If you’re sick or injured, it can be difficult to know whether you should visit a walk-in urgent care center, your primary care doctor, or the emergency room. Choosing the right place for same-day care can help you receive treatment more quickly while ensuring you get the care you need.

Ryan Renacci, MD, MA, Medical Director, Mount Sinai-Urgent Care, East 14^th Street, explains when each option is most appropriate.

Ryan Renacci, MD, MA

What is the difference between urgent care and the emergency room?

Emergency rooms, also known as emergency departments, are primarily for patients with life-threatening conditions, such as a stroke or major injury. Urgent care centers provide walk-in, same-day care for common illnesses and minor injuries that are not life-threatening.

Emergency rooms have greater resources to evaluate and treat more serious or complex conditions. They can perform laboratory testing and imaging quickly, provide rapid interpretation of results, and consult specialists if emergency intervention is needed.

Because lab results at urgent care are not available the same day, patients with symptoms such as chest pain, abdominal pain, or dizziness that could be related to a heart condition, blood clot, or stroke may be referred to the emergency room, where timely diagnosis and treatment are critical.

What conditions can be treated at an urgent care center?

Urgent care centers provide same-day care for many illnesses and injuries that require prompt treatment but are not medical emergencies, including:

Common illnesses

• Upper respiratory infections, including strep throat
• Flu symptoms
• Urinary tract infections
• Bronchitis
• Mild coughs
• Rashes

Minor injuries

• Sprains and strains
• Ankle injuries
• Fractures of the arm or leg
• Minor head injuries and concussions
• Cuts requiring stitches or suture removal

Other services

• Vaccinations
• Routine blood tests
• Screening laboratory tests
• Evaluation for sexually transmitted infections

The reception desk at Mount Sinai-Urgent Care, East 14th Street, located in Mount Sinai-Union Square

When should I go to the emergency room instead of urgent care?

Go to the emergency room immediately if you have symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding, major trauma, or another life-threatening emergency. If you are unsure whether your condition is an emergency, an urgent care provider can evaluate you and refer you to the emergency department if necessary.

What are some common misconceptions about urgent care?

A common misconception is that urgent care is the right place for ongoing, chronic, and complex medical problems. While urgent care is good for evaluating new symptoms that have developed over a few days, specialists are better equipped to monitor chronic illnesses, adjust medications, and manage more complex conditions over time.

When should I see a doctor instead of going to urgent care?

If you are experiencing chronic or ongoing health problems, you should see a specialist. For example, chronic hearing loss or chronic hearing changes should be evaluated by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. Persistent or complex skin rashes should be managed by a dermatologist, who can offer medications, perform biopsies, and provide specialized care. Similarly, changes or refills to chronic medications (like blood pressure medications) should always be performed by your primary care physician, who can monitor you over time.

What should I do if I can’t get an appointment with my primary care doctor?

If you cannot get a timely appointment with your primary care doctor, urgent care can provide same-day care for many non-emergency medical concerns while helping coordinate follow-up with a specialist or primary care doctor, often within a few days.

Night sweats. Hot flashes. These are the symptoms that most women associate with menopause. However, many women experience these—and other symptoms that they may not recognize as related to menopause—for as many as 10 years before the onset of menopause.

In this Q&A, Kumi Yuki, MD, Director of Mount Sinai’s Virtual Primary Care for Menopause, discusses what you should know and what you can do about symptoms related to perimenopause—the time before menopause.

“It’s important for women to educate themselves about perimenopause. But it’s equally important to make sure that your sources of information are reputable,” Dr. Yuki says. “Social media and word of mouth may not be your best sources of information. Whenever you are going through something you don’t understand, it’s best to speak with your doctor.”

What should women know about perimenopause?

There is an interesting recent study that highlights the fact that many women don’t associate the symptoms they are experiencing as part of perimenopause. While physical changes such as hot flashes, weight gain, and sleep disturbances are widely recognized, other prevalent symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, and anxiety often go overlooked.

Kumi Yuki, MD

Women in their 40s and 50s often don’t know what’s going on with their bodies because no one teaches them “this is menopause.” In a sense, it’s like having their first menstrual period, because their body is going through a change for the first time that they have never experienced. And if women are still having their period, they may not associate these symptoms with the gradual changes of perimenopause. It is essential that we address this knowledge gap through targeted education to empower women and promote their overall wellness during this transition.

What are some common symptoms of perimenopause that women might overlook?

There are a number of symptoms, including:

• Pain during sexual intercourse and vaginal dryness
• Joint pain and fatigue
• Brain fog, irritability, mood changes, and anxiety

Women may not realize that this transition into menopause affects the whole body—and mind. Many women may experience symptoms and not associate them with a transition their body is going through. Sometimes, these mood changes may occur around the menstrual cycle and may make it easier to realize the cause, but not always. Many women may not seek treatment and try to push through on their own.

Why is virtual care for perimenopause a good option?

Virtual primary care for menopause increases access and convenience. Often, same-day appointments are available, whereas that’s usually not possible with a gynecologist. If a patient has questions about the way they are feeling, or has basic questions about perimenopause, virtual care provides a great entry point for care. A patient can test the waters, find out options for evaluation and treatment, and start their personal path to managing their symptoms. If a case is more complex, they can see their gynecologist for in-person care. No matter what you are feeling, it is always good to talk to a health care professional because there are options for care.