Know Where to Go This Thanksgiving: Urgent Care or ER?
We see a spike in visitors between Thanksgiving and New Years for some very typical or standard ailments that are seemingly related to the season and all it brings. If you or anyone you are with experiences any health issues, it's vital that you know where you can go, who is open, and which place is proper for you to visit. We have hours, addresses, and contact information of every Emergency Room and Urgent Care Clinic in the Metro Area.
Below this contact information are some helpful tips if someone is choking, has a deep cut, burns, food poisoning, or experiencing heart issues.
Urgent Care Locations in Denver-Boulder Metro
Provider Name | Phone | Address | Hours | Holiday Hours |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Aurora | (303) 695-1338 | 13650 E Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO 80012 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 9pm | Dec. 24th - 8am-9 pm Dec. 25th - Closed Dec. 31st - 8am-9 pm Jan. 1st - 8am-9 pm |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Westminster | (303) 429-9311 | 6080 W 92nd Ave, Westminster, CO 80031 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 6pm | Dec. 24th - 8am-4 pm Dec. 25th - Closed Dec. 31st - 8am-6 pm Jan. 1st - 8am-8pm |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Boulder | (303) 499-4800 | 4800 Baseline Rd D106, Boulder, CO 80303 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 7pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | Dec. 24th - 9am-4 pm Dec. 25th - Closed Dec. 31st - 9am-4 pm Jan. 1st - 8am-7 pm |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Lakewood | (303) 986-9610 | 605 Parfet St #103, Lakewood, CO 80215 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 6pm | Black Friday: 8am-5pm Christmas Eve: Closed Christmas: Closed New Years Eve: Closed New Years: 8am-8pm |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Englewood | (720) 974-7464 | 730 W Hampden Ave #200, Englewood, CO 80110 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 7pm | Black Friday: Closed Christmas Eve: Closed Christmas: Closed New Years Eve: Closed New Years: Closed |
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care - Centennial/Smoky Hill | (303) 693-2000 | 20270 E Smoky Hill Rd, Centennial, CO 80015 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 6pm | Dec. 24th - 10 am-4pm Dec. 25th - Closed Dec. 31st - 10 am-4 pm Jan. 1st - 10 am-6 pm |
American Family Care Urgent Care - Denver East | (303) 639-1000 | 1295 Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80206 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 6pm | |
American Family Care Urgent Care - Cherry Creek | (303) 692-8000 | 760 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80246 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 6pm | |
American Family Care Urgent Care - Denver Highlands | (303) 477-6000 | 3800 Iring St. Denver, CO 80211 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 6pm | Dec 25, 2017: 9am - 5pm, Dec 31, 2017: 8 am - 8 pm, Jan 1, 2018: 9 am - 8 pm |
American Family Care Urgent Care - Englewood | (303) 761-1699 | 901 W. Hampden Ave. Englewood, CO 80110 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 6pm | Christmas Day/New Year's Day : 8am - 6pm |
American Family Care Urgent Care - Centennial | (303) 816-3811 | 8006 E Arapahoe Rd. Centennial, CO 80112 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 5pm | Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/New Year's Eve/New Year's Day : 8am - 4pm |
ZipClinic Urgent Care - Denver | (303) 455-6345 | A, 1 S Broadway #100, Denver, CO 80209 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 5pm | |
ZipClinic Urgent Care - Westminster | (303) 645-4770 | 5165 West 72nd Ave. Westminster, CO 80030 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 5pm | |
ZipClinic Urgent Care - Aurora | (303) 223-9863 | 1250 S. Buckley Rd. N Aurora, CO 80017 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 7pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 5pm | |
Denver Health Adult Urgent Care - Pediatric Emergency and Urgent Care | (303) 436-6000 | 777 Bannock Street, Pavilion A, 1st Floor, Denver, CO 80204 | Open Mon - Fri 7am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 7pm | Christmas Eve/Christmas Day : 9am - 5pm; New Year's Eve : 8am - 9pm; New Year's Day : 9am - 8pm |
Denver Health Adult Urgent Care - Southwest Family Health and Urgent Care | (303) 602-0000 | 1339 S Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80219 | Open Mon - Fri 9am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am – 4pm | Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Day : Closed |
AfterOurs Urgent Care - Denver Southeast | (303) 861-7878 | 6895 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80224 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 11pm | |
AfterOurs Urgent Care - Highlands Ranch | (303) 861-7878 | 101 W Mineral Ave, Unit 105, Littleton, CO 80120 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 11pm | |
AfterOurs Urgent Care - Thornton | (303) 861-7878 | 3212 East 104th Ave. Thornton, CO 80233 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 11pm | |
AfterOurs Urgent Care - Downtown Denver | (303) 861-7878 | 4500 W 38th Ave #220, Denver, CO 80212 | Open Mon - Fri 5pm – 11pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 11pm | |
Concentra Urgent Care - Downtown Denver | (303) 296-2273 | 1730 Blake St #100, Denver, CO 80202 | Open Mon - Fri 8am – 6pm, Closed Sat & Sun | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm; Christmas Day : Closed |
Concentra Urgent Care - North Denver | (303) 292-2273 | 420 E 58th Avenue Ste. 111, Denver, CO 80216 | Open Mon - Fri 7am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 7am - 3pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - South Broadway | (303) 777-2777 | 1212 S Broadway Ste. 150, Denver, CO 80210 | Open Mon - Fri 7am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 7am - 3pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - Stapleton | (303) 371-7444 | 5855 Stapleton Drive North Suite A-130, Denver, CO 80216 | Open Mon - Fri 7am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 7am - 3pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - Cherry Creek | (303) 388-3627 | 875 South Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80246 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8:00 pm Saturday 8am - 4pm; Sunday 10am - 4pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 2pm; Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Eve : 8am - 4am |
Concentra Urgent Care - Highlands Ranch | (303) 346-3627 | 9330 South University Blvd. Suite 100 & 120, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 4pm; Sunday 10am - 4pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 2pm; Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Eve : 8am - 4pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - Lakewood Simms | (303) 239-6060 | 11185 W. 6th Ave. Ste. 100, Lakewood, CO 80215 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm; Christmas Day : Closed |
Concentra Urgent Care - Littleton | (303) 798-1009 | 20 W Dry Creek Circle Suite 100, Littleton, CO 80120 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm; Christmas Day : Closed |
Concentra Urgent Care - Thornton Parkway | (720) 872-0399 | 550 East Thornton Parkway Suite 110, Thornton, CO 80229 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | |
Concentra Urgent Care - Thornton | (303) 287-7070 | 500 E 84th Avenue Ste. B14, Thornton, CO 80229 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - Aurora North | (303) 340-3053 | 15235 East 38th Ave. Aurora, CO 80011 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8:00 pm Saturday 8am - 4pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 2pm; Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Eve : 8am - 4pm |
Concentra Urgent Care - Aurora Southeast | (303) 755-4955 | 10355 E Iliff Ave. Aurora, CO 80247 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm; Christmas Day : Closed |
Concentra Urgent Care - Aurora Chambers | (720) 859-6139 | 3449 Chambers Road Suite B, Aurora, CO 80011 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | |
Concentra Urgent Care - Boulder | (303) 541-9090 | 3300 28th St. Boulder, CO 80301 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm; Christmas Day : Closed |
Concentra Urgent Care - Tech Center | (303) 792-7368 | 11877 E. Arapahoe Rd. Centennial, CO 80112 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm | Christmas Eve : 8am - 3pm |
Children's Hospital Colorado - Uptown Denver | (720) 777-1360 | 1830 Franklin Street, Denver, CO 80218 | Open Mon - Fri 12pm - 10pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 8 pm |
Holdidays 10am - 8pm |
Children's Hospital Colorado - Wheat Ridge | (720) 777-1370 | 3455 Lutheran Parkway Suite 230, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 | Open Mon - Fri 12pm - 10pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 8 pm |
Holdidays 10am - 8pm |
Children's Hospital Colorado - Broomfield | (720) 777-1340 | 469 West State Highway 7, Broomfield, CO 80023 | Open 24 Hours | |
Children's Hospital Colorado South Campus, Highlands Ranch | (720) 478-1234 | 1811 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | Open Mon - Fri 12pm - 10pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 8 pm |
Holdidays 10am - 8pm |
Green Valley Ranch Medical Clinic | (303) 344-8700 | 4809 Argonne Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80249 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm | Christmas Day : Closed |
UCHealth Urgent Care - Cherry Creek | (303) 372-4000 | 311 Steele St, Denver, CO 80206 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 8pm | Christmas Eve : 8am-4pm; Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Eve : 8am-6pm; New Year's Day : 8am-6pm |
UCHealth Urgent Care - Thornton | (303) 252-2960 | 13631 Colorado Blvd, Thornton, CO 80602 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 8pm | Christmas Eve : 8am-4pm; Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Eve : 8am-6pm; New Year's Day : 8am-6pm |
Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine - Northglenn | (303) 558-0502 | 1050 W 104th Ave, Northglenn, CO 80234 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 8pm | |
Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine - Brighton | (303) 659-9700 | 2801 Purcell St, Brighton, CO 80601 | Open Mon - Sun 8am - 8pm | |
Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine - Fort Lupton | (303) 558-0501 | 112 S Denver Ave, Fort Lupton, CO 80621 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Arvada | (303) 463-5941 | 7380 West 52nd Avenue Suite I, Arvada, CO 80002 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Thornton | (303) 756-3499 | 9720 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Golden | (720) 506-1332 | 17121 S Golden Rd c150, Golden, CO 80401 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Broomfield | (303) 439-4544 | 4590 West 121st Avenue, Broomfield, CO 80020 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Centennial | (303) 766-1006 | 16728 East Smoky Hill Road #10D, Centennial, CO 80015 | Open Mon - Fri 8am -12 pm & 1pm - 5pm | |
NextCare Urgent Care - Aurora | (303) 617-1604 | 18890 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 4pm | |
OnPoint Urgent Care - Lone Tree | (720) 255-2350 | 9695 S Yosemite St, Lone Tree, CO 80124 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 9:30pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 7:30pm | Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Day : Closed |
OnPoint Urgent Care - Aurora | (303) 330-0410 | 24300 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80016 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 9:30pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 7:30pm | Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Day : Closed |
OnPoint Urgent Care - Highlands Ranch | (303) 330-0271 | 9137 S Ridgeline Blvd Suite 100, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 9:30pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 7:30pm | Christmas Day : Closed; New Year's Day : Closed |
San Antonio Medical Center | (303) 936-1760 | 1701 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 | Open Mon - Sat 9am - 7pm, Closed Sunday | |
Urgent Care of Colorado | (303) 904-2600 | 9116 W Bowles Ave # 3A, Littleton, CO 80123 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 8pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 5pm | Holidays 9am - 5pm (Closed Christmas) |
CareNow Urgent Care - Stapleton | (720) 458-6825 | 3001 Havana St, Denver, CO 80238 | Open Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm, Sun 8am - 5pm | |
CareNow Urgent Care - Greenwood Village | (720) 446-5890 | 5990 S University Blvd, Greenwood Village, CO 80121 | Open Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm, Sun 8am - 5pm | |
CareNow Urgent Care - Aurora | (720) 446-5893 | 5620 S. Parker Rd. Aurora, CO 80015 | Open Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm, Sun 8am - 5pm | |
CareNow Urgent Care - Highlands Ranch | (720) 446-5891 | 7120 E. County Line Rd. Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 | Open Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm, Sun 8am - 5pm | |
CareNow Urgent Care - Parker | (720) 588-4000 | 11339 S Pikes Peak Dr. Parker, CO 80138 | Open Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm, Sun 8am - 5pm | |
Castle Pines Urgent Care and Family Practice | (303) 814-0505 | 7280 Lagae Rd, Castle Pines, CO 80108 | Open Mon - Fri 8am - 7:30pm, Sat & Sun 8am - 5:30pm | |
Boulder Community Health Urgent Care | (303) 415-5199 | 6685 Gunpark Dr #102, Boulder, CO 80301 | Open Mon - Sun 7am - 9pm | |
Boulder Bone and Joint: Orthopedic Urgent Care | (720) 577-2663 | 4820 Riverbend Rd, Boulder, CO 80301 | Open Weds - Fri 3pm - 9pm, Sat & Sun 12pm - 9pm | |
Boulder Medical Center at Broadway | (303) 440-3000 | 2750 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 | Open Mon - Fri 8:30am - 5pm, Sat 9am - 12pm. Closed Sunday 5:30pm |
Emergency Room Locations in Denver-Boulder Metro
Provider Name | Phone | Address | Hours |
Denver Health Main Campus | (303) 436-6000 | 777 Bannock St. Denver, CO 80204 | Open 24 Hours |
Emergency Care at Parker Adventist Hospital | (720) 777-1350 | 9395 Crown Crest Blvd. Parker, CO 80138 | Open 24 Hours |
Anschutz Medical Campus | (720) 777-1234 | 13123 East 16th Ave. Aurora, CO 80045 | Open 24 Hours |
Children's Hospital Colorado South Campus, Highlands Ranch | (720) 478-1234 | 1811 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | Open 24 Hours |
Rose Medical Center Emergency Room | (303) 320-2455 | 4567 E 9th Ave, Denver, CO 80220 | Open 24 Hours |
Swedish Medical Center | (303) 788-5000 | 501 E Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80113 | Open 24 Hours |
The Medical Center of Aurora | (303) 695-2600 | 1501 S. Potomac Street | Open 24 Hours |
North Suburban Medical Center | (303) 451-7800 | 9191 Grant St. Thornton, CO 80229 | Open 24 Hours |
Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center | (303) 839-6000 | 1719 East 19th Ave. Denver, CO 80218 | Open 24 Hours |
Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children | (720) 754-1000 | 2001 N. High St. Denver, CO 80205 | Open 24 Hours |
Sky Ridge Medical Center | (720) 225-1000 | 10101 RidgeGate Pkwy. Lone Tree, CO 80124 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Arvada 64th Ave | (303) 463-7180 | 15240 W 64th Ave, Arvada, CO 80007 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Aurora Mississippi | (303) 671-4140 | 15300 E Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO 80017 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Arvada Ralston | (720) 390-6200 | 9505 Ralston Rd, Arvada, CO 80002 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Green Valley Ranch | (303) 307-5900 | 18610 Green Valley Ranch Blvd, Denver, CO 80249 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Broomfield 136th Ave | (303) 457-7700 | 875 W 136th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80023 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Littleton | (720) 922-4120 | 13351 W Bowles Ave, Littleton, CO 80127 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Smoky Hill | (303) 400-4280 | 25551 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80016 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Thornton | (303) 255-6940 | 12020 Colorado Blvd, Thornton, CO 80241 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Parker | (303) 805-3020 | 16990 Village Center Dr E, Parker, CO 80134 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Commerce City | (303) 286-6920 | 15100 E 104th Ave, Commerce City, CO 80022 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Highlands Ranch | (303) 470-4060 | 9475 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Aurora 16th Ave | (720) 848-9111 | 12505 E 16th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Broomfield Destination Dr. | (303) 460-6000 | 11820 Destination Dr. Broomfield, CO 80021 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Firestone | (303) 678-4340 | 5965 Firestone Blvd, Firestone, CO 80504 | Open 24 Hours |
UCHealth Emergency Care - Longmont | (720) 745-8020 | 2101 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501 | Open 24 Hours |
BCH Community Medical Center | (303) 415-4300 | 1000 W. South Boulder Rd. Lafayette, CO 80026 | Open 24 Hours |
BCH Foothills Hospital | (303) 415-7000 | 4747 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder, CO 80303 | Open 24 Hours |
Specialty Urgent Care and Emergency Services | |||
Provider Name | Phone | Address | Hours |
Emergency Dental Care | (303) 495-3443 | 7500 E Arapahoe Rd #202, Centennial, CO 80112 | Open Mon - Sun 9am - 9pm |
Dispatch Health (sends someone to your home) | (303) 500-1518 | ||
Care on Location (telemedicine) | (720) 778-0005 | Thurs-Mon 4pm - 12am | |
Doctor at Your Door | (720) 418-1705 | Open 24 Hours | |
Denver Pet Urgent Care - Emergency Veterinary Hospital | (303) 416-3203 | 4595 N Harlan St, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 | |
Boulder Emergency Pet Clinic | (303) 440-7722 | 1658 30th St, Boulder, CO 80301 | |
Alpenglow Veterinary Specialty + Emergency Center | (303) 443-4569 | 3640 Walnut Street, Main Unit, Boulder, CO 80301 |
How to Manage the Top 5 Health Hazards of Thanksgiving
1. Accidents and Injuries
In terms of cooking for a large group and injuries like cuts, burns, food poisoning, and choking, Thanksgiving is peak season. The end-of-year holidays, however, add to the list of potential hazards. Between space heaters, candles, and trees, house fires also spike during the holiday season. Then, there’s the stampede of last-minute shoppers, tripping over extension cords, and throwing your back out while carrying luggage.
- Things You Can Do: Take a minute to review the best practices for the Heimlich and saving a severed finger. Confirm internal cooking temperatures for your holiday meal. Know and follow the safety instructions for holiday decorations. Accept the fact that things get busy during the holidays.
2. Cold and Flu Season
Up to 20 percent of the population can get the flu each year, and this year may be trying to test that limit. More than 200 state residents were hospitalized with the flu just in October and November, a five-year high and more than three times last year’s rate. Find the latest local flu statistics from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. Anti-viral medications can help reduce the severity of the symptoms in vulnerable populations, but otherwise healthy adults should consider managing their flu symptoms at home.
- Things You Can Do: The best things you can do are preventative. Wash your hands regularly and review these other steps for preventing the flu. Once infected, it’s important to stay hydrated and manage your symptoms as needed. If a small child has a fever of 104 or higher, it’s time you go to the ER.
3. Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Sometimes called the Merry Christmas Coronary or the Happy Hanukah Heart Attack, there are a number of specific cardiovascular risk factors that tend to rear their heads during the holidays. Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels and make your blood clot more easily. Combined with holiday stress and physically strenuous activities like snow removal, it’s no wonder that research studies suggest that there’s “an overall increase of 5 percent more heart-related deaths during the holiday season,” and that the most common days to experience a heart attack are Dec. 25th and 26th, followed by Jan. 1st.
- Things You Can Do: The most immediate thing you can do is to listen to the common wisdom. Stay warm, take it easy, and don’t overeat or drink too much. Hire someone to help with snow removal. And explore ways to improve your increase your heart health throughout the year.
4. Holiday Stress and Mental Health
Even in the best of times, the holidays can be stressful. There’s often a general pressure to make sure that everybody has a good time, which can backfire for the host and their guests. For some, there’s additional stress that comes with traveling or hosting the festivities. The pressure to overeat and then diet or over-exercise can contribute to an eating disorder. New Year’s lingering around the corner doesn’t help at all. Feelings of loneliness can intensify during the holidays to the point that physical symptoms start to manifest in the body.
- Things You Can Do: Make yourself take short breaks to decompress from social pressures. This break could be a personal distraction, or you could start a meditation practice. Don’t wait till New Year’s to start your new exercise routine. And if the holidays end up really taking a toll on you this year, talk to a mental health professional.
5. Complications from Delayed Care
Between the time-crunch and the budget-crunch that is the holiday season, many people rationalize their way out of a doctor’s visit even when they know they should probably go. While the holidays send people with psychological distress to the doctor, others may avoid health services altogether. It could be fatigue or body pains or speech problems. It could be allergies or indigestion or headaches that are no longer responding to over-the-counter medications. It could be vomiting that won’t stop. It could be a stubborn grandparent who’s in denial about how bad their flu symptoms are.
- Things You Can Do: Whenever possible, make an appointment with your doctor whenever you suspect something is seriously wrong. Even if you were toughing it out in the beginning, you should take the first opportunity you get to see someone. Unless you have a medical emergency, you can take advantage of urgent care walk-in clinics to get around especially long waits at the ER and the limited availability of your regular doctor during the holiday season.
Emergency Room or Urgent Care?
Make Sure You Know Where to Go. It'll Save You Money.
Without knowing the details of your situation, the best general advice we can give is to trust your instincts and make the best decision you can with the information available. What we can provide is basic guidance for a range of common symptoms and ailments.
Just because a situation doesn’t appear to be life-threatening doesn’t mean you can wait for a regular doctor’s appointment. Whether the problem is a cause for concern or a source of serious discomfort, any number of medical problems can be handled by one of our urgent care centers.
Emergency Room or Urgent Care?
Ailment | Urgent Care | Emergency Room |
Altered mental status or confusion, including suicidal or homicidal thoughts | ![]() |
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Back pain | ![]() |
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Compound fracture | ![]() |
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Convulsions, seizures or loss of consciousness | ![]() |
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Cuts and abrasions (with controlled bleeding but requiring stitches) | ![]() |
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Deep knife wounds or gunshot wounds | ![]() |
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Dehydration | ![]() |
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Diagnostic services | ![]() |
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Diarrhea (unless severe and persistent) |
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Dislocated joints | ![]() |
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Ear pain | ![]() |
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EKG (electrocardiogram) | ![]() |
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Eye irritation and redness | ![]() |
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Falls and minor injuries | ![]() |
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Fever in newborn (less than 3 months old) |
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Fever or flu | ![]() |
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Heart attack (chest pain that lasts longer than two minutes, radiates to arm or jaw, or coupled with difficult breathing, sweating, or vomiting) | ![]() |
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Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding | ![]() |
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Laboratory testing | ![]() |
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Mild to moderate breathing difficulties (unless coupled with chest pain) |
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Minor broken bones and fractures | ![]() |
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Orthopedic and occupational medicine | ![]() |
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Painful urination | ![]() |
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Physicals | ![]() |
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Poisoning | ![]() |
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Rashes (unless coupled with a fever) | ![]() |
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Serious head, neck or back injury | ![]() |
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Serious problems related to a pregnancy | ![]() |
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Severe abdominal pain | ![]() |
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Severe burns | ![]() |
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Severe fever (104+) or fever with rash | ![]() |
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Sore throat or cough | ![]() |
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Spirometry | ![]() |
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Sprains and strains | ![]() |
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Stroke (sudden numbness or weakness especially one-sided, loss of vision, double vision, slurred speech, or confusion) | ![]() |
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Sudden clumsiness or loss of balance | ![]() |
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Sudden testicular pain and swelling | ![]() |
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Sudden, severe headache | ![]() |
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Urinary tract infections | ![]() |
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Vaccines | ![]() |
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Vomiting (unless severe and persistent) |
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X-rays | ![]() |
Important Urgent Care Information
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It’s next to impossible to come up with a comprehensive list of things that can send you to the ER. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the most common reason for adults to visit the Emergency Room is “Other.” Next to injury (14 percent), abdominal pain (9 percent), chest pain (7 percent), and back/neck problems (6 percent), a whopping 34 percent of visits get lumped into this “Other” category.
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People are still getting a lot of their healthcare from emergency room visits when they don’t have to, but we’re making progress. According to the CDC, in 2011, only 2 out of 3 people visited the ER due to the “seriousness of the medical problem.” By 2014, more than 7 out of 8 people visited the ER because of a serious medical problem. “Urgent care centers and other on-demand healthcare options in Denver and Boulder are expanding their services to treat more illnesses and injuries, making it easier for patients to access affordable care,” says Greg Meadows, CEO at Rocky Mountain Urgent Care & Family Medicine. “ER-alternatives provide high-quality, affordable care when patients need it most.”
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Other sources point out that only about “20 percent of ER patients are admitted to the hospital.” While even more people could get the care they need from urgent care rather than the ER, studies show that they do need access to urgent care services. One recent study showed that only 3.3% of ER visits were completely avoidable, meaning that the patient didn’t require “any diagnostic or screening services, procedures or medications, and were discharged home.”
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Choosing the right health provider can have a huge financial impact. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, the average cost of an urgent care visit is $168, while the average cost of an ER visit is $2,259. It’s also a big time-saver. Ninety-two percent of urgent care visits are seen by a provider within 30 minutes, and 90 percent of urgent care visits are completed in 60 minutes or less. The average wait at an emergency room? 4 hours.