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Urgent care clinics are for non-life-threatening problems including cuts, sprains, burns, fevers and infections.  

Emergency rooms are for life-threatening conditions including trouble breathing, chest pain, head injury, seizure, stroke symptoms and severe bleeding. 

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Navigating healthcare in an unfamiliar place can be challenging. Knowing where to go before you need care can save you time, money and stress.  

Urgent care centers are the right choice for non-life-threatening conditions such as minor injuries, fevers, infections or illnesses that can’t wait for a regular appointment. Emergency rooms are equipped for serious, potentially life-threatening situations such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding.  

If you’re not sure, ask yourself: Can this wait a few hours, or does it need immediate attention? This can help you decide the best place to receive care. 

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Not every health concern requires an ED visit, and not every urgent care can handle an emergency. Knowing where to get care helps you receive the right care faster while helping keep critical resources available for those who truly need them. 

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Not every health concern requires an ED visit, and not every urgent care can handle an emergency. Knowing where to get care helps you receive the right care faster, and often at a lower cost. 

An urgent care clinic is ideal for minor illnesses and injuries. The emergency department (ED) is reserved for serious, life-threatening conditions. When you choose the right place, you’re helping keep critical resources available for those who truly need them.

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New to U.S. healthcare? Here’s a quick guide to common medical symbols.

Large red “ER” letters or the word “Emergency” : Emergency care 

White “H: on blue background: Hospital (full medical services, including emergency care) 

Note: Patient care is only available at pharmacies if an urgent care is onsite.

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Navigating healthcare in a new country can be challenging. This quick guide will help you understand the common medical symbols you’ll see.

White “H” on blue background: Marks the location of a hospital, where you can access a full range of medical services, including emergency care. 

Large red “ER” letters or the word “Emergency”: Marks the location of emergency medical care. 

It’s important to note that, in the United States, not all pharmacies have urgent care locations in their buildings. You can only receive care or be prescribed medication at a pharmacy if there is an urgent care location on-site.

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In a life-threatening emergency, dial 911. Calls are free from any phone, including international mobile phones. The phone operator will dispatch an ambulance that will take you to the nearest appropriate medical facility. Translation services are available.

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In a life-threatening emergency, dial 911. Visiting the states from abroad? It’s free to call from any phone, including international mobile phones. Operators can connect you to translation services.

Call for medical emergencies such as chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding or difficulty breathing. The phone operator will dispatch an ambulance to take you to the nearest appropriate medical facility.

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In an emergency, every second matters. Knowing how to call for emergency services and what to expect can make a critical difference in saving time and lives.  

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In an emergency, every second matters. Knowing how to call for emergency services and what to expect can make a critical difference.  

If you need to call 911, take a breath, speak clearly and follow the operator’s instructions. These operators are trained to guide you through what to do and will dispatch the appropriate help for your emergency.