The Right Level of Care at the Right Time

EvergreenHealth’s tips for knowing when to seek urgent or emergency care

We’ve all been there. You’re cutting vegetables for dinner and accidentally nick the tip of your finger. Or your son wakes up with a 102-degree fever and a pain on his right side.

You know it’s important to seek medical care for you and your family, but with a range of choices and levels of care— from same-day primary care appointments to after-hours urgent care or a trip to the emergency department—it can be challenging to decide which option is most appropriate, especially in the heat of the moment. Here are some quick tips to reference this cold and flu season and beyond.

Head to the emergency department or call 911 if someone is experiencing:

• Chest pain • Difficulty breathing • Signs of stroke • Head injuries or trauma • Severe bleeding • Loss of vision • Severe burns • Broken bones

Urgent care is the best option if someone is experiencing:

• Allergies or mild asthma • Sore throat • Cold and flu symptoms • Insect or minor animal bite • Headache • Earache • First-degree burn • Strains and sprains

Could it be COVID-19?

The symptoms associated with COVID-19 are wide ranging and they can be mild or severe. If you’re sick and have any of the following symptoms, call your primary care provider. They’ll provide instructions for safely getting tested, along with next steps for treatment.

• Fever or chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea

Still unsure which level of care is right for you and your family? Want to skip the wait and see a provider from the comfort of your home?

EvergreenHealth’s free Nurse Navigator & Healthline offers the community 24/7 access to nurse triage and consulting services. Registered nurses offer home care information and can help you decide if you need to seek urgent care or emergency care.

Call 425.899.3000 and press 2 at the prompt, day or night.

Virtual care is available across almost all practices and specialties, including urgent care. In fact, virtual urgent care wait times are typically shorter than in-person clinics.

If you need diagnostic testing, including COVID-19 tests, X-rays or blood tests, you’re able to visit any

EvergreenHealth urgent care location and complete your tests immediately.

Learn more by visiting www.evergreenhealth.com/healthservices/urgent-care/virtual-urgent-care.