Urgent care vs. the emergency room

Find out where to go for sudden health care needs.

Emergency care can save your life if you’re critically sick or injured. For less severe complaints, you may get faster and less expensive treatment by heading to an urgent care center.

When to go to urgent care

Urgent care centers treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. They're good options when you need same-day care outside of office hours or when your doctor isn't available.

To ensure the best experience and avoid having to pay out of pocket, please visit an urgent care in your plan medical group.

Common reasons to visit an urgent care center include:

Animal bites
Ear/eye pain or discharge
Fever
Foreign object in eye or ear
Fractures, sprains and strains
Headache
Mild shortness of breath
Severe cough or sore throat
Urinary issues
Worsening asthma

When to go to an emergency room

For severe illnesses or injuries, or if you need care immediately, the emergency room is the best option, offering 24/7 care for serious medical conditions.

For the best experience, and to avoid being transferred during your care, we recommend going to one of our Sharp hospitals.

Common reasons to visit an emergency room include:

Chest pain or pressure
Confusion or difficulty speaking
Fever with stiff neck
Fracture (with protruding bone)
Head injury
Moderate to severe shortness of breath
Severe abdominal pain
Sudden dizziness or change in vision
Uncontrolled bleeding
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

What you need to know about urgent care

If you're within our plan service area:
During business hours	Contact your primary care physician (PCP)
Outside of business hours	Call Sharp Nurse Connection^® at 1-800-359-2002.
And you're unable to reach your doctor	Go to an urgent care center in your plan medical group, which is listed on the front of your member ID card. Example: If your primary care physician (PCP) is a Sharp Rees-Stealy doctor, go to a Sharp Rees-Stealy urgent care location. Or, log in to your Sharp Health Plan online account and select Find Care.
If you're outside our plan service area:
During or outside of business hours	Visit a convenient urgent care center near you. After receiving urgent care services, your PCP may want to see you when you return.

View urgent care wait times

Easily check wait times online for urgent care centers in your plan medical group before you hit the road. Select locations will let you save a spot in line.

See Sharp Community urgent care centers ➜

See Sharp Rees-Stealy urgent care centers ➜

Sharp Rees-Stealy urgent care wait times

Make a virtual urgent care reservation

Feel better with a virtual urgent care visit from wherever you are.

Learn more

What you need to know about emergency care

Emergency rooms are equipped and staffed to handle complex and critical care needs.

We recommend visiting one of our award-winning Sharp hospitals for the best experience and to avoid being transferred during your care.

Save a spot at an emergency room

If you need emergency care, you can save a spot at an ER near you.

View options

Sharp Direct Advantage is offered by Sharp Health Plan. Sharp Health Plan is an HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment with Sharp Health Plan depends on contract renewal. Read the full disclaimer.

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Page Last Updated: 12/23/2025