When to actually go to the emergency room — and when not to
A senior emergency physician on the symptoms that genuinely warrant an ER visit, and the ones that are better managed by a same-day clinic call.
Emergency rooms are designed for time-critical, life-threatening problems. They are not the most effective setting for sub-acute issues that can wait until the next morning. Knowing the difference protects you, and protects the patients with genuine emergencies waiting behind you.
Go to the ER for: chest pain or pressure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness or speech change, difficulty breathing, severe uncontrolled bleeding, sudden vision loss, or any injury you suspect involves the spine. Most other issues — a fever that has been climbing for a day, a sprain that is uncomfortable but moveable, a rash without breathing difficulty — are better served by your physician's next available slot.