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Should You Go to the Emergency Room?

Your husband’s sinus pain just won’t go away and he has a big meeting at work tomorrow. Should he go to the emergency room (ER) tonight?

You were going to work on the roof, missed a rung on the ladder trying to climb up and fell off. Your ankle hurts, but how do you know for sure that it’s not just a sprain?

It’s 2:00 a.m. and your baby has a 100-degree fever. Should you be concerned?

If you suspect it is a true emergency, you should always get to the hospital or call 911 as soon as possible. But going to the ER isn’t always the best option for a minor illness or injury. Why? You’ll be seeing a doctor who doesn’t know you, the wait can be long and you could end up paying at least twice as much out of your pocket than you would for a regular in-network office visit.

What to Do When It’s Not a True Emergency

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If not a true emergency, you or a family member can be treated just as effectively by other medical providers, including:

  • Your health plan’s nurseline. Many Alcatel-Lucent medical options offer a nurseline that provides medical information for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you call the nurseline, a registered nurse will listen to your symptoms, ask you questions and discuss treatment options with you. There is no charge to use this service.
  • Your regular doctor. Be prepared to contact your doctor when you or a family member is sick or injured:
    • If you don’t have a regular doctor, find one now. Check your health plan’s network first, if applicable, by logging on to your health plan’s Web site.
    • Talk to your doctors about how to receive care when the office is closed. Ask your doctors who you should contact if you and your family members are sick or injured after office hours.
  • Urgent care centers. Through your health plan, you can receive care at in-network urgent care centers, which provide walk-in service for treating minor symptoms that need attention but aren’t severe or life-threatening, like earaches and sore throats. The cost for using these centers are usually your normal office visit copayment. If your doctor is unavailable after hours, he or she might recommend you visit an urgent care center, which may be open for extended or 24-hour service. Search for your nearest urgent care center now so that if you need it, you’ll know where it is.

When You Should Go to an ER*

Always go straight to the ER or call 911 for:

  • Serious injury, severe pain or infection;
  • Poisoning;
  • Obstetrical crisis or labor;
  • Uncontrollable bleeding;
  • Irregularities in vital functions, such as vision, breathing, hearing, circulation and mental clarity; and
  • Mental state when you suspect someone might cause danger to himself, herself or others.

*The American College of Emergency Physicians