You’re a Yale New Haven Health employee, and it’s likely you’re also a patient who seeks medical care through the health system. But when you have an illness or injury, do you know which option is right for you? That depends on what you’re dealing with and how severe it is.
When to go to the Emergency Department
Call 911 immediately if you’re experiencing:
- Signs of heart attack or stroke
- A severe head injury
- Severe bleeding
- A life-threatening allergy
- A drug overdose
Calling 911 allows EMTs and paramedics to begin life-saving care before the patient arrives at the Emergency Department.
“Our paramedics are literally an extension of our Emergency Department, and they will relay your condition to the hospital, so we’ll be ready to treat you when you arrive,” said Craig Mittleman, MD, regional medical director of Emergency Services for Lawrence + Memorial and Westerly hospitals. “If your gut tells you something is serious, put aside your hesitation and make the call to 911.”
Other reasons to go to an ED include burns, head or eye injuries, concussions, broken bones, dislocated joints and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
Patients with non-life-threatening conditions can visit the Yale New Haven Health website for estimated wait times at all ED locations. An “on my way” feature at some locations allows patients to notify the ED that they are en route, although patients are still triaged upon ED arrival based on the severity of their conditions.
When to go to urgent care
Urgent care might be a better option for people with non-life-threatening injuries, said Arjun Venkatesh, MD, chief, Emergency Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital, and the Anthony N. Brady Professor of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine.
“We have built out a robust network of urgent care centers affiliated with our health system that we encourage patients and families to consider using as a more convenient and accessible alternative to the ED,” he said. “This way, the most critically ill and injured can be seen as expeditiously as possible in the ED, and patients with less-serious health concerns can receive high-quality care as quickly as possible in our urgent care centers.”
Symptoms that can be appropriately evaluated and treated at an urgent care facility include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Flu-like symptoms
- Sprains and strains
- Small cuts possibly requiring stitches
Visit ynhhs.org to find Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care locations, book an appointment (although walk-ins are always welcome) or schedule a virtual care visit when appropriate.
When to see your primary care provider
If it’s not an emergency and it’s not urgent, patients should make an appointment with their primary care provider. If your medical records are with Yale New Haven Health, you can easily schedule appointments through MyChart. If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit ynhhs.org and use the Find a Doctor feature to search by specialty, location and accepted insurances.
