomiting
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Pink eye
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Rash
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Sore throat
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Sprain or strain
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Stitches (from minor cut)
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Stomach pain (mild)
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Urinary infection