A True Emergency: DR. or E.R.?

Emergency or Doctor: It’s Time to Decide

You’re hurt. Your child is sick. Your elderly mother doesn’t feel well. It’s time to decide: Do you go to the doctor or the emergency room?

The Emergency Room treats people who either have life-threatening injuries or illnesses, or who will have significant harm if the medical situation is not treated immediately.

Following are examples of illnesses and injuries treated in an Emergency Department:
  • Chest pain or heart attack symptoms
  • Car wreck victims
  • Uncontrollable bleeding
  • Stroke symptoms
  • Trouble breathing
  • Accident: possible broken bones or injury to arms, legs, head/mouth, eyes or internal organs
  • Severe pain: sudden, sharp pain or pain lasting longer than 24 hours
  • Rape and other traumatic situations
Following are examples of illnesses and injuries treated in a doctor’s office:
  • Colds
  • Trouble breathing due to a stuffy nose
  • Coughs
  • Flu
  • Stomach virus
  • Bug bites
  • Toothaches (Dentist)
  • Back pain and other types of chronic pain
Not Sure Where to Go?

The Emergency Department at Miller County Hospital has a Triage Clinic to determine if your condition needs the immediate attention of our emergency staff or if you need to be seen at a doctor’s office. If you don’t have a physician, we can give you information about doctor’s offices in our area. One option may be Miller County Medical Center, our Rural Health Clinic. This doctor’s office can see patients for lower cost or no cost at all, based on income. Ask us about this option, we want to help!