By Courtney Schmoll—
Muncie, IN – The emergency department at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital has been extremely busy. To help ensure that our patients are receiving the best care possible, we encourage you to use this general guideline to determine whether you should go to your doctor’s office versus the emergency room.
How do I know if my illness requires emergency medicine or a primary care visit?
The emergency room is designed for treating and ruling out life-threatening, true medical emergencies. It’s also the place to be if you have a broken bone or are unsure of a symptom that could indicate something more severe. If in doubt, get emergency care.
When you should go to the ER:
– Broken bones and dislocated joints
– Deep cuts that require stitches – especially on the face
– Head or eye injuries
– Severe flu or cold symptoms
– Sudden change in mental state
– High fevers
– Fevers with rash
– Fevers in infants
– Fainting or loss of consciousness
– Severe pain, particularly in the abdomen or starting halfway down the back
– Bleeding that won’t stop or a large open wound
– Vaginal bleeding with pregnancy
– Repeated vomiting
– Serious burns
– Seizures without a previous diagnosis of epilepsy
When you should call 9-1-1:
– Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
– Any symptoms of a heart attack including chest pain, pain in the left arm or the jaw, sudden weakness or dizziness
– Signs of a stroke such as numbness, slurred speech, severe headache, weakness on one side of the face or loss of consciousness
– Life-or-limb threatening injury
Your primary care provider is someone who cares for your ongoing medical needs. They play a critical role in your and your family’s health. They specialize in routine exams, preventative care and non-urgent medical needs. They help with your continuous care.
When you should go to your doctor:
– Symptom onset is gradual
– Common illnesses such as colds, mild flu symptoms, earaches, sore throats, migraines, low-grade fevers
– Conditions that are not life-or-limb threatening, but require immediate care
– Sprains
– Urinary tract infections
– Mild asthma
– Rash without fever
– Broken bones of the wrist, hand, ankle or foot that have no obvious need to reset and have not broken the skin
If you are experiencing symptoms that call for a primary care visit, you can find a physician at iuhealth.org/find-a-doctor or call 1-888-IU Health. Same-day appointments are often available.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. And remember that our ED is always open.
For individuals being cared for in the ED, please remember to be a patient patient. If you are receiving great care, please tell your nurse or the charge nurse. If you need something additional or find you have been waiting a while for a request, please use your call button to ask the nurse or nurse manager for a follow-up.
