From the busy cold and flu season to winter sports injuries and slips on the ice, it can be difficult to determine whether a sudden health concern requires a trip to urgent care or the emergency department (ED). Understanding the different levels of care each provides can help you or your family decide when it matters most.
It is easy to see why confusion occurs when choosing between the two care centers. “There’s a lot of overlap between what urgent care centers and emergency departments can handle,” says Christopher F. Freer, DO, FACEP, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Acute Care Providers at RWJBarnabas Health. “But the key difference is the level of resources available.”
When to Go to Urgent Care
Urgent care centers are designed to treat non-life-threatening conditions quickly, especially when a primary care physician isn’t available.
For example, people are more likely to catch the flu during its peak season in the fall and winter. An urgent care center can administer the flu shot, for instance, or test to see if someone has the flu or another virus.
“For many pediatric concerns — like mild fevers, common colds, or minor sprains — urgent care can be a great option,” says Dr. Freer. “But when symptoms are severe, such as high fevers that don’t respond to medication, difficulty breathing, or dehydration from persistent vomiting, the emergency department is the safest choice.”
When to Go to the ED
EDs also have advanced imaging like CT scans or MRIs and can immediately run specialized bloodwork to rule out infections, cardiac issues, or internal injuries. Hospital-based EDs typically have dedicated pediatric specialists for complex conditions like asthma attacks or severe allergic reactions.
According to Dr. Freer, conditions that should be treated at the ED may include:
- Signs of a heart attack (chest pain, shortness of breath)
- Stroke symptoms (facial drooping, sudden weakness, difficulty speaking)
- Severe traumatic injuries (car accidents, head trauma, sports collisions)
- Difficulty breathing, especially in young children
- Severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
“An ED is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is always prepared for critical cases,” says Dr. Freer. “Our team is trained to act quickly in emergencies — ensuring that patients receive immediate, life-saving care when every second counts.”
At RWJBarnabas Health, patients are typically seen by a provider in under 20 minutes — and even faster at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway.
“Urgent care centers are great for non-emergencies that require rapid attention, but the emergency department is always going to be your go-to for serious or potentially life-threatening conditions,” explains Dr. Freer. “The ED has the full capabilities and staffing of a hospital system behind it — meaning it can offer comprehensive care and has the equipment necessary for more complicated diagnostics.”
Additionally, before going to an urgent care or ED, patients sometimes forget about a third option: calling their primary care physician (PCP). PCPs often have the availability and capacity to address patient needs, and they have existing medical records with the patient’s history and current prescriptions.
Here you can find a list of RWJBarnabas Health’s urgent care center locations and its Emergency Room Services. Remember to call 911 immediately if you or a loved one is having trouble breathing, experiencing severe pain, or showing signs of a heart attack or stroke.