Locating Health Care Services
In general, health care services in the US can be divided into four main types: Primary Care Doctor, MinuteClinic, Urgent Care, and Emergency Room. To explore and locate the appropriate heath care for your illness or injuries, continue reading or download Emory Healthcare’s Know Where to Go for the Right Care guide.
Primary Care Doctors
Primary Care Doctor helps you manage your overall, long-term health. You should contact your Primary Care Doctor when you have health problems that need attention—but aren’t serious:
- Yearly routine check ups
- Preventative care or sick visits
- Treatment for non-urgent, long-term health issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Prescribes and manages medications
- Specialist referrals
Find a primary care doctor or location*
- If you are an Emory student, visit the Student Health Services' website for more information.
- If you are a benefits-eligible Emory employee, visit the Emory Human Resources' website for more information.
Walk-in Clinics
Walk-in Clinic offers convenient, affordable care for minor, common illness or injuries when you cannot immediately see your Primary Care Doctor:
- Non-severe flu
- Sore or strep throats
- Sinus infections
- Non-severe allergy symptoms
- Skin rashes
- Urinary tract and bladder infections
- Minor strains and sprains
- Vaccinations
- Smoking cessation and weight-loss programs
- Basic health screenings and monitoring such as blood pressure and glucose level checks
Urgent Cares
Urgent Care provides immediate and after normal-business-hours care for non-life threating illnesses or injuries:
- Allergic reaction
- Eye infection or injury
- Earache
- Sore or strep throat
- Common cold or flu
- Upper respiratory infection such as bronchitis
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Sprain or strain
- Broken bone or fracture
- Cut that may need stitches
- Minor burn
- Insect or animal bite
Hospital Emergency Rooms
Emergency Room delivers immediate care for life-threatening illnesses and injuries. If you are experiencing any of the following conditions, go to the emergency department or call 911:
- Changes in vision
- Fainting, dizziness, weakness, or lack of mobility
- Confusion or changes in mental status
- Head or neck injury
- Suspected concussion
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Chest or upper abdominal pain lasting more than several minutes
- Heart attack or stroke
- Broken bones that break through the skin
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Sudden or severe pain
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Poisoning