Why Urgent Care vs. the ER?

Kaiser Permanente Urgent Care centers

Shorter wait time — call for a check-in time and we will take care of you ASAP

Emergency rooms

Average wait times at emergency rooms are more than 4 hours1

Low Urgent Care cost share2

Significantly higher ER co-pays1
We know your medications, medical conditions, and medical history when you come in

Most hospitals don’t have your medical record, and you’ll see a physician who isn’t familiar with your history

Lab, pharmacy, and X-ray all under one roof
You may need to drive to a pharmacy to fill a prescription after your ER visit
Advice nurse can give you directions to closest medical center that offers Urgent Care
You may not know where the closest hospital is

Your primary care physician automatically and instantly gets a record of your visit, the results, any medicines prescribed, and more

Your personal doctor likely only gets information about your ER visit if you provide it

Need further clarification for when to visit an Urgent Care clinic versus an emergency room? Call us at 800-777-7904 (TTY 711).

1According to The American College of Emergency Physicians. Information accessed on April 9, 2012, at http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=25908.

2Cost share depends upon your plan. For specific information, please check your Membership Agreement, RI 73-047, Evidence of Coverage, or Certificate of Insurance.

Kaiser Permanente health plans around the country: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in Northern and Southern California and Hawaii • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, 3495 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, 404-364-7000 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., 2101 E. Jefferson St., Rockville, MD 20852 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, 500 NE Multnomah St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232 • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington or Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Options, Inc., 1300 SW 27th St., Renton, WA 98057
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¿Por qué recibir atención de urgencia en vez de atención de emergencia?

Centros de atención de urgencia de Kaiser Permanente Salas de emergencias
Menos tiempo de espera: llame para registrarse y saber cuándo acudir, y se le atenderá lo antes posible. El tiempo de espera promedio en las salas de emergencias es de más de 4 horas.1
Los costos compartidos para la atención de urgencia son bajos.2 Los copagos para la atención en la sala de emergencias son mucho más altos.1
Nuestro personal sabe los medicamentos que toma, conoce sus afecciones y tiene a la mano su historia clínica. La mayoría de los hospitales no cuentan con su historia clínica, y lo atenderá un profesional que no conoce sus antecedentes médicos.
Se ofrecen servicios de laboratorio, farmacia y radiografías en un solo lugar. Es posible que deba conducir hasta una farmacia para surtir los medicamentos que le receten en la sala de emergencias.
Un enfermero de consulta le indicará cómo llegar al centro médico más cercano que ofrece atención de urgencia. Quizá no sepa dónde está el hospital más cercano.
Su médico de atención primaria recibe, de manera automática y al instante, el registro de su visita, los resultados, los medicamentos que le recetaron y más. Su médico personal solo recibe la información sobre su visita a la sala de emergencias si usted se la proporciona.

¿Necesita más información para saber cuándo acudir a un centro de atención de urgencia en vez de a la sala de emergencias? Llámenos al 800-777-7904 (TTY 711).

Why Urgent Care vs. the ER?

Kaiser Permanente Urgent Care centers Emergency rooms
Shorter wait time — call for a check-in time and we will take care of you ASAP Average wait times at emergency rooms are more than 4 hours1
Low Urgent Care cost share2 Significantly higher ER co-pays1
We know your medications, medical conditions, and medical history when you come in Most hospitals don’t have your medical record, and you’ll see a physician who isn’t familiar with your history
Lab, pharmacy, and X-ray all under one roof You may need to drive to a pharmacy to fill a prescription after your ER visit
Advice nurse can give you directions to closest medical center that offers Urgent Care You may not know where the closest hospital is
Your primary care physician automatically and instantly gets a record of your visit, the results, any medicines prescribed, and more Your personal doctor likely only gets information about your ER visit if you provide it

Need further clarification for when to visit an Urgent Care clinic versus an emergency room? Call us at 800-777-7904 (TTY 711).

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