Urgent Care Center or ER? Survey Finds Many Not Sure Where to Go

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Did you know that you can visit an urgent care center for an X-ray? What about if your child falls and needs stitches? According to a CityMD survey, some Americans are not choosing the correct immediate care option when deciding between a visit to the emergency room or an urgent care center.

Through their national survey, conducted online by Harris Poll from January 27-31, 2017, CityMD presented more than 2,000 Americans ages 18 and older with eight scenarios, asking which facility would be the best option if someone wanted to receive immediate medical care: a hospital emergency room or urgent care center. The responses were used to develop a new "Know Where to Go" guide, based on recommendations by CityMD's emergency medicine physicians.

The survey found more Americans incorrectly choose "ER" for non-life threatening scenarios, which CityMD experts say could be treated at an urgent care center:

• 104 degree fever in a child, with coughing and shivering that is preventing sleep – only 46 percent responded correctly
• Deep cut on a child's chin that does not stop bleeding for several minutes resulting from a fall – just over half, 54 percent, responded correctly
• Adult experiencing a seemingly unstoppable nosebleed with some pain in the ear – 50 percent responded correctly

(See full scenarios at CityMD.com/KnowWhereToGoGuide).

However, most Americans seem to be aware of some of the medical services that urgent care centers provide and correctly chose this option for two immediate care incidents:

• Injury resulting in a limp as well as black-and-blue bruising on the ankle that may be sprained or broken – 77 percent responded correctly
• Genital pain, sores and pelvic pain after possibly being exposed to a sexually transmitted disease or infection – 75 percent responded correctly

(See full scenarios at CityMD.com/KnowWhereToGoGuide).

Additionally, the survey also found that in life-threatening situations, most Americans know to go to the ER rather than an urgent care center:

• Severe head trauma and loss of consciousness resulting from bicycle crash – 91 percent responded correctly
• Sharp pains and heaviness in chest that traveled to shoulder and shortness of breath – 87 percent responded correctly
• Loss of  balance and peripheral vision in one eye with a strong headache and family history of  stroke – 87 percent responded correctly

(See full scenarios at CityMD.com/KnowWhereToGoGuide).

"People don't always realize that urgent care centers can provide many of the same services as an ER for non-life-and-limb threatening medical conditions, like stitches and nosebleeds," said Dr. David Shih, Chief Medical Officer, CityMD. "Yet, urgent care centers, which are designed to   reduce inappropriate ER utilization, often have a much lesser wait time and can be a significant cost alternative to an ER. The goal of this guide is to help Americans make better informed decisions when a medical situation arises."

For CityMD's full "Know Where to Go" guide, visit CityMD.com/KnowWhereToGoGuide.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States between January 27-31, 2017 among 2,196 adults aged 18+ by Harris Poll on behalf of CityMD via its Quick Query omnibus product.

The full methodology is available online at CityMD.com/KnowWhereToGoGuide.

About CityMD

Founded in 2010 by a passionate group of emergency medicine physicians, CityMD's mission is to serve our communities by providing quality medical care through convenient access and an exceptional experience. Our unwavering commitment to treating everyone with respect and genuine kindness while offering exceptional services and a cost-effective alternative to the ER has enabled CityMD to grow from one Manhattan practice to more than 68 locations in the greater New York Metro Area and Seattle, Washington. To date, CityMD has treated nearly 5 million patients.

For more information about CityMD and a list of locations, please visit our website at CityMD.com.

Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/CityMD, Twitter @CityMD and Instagram @CityMD.

Laura Vinci 
CooperKatz & Company, Inc.
[email protected]
917-595-3095

SOURCE CityMD

Related Links

https://www.citymd.com/