Comprehensive. Convenient. Compassionate.
A Division of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
When you or someone in your family gets sick or injured, deciding where to seek care can be difficult.
Do you need the emergency room, should you visit urgent care, or can the problem wait for an appointment with your primary care provider?
The right choice depends on the severity of your symptoms and the type of care you need. Emergency departments are equipped for serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, while urgent care can treat many illnesses and injuries that need prompt attention but are not emergencies.
Knowing the difference can help you get the right level of care when you need it.
Urgent care provides another option when an illness or injury needs attention soon, but symptoms are not severe or life-threatening.
For example, urgent care can often evaluate minor injuries, cuts that may need stitches, persistent cold or flu symptoms and some infections. Some mild allergic reactions may also be evaluated at urgent care, but allergic reactions can become serious quickly.
If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening or potentially life-threatening, the emergency room is the appropriate choice. When in doubt about a medical emergency, call 911.
Not every unexpected illness or injury requires emergency care. If you’re wondering when to visit urgent care, these seven situations may be appropriate reasons to seek same-day care when you do not have emergency warning signs.
A fever is often the body's response to an infection or illness. While many mild fevers can be managed at home, a fever that persists, returns or occurs with other concerning symptoms may need medical evaluation.
At urgent care, a provider can evaluate your symptoms, identify a potential cause and recommend appropriate treatment or testing.
Fever accompanied by serious symptoms such as confusion, seizures, severe difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness requires emergency medical attention. The level of concern can also depend on a person's age, symptoms and other health conditions.
Fever may require more prompt medical attention in infants, older adults and people at higher risk for complications.
Twisted ankles, pulled muscles and other sports injuries can happen at home, at work or during physical activity.
If the injury does not involve severe bleeding, an obvious deformity, loss of sensation, major trauma or another sign of a serious injury, urgent care may be an appropriate place for evaluation.
A provider can examine the injury and determine whether additional testing or treatment is necessary.
PVHC urgent care treats sprains, fractures and other sports injuries, although serious injuries may require emergency care.
Some cuts need more than a bandage. If a wound is deep, has separated edges or keeps bleeding despite firm pressure, it may need stitches or another closure method.
Urgent care can evaluate many minor cuts and wounds and determine whether they need stitches or another treatment. However, seek emergency care for severe bleeding that cannot be controlled, very deep wounds, major trauma or injuries involving significant damage to surrounding tissue.
A fall, twisted ankle, jammed finger or other injury can leave you wondering whether you have a fracture or another problem that cannot be seen from the outside.
An evaluation can help determine whether an X-ray is appropriate. If you need an X-ray, Pomona Valley Health Centers offers radiology services to help evaluate certain injuries and conditions.
Severe injuries, including those involving obvious deformity, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or loss of sensation, should be evaluated in an emergency setting.
Most mild colds improve with time and supportive care. However, symptoms that are getting worse instead of better may warrant evaluation at urgent care when there are no emergency warning signs.
Urgent care can evaluate symptoms such as persistent fever, worsening cough, sore throat, congestion or other respiratory symptoms and determine whether testing or treatment may be appropriate.
If symptoms improve and then return or get worse, medical evaluation may be especially important.
Difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, confusion or other serious symptoms require emergency care.
Many common concerns, including some rashes, urinary tract infections, ear infections and sinus infections, can be evaluated at urgent care.
Urgent care can also evaluate many mild allergic reactions. You can learn more about the conditions treated at urgent care to better understand when same-day evaluation may be appropriate.
A severe allergic reaction can be life-threatening. Call 911 for symptoms of anaphylaxis, including difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, fainting or other severe or rapidly progressing symptoms.
Illnesses and injuries do not always happen during regular business hours. If your primary care provider is unavailable and your condition needs attention sooner than the next available appointment, urgent care can be an option.
This may include minor injuries, infections, worsening respiratory symptoms, rashes or other non-life-threatening concerns that should not wait several days for evaluation.
Urgent care is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
Call 911 or seek emergency care for potentially life-threatening symptoms, including:
These are examples of emergency warning signs, not a complete list. If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening or otherwise concerning, seek emergency medical care.
If you're unsure whether a situation is an emergency, it is safer to seek medical advice than to wait for potentially serious symptoms to worsen.
Not every health concern requires same-day care.
Your family medicine provider is generally the best resource for preventive care, routine physicals, prescription management, ongoing health conditions, follow-up appointments and concerns that are stable enough to wait for a scheduled visit.
An established primary care provider also makes it easier to monitor your health over time and coordinate care when you need additional services.
Pomona Valley Health Centers provide urgent care for people of all ages with non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
Walk-ins are welcome, and patients can also use the online reservation system to save their place before arriving. The reservation system is not a formal appointment and does not guarantee an exact time, but it can help you plan your visit and reduce waiting.
Depending on your health concern, your visit may include an examination, diagnostic testing, imaging or treatment recommendations.
PVHC urgent care locations treat common illnesses and injuries, including colds and flu, infections, rashes, allergies, sprains, fractures, sports injuries, bites and stings and migraine headaches.
If your condition requires a higher level of care, the provider can help determine the next step.
Urgent care visit length and wait times depend on patient volume, the complexity of your health concern and whether testing or imaging is needed. PVHC also offers an online reservation system that allows you to save your place before arriving.
Because wait times can change throughout the day, check the current wait time or reserve your spot before visiting.
Pomona Valley Health Centers accepts many insurance plans, but coverage varies by plan and service. Check your insurance benefits or contact PVHC before your visit if you have questions about coverage.
Yes. PVHC provides urgent care for people of all ages, including children. Our providers can evaluate many common childhood illnesses and minor injuries that require prompt attention but are not medical emergencies.
PVHC urgent care offers extended access beyond traditional primary care office hours. Because hours can vary by location and holiday, check current hours before your visit.
Knowing when to visit urgent care can make an unexpected illness or injury a little easier to navigate. If your condition needs prompt attention but is not life-threatening, Pomona Valley Health Centers offers urgent care for adults and children at locations in Chino Hills, Claremont and La Verne.
Walk-ins are welcome, or you can reserve your spot before you arrive.
Explore our locations to find the most convenient option for your family.
