When to Visit an Orthopedic Urgent Care Center in Wake County
Urgent Care in Wake County
When non-life-threatening acute injuries occur, urgent care clinics provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to the emergency room. At the Raleigh Orthopaedic Urgent Care Centers, we provide treatments for a wide variety of acute injuries. The Raleigh Orthopaedic physician assistants and nurse practitioners are trained to handle serious – but not life-threatening – problems. In addition, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Raleigh Orthopaedic are always available for consultation to ensure that patients receive the best quality orthopedic care. Staffed with orthopedic-trained clinical assistants and X-ray technicians, our state of the art facilities also offer on site X-rays and MRI.
We understand that injuries can occur at any time. For your convenience, our urgent care center at the Edwards Mills location provides extended hours on weekdays and weekends.
When to Visit an Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room vs. Physician’s Office
The following chart will help you determine the best course of treatment for your injury. If you have further questions regarding what to do following an injury, please feel free to contact us.
| Injury / Condition | Urgent Care | Emergency Room | Physician’s Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor cut or wound |  | ||
| Twisted ankle or foot | | ||
| Possible broken bone | | ||
| Minor dislocation | | ||
| Sprained knee | | ||
| Injured shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand due to a fall | | ||
| Obvious deformity of the shoulder, elbow, knee or ankle | These injuries are best treated in the ER because you may need better pain control than what is available at the urgent care | ||
| Chronic back or neck pain | A physician who knows your history can provide more available treatment | ||
| Motor Vehicle Accident | if the injury is serious, the ER is most appropriate | If the injury is minor, your physician would be most appropriate | |
| Large blow to the head | These injuries are best treated in the ER where CT Scans are available | ||
| Minor blow to the head | May be appropriate for an urgent care if the symptoms are mild; however, the urgent care provider may send you to the ER for more advanced imagining. | ||
| Large cut or serious crush injury | These injuries may require more involved wound repair and pain control than what is available in an urgent care | ||
| Work-related orthopedic injuries, such as: blunt trauma, minor cut, ankle or wrist sprain, etc. | To avoid delay, please contact your supervisor or human resources department for appropriate authorization prior to visiting the urgent care for treatment |
If you need emergency room attention, please go to the REX Healthcare Emergency Department. Raleigh Orthopaedic physicians are exclusively on call 24/7 at REX Emergency Department for orthopedic trauma. To make an appointment to see an orthopedic physician who specializes in your problem, please call our office at (919) 781-5600 to find a location near you.
Orthopedic Urgent Care Centers in Wake County
We are proud to provide comprehensive orthopedic urgent care services at four of our Raleigh Orthopaedic locations – Raleigh, Garner, Holly Springs, and Wakefield. We work with patients to diagnose and treat a wide range of orthopedic injuries without the need for an appointment. Next time you’re caught off guard by an orthopedic injury, come see us at Raleigh Orthopaedic.
