Where should I go, emergency room or immediate care clinic?
True emergencies, such as serious cardiac and respiratory conditions, are best evaluated and treated in a hospital emergency room. Examples include chest pain (which could be cardiac), severe respiratory distress, severe hemorrhage or other life-threatening alteration in heart rate or blood pressure. If in doubt about the seriousness of your condition, error on the side of safety and call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. In addition, after we evaluate and assess your physical complaints and condition, if appropriate (i.e. we identify a condition which is best treated in an emergency room), we will arrange for immediate transfer to Northwestern Memorial Hospital (the closest emergency room to our facility).
