Top reasons people visit the emergency room
Every year, millions head to the emergency room for a variety of medical concerns, from illness to injury. While many of these visits are very serious and require inpatient care, most patients are treated and released without needing hospitalization. So how do you know when to go? We’ll take a look at the difference in these two levels of care, so you know what to do in the heat of the moment.
Why people go to the emergency room
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, just 14% of emergency room visits lead to hospitalization. The most common causes that lead to hospitalization are circulatory and digestive conditions. That includes patients experiencing heart attack, stroke and intestinal obstruction. That means the remaining 86% of patients who aren’t hospitalized are treated and then released home.
The most frequent reasons for adult “treat and release” visits include:
- Abdominal pain and other digestive symptoms
- Chest pain, especially that radiate to the neck and shoulders
- Musculoskeletal pain, especially in older adults
- Superficial injuries that leave the deeper layer of skin intact
Women tend to visit the emergency room for urinary tract infections, headaches and pregnancy-related concerns, while men are more likely to visit for open wounds to the head, neck and limbs.
Children most often come with abdominal pain, digestive symptoms and superficial injuries. However, they also visit for other reasons like:
- Acute upper respiratory infections
- High fever
- Middle ear infections
- Viral infections
Emergency rooms are meant for true life-threatening medical emergencies or medical situations that can lead to permanent injury or disability. Unfortunately, due to a lack of healthcare access, many patients visit emergency rooms for other medical situations, leading to long wait times and challenges for staff in triaging, or treating the most severe or acute patients first.
When to head to the emergency room
Emergency medicine providers have been trained to rapidly triage and treat the most dangerous medical conditions – especially those that are life-threatening or that, left untreated, will lead to loss of limb, eyesight or other permanent disability.
According to the National Institutes of Health, you should head to the emergency room for symptoms including:
- Allergic reactions that lead to trouble breathing or severe swelling
- Broken bones
- Changes in vision, including loss of vision or double vision
- Choking
- Electric shock
- Head injuries
- Heart attack symptoms like chest pain or difficulty breathing
- High fever (greater than 103 degrees) or fever with a rash
- Loss of consciousness
- Mental health crises, especially if you suspect harm to yourself or others
- Poisoning
- Seizures
- Severe abdominal pain
- Severe burns that lead to blisters
- Stroke symptoms, including numbness or weakness on one side of the body and slurred speech
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy
Where to go for non-emergency situations
If you’re experiencing a medical event that isn’t an emergency, you still have options to get prompt care, including in-person or telehealth visits with your primary care provider. Your primary care team can help you with conditions like:
- Ear infections
- Flu-like symptoms
- Minor allergic reactions
- Upper respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
Your provider can also help with medication refills, scheduling follow-up appointments and more.
When to go to urgent care
Urgent care centers near you are also good options for these types of injuries and illnesses during nights and weekends or if appointments aren’t available with your provider.
You can also consider visiting urgent care for symptoms like:
- Bites or stings
- Burns that don’t lead to blisters
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms
- Low fevers (under 103 degrees)
- Minor allergic reactions
- Sprains and strains
- Urinary tract infections
Get the emergency care you need
Sometimes a trip to the ER is necessary, and in that case, don't hesitate to head there. Other times, an urgent care facility can get you the help you need. If you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, the most important thing is to not delay care.