Where To Go When It Can’t Wait: Choosing Between Urgent Care and the Emergency Department

A fever that won’t break. A fall that sends you to the floor. Chest pain. A broken wrist. A child who suddenly can’t breathe well. These are the moments when people stop everything and ask, “Where do I go?”

At Owensboro Health, we’re proud to offer expert care both in our Emergency Departments at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, Muhlenberg Community Hospital and Twin Lakes Medical Center, as well as at our Urgent Care locations around the health system. But the experience — and the purpose — of each is very different.

Knowing where to go can save you time, money and even your life.

The Right Place for the Right Need

Both Urgent Care and the Emergency Department treat patients with injuries and illnesses. But they’re built for different types of care.

Urgent Care is designed for medical problems that need attention today, but aren’t life-threatening. Think minor infections, sore throats, sprains, small cuts, earaches or the flu.

Emergency care is for serious conditions — those that could cause lasting harm if not treated quickly. That includes chest pain, breathing trouble, stroke symptoms, serious wounds, broken bones poking through the skin or anything that makes you feel like something is very wrong.

Here’s a helpful rule of thumb: if you’d drive yourself, go to Urgent Care. If you’d call 911, go to the Emergency Department.

Our Emergency Departments: Prepared for Anything, Every Day

At Owensboro Health, our Emergency Departments are built to respond to life-threatening moments with speed and skill. In our three Emergency Departments, we serve a total of approximately 100,000 patients every year, making us one of the busiest emergency care providers in the region.

Behind the scenes, this means a well-practiced team of emergency medicine doctors, nurses, techs and specialists is ready the moment a patient arrives. They’re trained to respond to everything from heart attacks to severe trauma.

We’ve also invested in leading-edge systems that help us care for patients faster and smarter. Our EMS pre-arrival technology allows first responders to send patient data directly to our emergency team while en route. That means by the time the ambulance arrives, we already know your condition and are prepped to act — especially vital during time-sensitive emergencies like stroke or cardiac arrest.

Our commitment to expert care includes people, too — like Child Life Specialists trained to comfort and guide young patients. Whether a child comes in with a broken arm or a high fever, this team helps kids feel safe and supported. It’s one reason we’ve earned the Pediatric Ready Certification, recognizing our readiness to care for children at all levels of emergency.

For those facing unthinkable trauma, we offer another critical program: our SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program. These specially trained nurses provide compassionate, trauma-informed care to survivors of sexual violence. They conduct exams with privacy and sensitivity while preserving evidence, helping patients through an experience no one should face alone. 

Learn more about our Emergency Departments.

Urgent Care: Care That Fits Your Life

Sometimes you’re sick or hurting, but the Emergency Department isn’t the right fit. That’s when Owensboro Health’s Urgent Care steps in. Located in five convenient locations across our service area, Urgent Care is open seven days a week in most locations and offers extended hours so you can get care when you need it most.

We know time matters. That’s why we created “On My Way,” a simple online check-in tool that lets you claim your spot before leaving home. It reduces time in the waiting room and helps us prepare for your visit.

Our Urgent Care also holds an Age-Friendly Health designation. That means our team has been trained to deliver care with older adults in mind. We focus on what matters to each person, reduce unnecessary medications and make sure each patient feels seen, heard and safe.

Whether it’s a grandparent with a fever or a child with a sprained ankle, Urgent Care is a place where you can get trusted care.

Different Roles. One Mission.

Both the Emergency Department and Urgent Care exist for the same reason: to help you when life doesn’t go as planned.

If your condition is serious or life-threatening, always go straight to the Emergency Department. 

If you need help fast but it’s not an emergency, come to one of our Urgent Care locations. We’ll get you in, get you treated and get you home.

Learn about our Urgent Care locations.

Because no matter which door you walk through, Owensboro Health is here. Ready when it matters most.