Urgent Care / Telehealth / When to Go
When you wake up feeling sick, the first question is often not what's wrong, but where to go. A video visit, a walk-in urgent care and the emergency room each do some things very well, and choosing the right one saves you time, money and, sometimes, a lot more.
If you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911 now. Don't wait for a video visit. The warning signs are listed below.
The short version
- Video visit: common, non-severe illnesses where talking and seeing you on camera is enough to diagnose and treat.
- In-person urgent care: problems that need hands-on care or a quick test, like stitches, an X-ray or a swab.
- Emergency room or 911: anything that could be life-threatening or get worse fast.
What a video visit handles well
Many everyday illnesses can be diagnosed from your symptoms, your history and what a clinician can see on camera. A video visit is often a good fit for:
- Colds, coughs, flu-like symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms
- Sinus infections and sore throats without trouble swallowing or breathing
- Urinary tract infection symptoms in otherwise healthy adults
- Pink eye and styes
- Rashes, hives, mild eczema flares and insect bites
- Allergies
- Nausea, diarrhea or heartburn without severe pain or signs of dehydration
- Minor back or muscle pain after a strain
- Prescription refills when you've run out of a regular medication
If you need treatment, your clinician can send a prescription to the pharmacy you choose. And if something about your symptoms means you need to be seen in person, a good clinician will tell you that plainly and help you decide where to go.
When an in-person urgent care is the better choice
Some problems need hands, equipment or a test on the spot. Go to a walk-in urgent care clinic for:
- Cuts that may need stitches
- A possible sprain or broken bone that needs an X-ray
- A sore throat where a rapid strep test would help
- Ear pain where the eardrum needs to be examined
- Minor burns that are blistering
- Symptoms that need a quick in-person check, like listening to your lungs when a cough isn't getting better
Looking for a clinic near you? See our list of walk-in clinics and ERs across Florida.
Warning signs that mean 911 or the ER
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for any of these:
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness, especially with sweating, nausea or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- Signs of a stroke: face drooping, arm or leg weakness, slurred speech, sudden confusion or loss of vision. Think BE FAST: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time to call 911.
- Sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had before
- Fainting, or new confusion or difficulty waking up
- Severe bleeding that won't stop
- Severe belly pain, or vomiting blood
- A serious injury, such as a fall with a head injury, especially if you take a blood thinner
- Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble swallowing after a bite, sting, food or medication
- High fever with a stiff neck or a new rash that doesn't fade when pressed
- Thoughts of harming yourself. Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time.
When in doubt, treat it as an emergency. It is always better to be checked and sent home than to wait.
For older adults: symptoms can be milder or unusual. Confusion, a fall, extreme tiredness or simply "not being yourself" can be the main sign of an infection or a serious problem. Take these changes seriously.
A quick comparison
| Video visit | In-person urgent care | Emergency room | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Common, non-severe illness | Stitches, X-rays, quick tests | Life-threatening or severe symptoms |
| Where | From home | Walk-in clinic | Hospital |
| Waiting room | None | Usually | Often long for non-emergencies |
| Prescriptions | Sent to your pharmacy | Yes | Yes |
| Typical cost | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
What a video visit at MD Care costs
A video visit is $50 without insurance, with no membership or monthly fee. For some straightforward issues, a $20 message visit may be enough, when your clinician agrees it's appropriate. If you have Medicare, we confirm your coverage before your visit, and you pay your plan's share.
Most patients are seen within three hours. You must be physically located in Florida at the time of your visit.
How to get the most out of a video visit
- Find a quiet, well-lit spot, and charge your phone or computer
- Have a list of your medications and allergies ready
- If you can, take your temperature before the visit
- For a rash or eye problem, make sure there's good light to show it on camera
- Write down when your symptoms started and what you've tried
Can I get antibiotics from a video visit?
If your clinician diagnoses an infection that needs antibiotics, yes, they can send a prescription to your pharmacy. Many common illnesses, like most colds, are caused by viruses and don't need antibiotics, and your clinician will explain why.
What if the clinician says I need to be seen in person?
That happens, and it's part of good care. Your clinician will tell you whether an urgent care clinic, your regular doctor or the ER is the right next step, and how soon.
Is a video visit safe for older adults?
For many common illnesses, yes. Older adults should pay extra attention to the warning signs above, and to changes like new confusion or a fall, which call for in-person care.
Do you accept Medicare for urgent care visits?
Yes. We accept Medicare for urgent care and primary care visits, and confirm your coverage before your visit.
Can you treat my child?
Our clinicians see adults. For a child, contact your pediatrician or a pediatric urgent care.
Feeling sick today?
See a Florida-licensed clinician by video, without the waiting room.
Sources
- American College of Emergency Physicians. Emergency warning signs. emergencyphysicians.org.
- American Stroke Association. Stroke symptoms: BE FAST. stroke.org.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org.
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. It doesn't replace an evaluation by a clinician. MD Care is not for emergencies: if you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
