At Plymouth Urgent Care and Bloomfield Urgent Care, we understand that it can be difficult to know whether you should visit urgent care or head straight to the emergency room (ER) when a medical issue arises. Knowing the difference can help you get the right care quickly and efficiently.

When to Go to Urgent Care:

Urgent care centers are designed to treat non-life-threatening issues that require timely medical attention. You should consider urgent care for:

• Minor cuts and lacerations that may need stitches
• Sprains, strains, and minor fractures
• Cold, flu, or mild asthma symptoms
• Earaches, sore throats, or sinus infections
• Rashes, minor burns, or allergic reactions
• Diagnostic tests and X-rays for common conditions

When to Go to the Emergency Room:
The emergency room is equipped to handle critical or life-threatening conditions that require immediate advanced care.

You should go to the ER if you experience:

• Chest pain or pressure, which may signal a heart attack
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Severe bleeding that won’t stop
• Sudden weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking (possible stroke)
• Major trauma from accidents or injuries
• Severe head or spinal cord injuries

If you’re unsure whether your condition requires emergency attention, it is always best to visit the nearest ER. For most non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, Plymouth Urgent Care and Bloomfield Urgent Care provide a practical and affordable alternative. Our caring providers are committed to delivering prompt attention in a supportive environment. With reduced wait times and more manageable costs compared to the ER, urgent care is often the smarter option for routine medical concerns.

At Plymouth Urgent Care & Bloomfield Urgent Care, we are here to provide prompt, high-quality medical attention for a wide range of non-life-threatening conditions. Our urgent care center is the perfect choice when you need care quickly, but your condition isn’t severe enough for the emergency room.

Urgent care clinics are designed to treat non-life-threatening health issues that still require prompt attention. They bridge the gap between a primary care office and the emergency room, making them ideal for conditions that need same-day care but are not severe enough for the ER. Common symptoms best treated at urgent care include minor injuries such as sprains, strains, small cuts, or simple fractures that may need stitches or splinting. They are also well-suited for sudden illnesses like sore throats, ear infections, sinus infections, coughs, colds, or mild to moderate flu symptoms. Many people also visit urgent care for fevers that aren’t dangerously high, minor allergic reactions, or skin conditions such as rashes, insect bites, or mild burns.

In addition to injuries and common illnesses, urgent care centers often handle digestive complaints like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild abdominal pain, as long as these symptoms aren’t severe or accompanied by alarming warning signs. They can also provide testing and treatment for urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, and respiratory infections. Other services frequently offered include X-rays, lab work, and vaccinations.

At Plymouth Urgent Care & Bloomfield Urgent Care, we are dedicated to providing prompt, high-quality medical attention for a wide range of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. However, certain medical situations require immediate attention at a hospital emergency room (ER), due to their severity, potential to be life-threatening, or risk of rapid deterioration. You should go to the emergency room (ER) for symptoms or situations that are severe, sudden, or potentially life-threatening.

 Some of the most common medical emergencies requiring ER care include:

• Chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes, especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, or back, or is accompanied by sweating, nausea, or shortness of breath (possible heart attack).
• Signs of a stroke such as sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, sudden confusion, vision changes, severe headache, dizziness, or loss of balance.
• Severe breathing problems, including sudden shortness of breath, severe asthma attacks, or difficulty breathing.
• Severe injuries such as deep cuts with uncontrolled bleeding, major fractures, head injuries with confusion or loss of consciousness, or visible deformities.
• Seizures, especially a first-time seizure or one lasting longer than five minutes.
• Severe abdominal pain that is sudden, intense, or linked with vomiting, fainting, or a rigid stomach.
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) with swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or widespread hives.
• High fever with dangerous signs, such as stiff neck, difficulty waking, confusion, or seizures.
• Sudden severe infections, such as sepsis, with symptoms like fever, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and confusion.

At Plymouth Urgent Care and Bloomfield Urgent Care, your health and safety are always our top priorities. Our caring team is here to support you whenever you are unsure if urgent care is the right place for your needs. We provide a welcoming environment where patients can feel confident they are receiving the right level of attention. If you ever have questions about where to go for care, our knowledgeable staff is ready to help guide your decision.

A high fever can often be evaluated at an urgent care centre, but there are situations where the emergency room (ER) is the safer choice. In adults, a fever above 103–104°F (39.4–40°C) that does not come down with over-the-counter fever reducers or is accompanied by severe symptoms may require immediate emergency evaluation. For children, especially infants younger than 3 months, any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher should be considered an emergency. Older children with persistent fevers above 102–103°F (38.8–39.4°C), or fevers lasting more than 3 days, may also need ER-level care.

The ER is most appropriate if the fever comes with serious warning signs such as difficulty breathing, severe headache or stiff neck, confusion, chest pain, seizure, persistent vomiting, or signs of dehydration (like very low urine output). Urgent care is better suited for mild to moderate fevers without these red flags, especially if the cause might be an ear infection, flu, or urinary tract infection. If you’re unsure, it’s always safest to call ahead or seek emergency care when symptoms seem severe or are rapidly worsening.

At Plymouth Urgent Care & Bloomfield Urgent Care, we understand that high fevers can be alarming, and knowing where to go for care makes a big difference. Our clinics are here to evaluate and treat common causes of fever quickly and effectively, while also guiding you when emergency care may be the safer option. By offering compassionate, timely, and affordable medical attention, our team helps ensure you and your family get the right level of care when you need it most.

Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve in Plymouth MI, and Bloomfield Hills MI. We serve patients from Plymouth MI, Bloomfield Hills MI, Livonia MI, Novi MI, Worden MI, Canton MI, Southfield MI, Troy MI, Farmington Hills MI and BEYOND.