Sponsored Content

Know where to go: Urgent care vs. ER

Sponsored by
A photo of a visitor in the lobby of one of Lakeland Regional Health's urgent care locations.

Don’t have a Lakeland Regional Health provider? No problem, you can still be seen at one of their urgent care locations.

Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health

Imagine this: You find yourself experiencing an allergic reaction. You’d like to be seen by a doctor — but it isn’t necessarily an emergency. Do you know where to go?

Statistically, emergency room visits are high, but not all instances are a case for a trip to the ER. Enter: urgent care, an alternative for minor illnesses and injuries.

So, where should you go? We asked James Khai Lee, MD at the Lakeland Regional Health Pablo Campus, which cases warrant an ER or urgent care visit to help point you in the right direction.

A headshot of LRH physician, Dr. Lee.

“Our urgent care locations are highly equipped to provide you with reliable care,” says Dr. Lee.

Photo provided by Lakeland Regional Health

If my condition doesn’t warrant a trip to the ER, does it make sense to go to urgent care?

“Urgent care is the best answer because we offer a wide array of services like treatment for the flu, minor burns, sprains, and more — plus, you don’t need an appointment or even an LRH primary care provider to see us.”

So when should I go to the ER vs. urgent care?

“Head to the emergency room if you’re experiencing:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Severe abdominal or chest pain
  • Changes in vision
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Fainting or dizziness

For the following, you should make a trip to urgent care:

  • Cold, flu, or bronchitis
  • Asthma or allergies
  • Sprains
  • Minor medical concerns
  • Minor accidents and falls”

How many urgent care locations does LRH have?

“During your busy schedules, you may run into minor health concerns for you or your kids, so we tell our patients to drop by one of our three convenient locations so we can help.”

A brief tour of the new Kathleen Campus

Speaking of convenience, LRH’s newest urgent care location offers family medicine — so your whole family can be seen in one office.

Video provided by Lakeland Regional Health

Good news: All three Lakeland Regional Health urgent care locations are open late during the week (read: they don’t close at 5) and on weekends to fit your schedule. Each location cares for patients ages 2+ and can even help you get set up with an LRH primary care provider during your visit.

LRH urgent care locations

  1. Kathleen Campus (which, in addition to family medicine, also offers specialty care and urgent care): 2400 Kathleen Rd.
  2. Pablo: 130 Pablo St.
  3. Lake Miriam: 4710 S Florida Ave.

Bonus: See the Kathleen Campus for yourself during Spring into Wellness on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Keep scrolling for more details.

Check out primary care provider options

Having a healthy set of lungs is key to dominating the pickleball court or belting out your favorite songs in the car
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Avoid being your neighborhood’s Clark Griswold this season.
Sponsored
Lakeland Regional Health’s Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Medicine helps Lakelanders with weight-related health concerns.
Wellness
Wellness
This year’s Mental Health Awareness theme is “Look Around, Look Within.”
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
Sponsored
Check out these eight yoga studios around Swan City, which offer classes for beginners, hot yoga, and more fitness classes.
Sponsored
Check that resolution off your list: Here are four Publix-sponsored races to join before the year is up.
Sponsored
See what it takes to become a physician — and how the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program is good for Lakeland.
Sponsored
New year, new goals. Explore 6 local activities to try in the new year.
Sponsored
From 340+ providers to easy referrals, here are six reasons Lakeland Regional Physician Group just might be right for you and your family.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Explore local, healthy ways to show yourself, others, and your heart some love this Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
LALtoday phone
Good news for Lakeland.
Get the best local news & events sent to your inbox each morning, for free.