UMC Health System's director of emergency services says many Lubbock patients head to the ER when urgent care would do.
Dr. Christopher Piel says the ER is for major things. Minor headaches, sore throats, earaches, coughs, minor abdominal pain, diarrhea, minor cuts, scrapes, burns and sprains can all go to urgent care. UMC's urgent care also runs X-rays and point-of-care tests for strep and flu.
Cold and flu season makes it worse. Piel says UMC covers a region the size of France, and the ER is often at capacity. Falling temperatures and weakened immune systems add to the workload. People with multiple medical problems who catch a cold or flu can get seriously sick.
Some problems belong in the ER every time. Piel names stroke, heart attack, trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, major cuts and suspected broken bones. Both options stay open 24-7, and Lubbock has two urgent cares and two emergency centers. If you pick wrong, staff can move you to the other one. Choosing right can save you hours.
In the worst cases, an ER wait can hit 13 hours, a long time to sit with a sore throat.
Common questions
What can I go to urgent care for instead of the ER?
- Urgent care can handle minor headaches, sore throats, earaches, coughs, minor abdominal pain, diarrhea, minor cuts, scrapes, burns and sprains, according to UMC's Dr. Christopher Piel. UMC's urgent care also runs X-rays and point-of-care tests for strep and flu. That means many common illnesses and injuries do not need the ER, Piel says.
When should I go to the ER instead of urgent care?
- Go to the ER for major problems, Piel says, including stroke, heart attack, trouble breathing and severe abdominal pain. He says some problems belong in the ER every time. The ER is for major things, and minor problems can go to urgent care.
Why is the ER so busy during cold and flu season?
- Cold and flu season makes ER crowding worse, Piel says. UMC covers a region the size of France, and the ER is often at capacity. Falling temperatures and weakened immune systems add to the workload, and people with multiple medical problems who catch a cold or flu can get seriously sick.
