Whether you have a minor health concern or are facing a serious or life-altering condition, Skagit Regional Health is here to provide exceptional care to each patient, always.

When a health need feels urgent, it can be hard to know where to go. Choosing the right care setting helps you get the appropriate care, faster.

Urgent care, emergency care or primary care: Where should I go?
As a simple guide:

• Start at Urgent Care (UC) for most same-day, non-life-threatening problems. Urgent care is the place for minor to moderate illnesses and injuries that need same-day attention and can be treated within a regular visit.
• If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, or are concerned about a severe illness or injury, go to the Emergency Room (ER).
• Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) is your medical home for prevention, chronic condition management and comprehensive follow-up care after UC/ER visits.

“The right location will have the right expertise and medical equipment to match the level of need based on your illness,” says Aaron Arnold, DO, Urgent Care provider at Skagit Regional Health. “Our different facilities provide different levels of care based on the severity of illness.”

Urgent Care—the default for same-day care
Today, UC is the default for same-day care between your PCP and the ER. Staffed by experienced clinicians, UC handles most non-life-threatening problems quickly, such as cold/flu symptoms, minor injuries, potential infections and more—and will direct you to the ER if needed.

“Traditionally, people would walk into their general practitioner’s office for an acute but non-emergent issue and be seen the same day,” said Dr. Arnold. “The increase in population and demand for healthcare has led to a shortfall in primary care appointment availability and longer wait times in the Emergency Room. The purpose of Urgent Care is to bridge this gap by addressing acute issues that we can’t treat in our primary care clinics and that do not need immediate emergency medical attention.”

When should I go to the emergency room?
For the following symptoms, it’s best to call or text 9-1-1 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Potential signs of stroke
• Serious mental health concerns
• New or worsening severe pain
• Uncontrolled or internal bleeding
• Life- or limb-threatening injuries

Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Bridging the gap between urgent care and primary care
A patient is best cared for when they’re able to follow up with their primary care provider after a visit to urgent care. Now, Skagit Regional Health’s urgent care clinics help patients connect with a primary care provider for follow-up if they don’t already have one.

“Primary care clinics are still here to help our patients maintain their health and well-being,” says Dr. Arnold. “Our primary care providers conduct annual checkups and wellness visits, adjust medications and help our patients manage
chronic illnesses.”

Together, primary care and urgent care provide a seamless, convenient model of care—urgent care for acute needs and primary care for long-term health.

Take charge of your care
Urgent care clinics are open extended hours and are available when you need care quickly:

• Riverbend Urgent Care
  2320 Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon
  
• Smokey Point Urgent Care
  3823 172nd Street NE, Arlington
• Station Square Urgent Care
  901 S. 5th Street, Mount Vernon
  

Emergency care is available 24/7 for life-threatening concerns:

• Cascade Valley Hospital
  330 S. Stillaguamish Avenue, Arlington
• Skagit Valley Hospital
  300 Hospital Parkway, Mount Vernon
  

Find a primary care provider to help you manage your overall health. Visit our online Find-a-Doc tool to browse our provider listings.