Where Should I Go For Care?
But sometimes, you might hesitate. Do you need to head to the emergency department or will Express Care work? Can you do a virtual visit instead of going to see your primary care provider?
Here, we’ll break it down for you for the most common conditions:
Accidents (car crashes, falls)
Asthma (routine maintenance care)
- Primary care physician
- Virtual visit (adults only)
Asthma flare
Bleeding (uncontrolled or excessive)
Blood pressure checks
Burns (minor)
Burns (severe)
Chest pain
Cold, cough & flu/COVID-19
Coughing up or vomiting up blood
Cuts (minor, not needing stitches)
Cuts (needing stitches)
Diarrhea
Drug overdose
Earache
Fever (low-grade or just spiked)
Fever (high and lasting, not lowered by medication)
Headaches (mild)
Headaches (severe)
Head injury
Injuries (minor injuries like strains, sprains or joint pain)
Injuries (violence or major trauma)
Insect bites/stings (including ticks)
Life-threatening conditions
Loss of consciousness
Minor aches & pains (without injury)
Nausea or vomiting (not blood)
Painful urination (dysuria)
- Express Care
- Urgent Care
- Primary care physician
- Virtual visit (adult females only)
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Poisoning
Seasonal allergies
Sexually transmitted infections
Shortness of breath
Sinus infections
- Express Care
- Urgent Care
- Primary care physician
- Virtual visit (not chronic)
Sore throat
Sports physicals
- Express Care (ages 13+ preferred)
- Primary care physician
Stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties)
Suicidal feelings
Rashes (poison ivy, ringworm, scabies, impetigo)
Upper respiratory infections
Urinary tract infection
- Express Care
- Urgent Care
- Primary care physician
- Virtual visit (adult females only)
X-rays
Know Before You Go
Figuring out the best place to go when you’re stressed isn’t always easy. But we’re here for you. So, take a deep breath. You’ve got this.
Here are a few key differences between types of care to keep in mind:
Emergency Department – If it’s life-threatening, call 911 now or go to the nearest Emergency Department (ED). You might also commonly refer to this as an emergency room or ER.
Express Care (ages 2+) – When you or your child doesn’t feel well, you can simply walk in and get care without an appointment at a variety of locations. Find locations and wait times.
Urgent Care (ages 6 months+) – Think of urgent care like a middle step. It’s more than Express Care since you can also get stitches, wound care, X-rays and EKGs, but it’s not the Emergency Department. Find locations and wait times.
Primary Care (for all ages) – Primary care is your main healthcare connection. It’s the first place you can call if you have new, nonurgent and nonemergency health concerns or questions.
If you already have a Cleveland Clinic primary care provider (PCP), they know your health history best. Give them a call or send them a secure note online through Cleveland Clinic MyChart. If you don’t have a PCP, you can find one here and schedule an appointment.
Virtual Visits (ages 2+) – Get the care you need from the comfort of home with virtual visits by using our MyClevelandClinic® app. New patients and returning patients in Ohio, Florida and Nevada can easily schedule a virtual primary care visit in about 10 minutes for about a dozen common problems. Adults must accompany patients 17 and under during their visits.
