When is the Right Time to Visit the ER?
ER vs. Urgent Care
So where should you go when you need medical? Here are some quick tips that can help:
Convenient Care or urgent care medical centers are ideal for sprains, strains, cuts, rashes, cold and flu, auto and work-related injuries, and school or sports physicals. Each site is equipped with X-ray capabilities for fractures and broken bones (not protruding through the skin).
Convenient Care is appropriate when
▪ You have a non-life-threatening emergency.
▪ You’re unable to get an appointment with your primary care doctor or you have a medical condition come up on a weekend.
▪ You’re not established with a primary care physician.
“Convenient Care is … a great alternative to using the emergency department for nonlife-threatening medical issues – especially during season,” says Kris Fay, Chief Administrative Officer of Lee Physician Group. “It gives the community immediate access to quality, hospital-affiliated health care provided by our trusted Lee Physician Group physicians and skilled nurses.”
Cold and Flu? Convenient Care is for you
Lee Health strongly urges you to visit one of our five Lee Health Convenient Care locations if you have the flu. Our clinics are specifically designed to treat flu symptoms in a much easier and faster way than emergency rooms, which handle life-threatening medical issues.
Remember: When seasonal residents return and ER wait times increase, you will have a much easier time at Convenient Care.
When is the Right Time to Visit the ER?
Conditions that normally need emergency care:
- Severe bleeding
- Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion
- Injury to neck or spine
- Electric shock or severe burn
- Pain in the arm or jaw
- Sudden confusion
- Severe abdominal or chest pain
- Suspected broken bones
- Stopped breathing, trouble breathing or changing color
- Fever accompanied with nausea and vomiting
- If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever
- If your child has a fever of 104 or higher
- Sudden dizziness and a change in vision
- Falls from a significant height
- Gaping wounds
- Life-threatening injury
- A seizure that lasts longer than 3-5 minutes
- Poisoning
- A vehicle accident that leaves a someone bleeding, unconscious, or unresponsive
Our ER Locations
Lee Health has a 24/7 ER at all of our hospital campuses. Find out more:
https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/emergency-medicine
Our Convenient Care/Urgent Care Locations
Lee Health has five urgent care centers: Cape Coral, Page Field in Fort Myers, South Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, and a child’s urgent care in Naples. Find maps, hours, and more here:
https://www.leehealth.org/our-services/urgent-care
