Medical Facilities for After-Hours Care

When health care problems arise at night, on weekends, or away from home, it’s good to know what the options available for after-hours medical care. The first step is to call your primary care physician's (PCP) office. They will likely have instructions on their voicemail or their answering service will connect you to a clinician on call.

If you choose to, or are directed to care at an outside medical facility, it is helpful to have a clear idea about what a particular facility can or cannot treat. When possible, call ahead to find information about scope of services, hours, potential wait time, and types of insurance accepted. Some walk-in clinics and urgent care facilities have online appointment and check-in procedures that allow patients to make appointments for the best or first-available time. Be sure to bring an Emergency Go Bag for extended or unexpected wait times.

It’s also helpful to understand the distinction between the scope of care and types of providers that a walk-in or urgent care center may offer in comparison to an emergency department. Depending on state requirements, for example, a walk-in clinic or an urgent care center may not necessarily have physicians, mental health clinicians, or radiologists on site.

Types of medical care facilities outside of a PCP office

Walk-in clinic. Provides non-urgent/non-emergency basic medical care for minor conditions such as colds, flu, cuts, or skin conditions. Many urgent care centers (see below) take walk-ins.

Urgent care center. A step up in care from a typical walk-in clinic, urgent care centers also treat non-urgent/non-emergency illnesses or injuries along with conditions that may require laboratory and x-ray services.

If a health care problem is determined to be a true medical emergency, the walk-in or urgent care staff will refer the patient to an emergency department. Transfer by ambulance will be assessed depending on the urgency of the situation.

Emergency department (ED) (often called emergency room). The designated part of the hospital that provides unscheduled, 24/7 care for serious illnesses, accidents, or mental health crises. EDs stabilize and treat patients with medical emergencies. If further care is required, then a patient may be admitted to the hospital.