Whether an illness comes on gradually or you’re faced with a sudden medical emergency, knowing when and where to find the right level of care is the first step to support a positive outcome.
Kelli Koons, M.D, an internal medicine and pediatric specialist with SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital in Shawnee, says healthcare is best delivered when patients utilize the appropriate level of care for their specific needs. The most common healthcare options include emergency care, urgent care and primary care.
“Each setting – an emergency department (ED), urgent care clinic and primary care provider (PCP) – serves a distinct purpose in the healthcare system,” says Koons. “The emergency department is designed to manage life-threatening or severe medical emergencies. Patients experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke-like symptoms, neurological changes, open or displaced fractures, or suspected poisoning/overdose should seek immediate care at the nearest ED. Emergency departments are equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities to rapidly address complex and critical conditions.”
Urgent care clinics were introduced in the 1970s and have slowly expanded in presence and popularity. These clinics are known for treating immediate, non-emergent needs.
“Urgent care or express clinics are most appropriate for minor, acute illnesses or injuries that require prompt attention but are not emergencies,” says Koons. “These facilities are ideal when over-the-counter treatments have failed or when a rapid clinical evaluation is needed. Common conditions treated in urgent care include minor infections, mild asthma exacerbations, sprains and minor lacerations. It’s important to recognize that urgent care is not intended for chronic or complex medical issues, and patients with more severe symptoms may ultimately be referred to the ED or their primary care provider.”
When it comes to consistent, life-long health management, Koons emphasizes the role and benefits of having a primary care provider.
“Primary care serves as the foundation of long-term health management,” she says. “PCPs are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive care, as they are familiar with a patient’s medical history, medication regimen and prior interventions.”
Along with routine health maintenance such as annual physical exams, PCPs manage vaccinations, chronic diseases, medication adjustments and coordinated referrals to specialists when needed.
“Primary care providers also monitor trends in laboratory and diagnostic results, enabling early detection of disease and more effective intervention,” says Koons. “A significant advantage of primary care is its ability to deliver both preventive and acute care in the context of a patient’s overall health picture. In fact, most conditions seen in urgent care can also be effectively managed in a primary care setting, often with greater continuity and follow-up.”
She explains that while urgent care clinics offer convenience, relying on them exclusively for healthcare can result in fragmented and reactive care.
“Urgent care visits typically focus on a single concern and may lack the context of a patient’s broader medical history,” says Koons. “As a result, underlying or developing health issues may go undetected. In contrast, primary care is inherently proactive and relationship-based. PCPs provide continuity of care, monitor trends in health data and offer early interventions that can prevent disease progression.”
She believes forming a positive relationship and receiving consistent care from a PCP can be key to detecting subtle changes in a patient’s health, behavior or functional status.
Koons says, “Establishing care with a primary care provider fosters trust, improves communication and enhances the quality and efficiency of care across a patient’s lifespan.”
