Orthopedic Urgent Care vs. the ER

Injuries are not scheduled and tend to occur when you least expect them. When you or your loved one suffers an injury, you want the best care available as soon as possible. In some cases, that means a trip to the emergency room. Other times, however, you can avoid a long wait and get an assessment and care from a specialist if you visit a musculoskeletal urgent care clinic.

When you need immediate attention for most acute bone, joint, and muscle injuries, like a fracture or a shoulder injury, our urgent care service will offer you the care you need—fast.

In the case of life-threatening injuries and other emergencies, such as open fractures, cuts with bleeding that won’t stop, burns, or head injuries, you will need to visit an emergency room immediately or call 911.

For a better idea of which service is necessary, refer to the listing below.

Injury/Condition	Orthopedic Urgent Care	ER
New bone/joint/muscle injury	Yes	No
Joint sprain or muscle strain	Yes	No
Possible fracture	Yes	No
Swollen joint	Yes	No
Sports injury	Yes	No
Possible dislocation	Yes	No
Chronic back or joint pain	Schedule an appointment	No
Work injury	Consult your supervisor
Animal bite	No	Yes
Burn	No	Yes
Cuts and other wounds	No	Yes
Fracture with bone protrusion	No	Yes

For more information on our Orthopedic Urgent Care services at Appalachian Orthopedics, call (423) 434-6300. If you are currently seeking initial or follow-up care for a sports-related injury, schedule an appointment online with one of our sports medicine specialists.