What's the difference between an Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) and an Emergency Room (ER)?

Where and when should Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) beneficiaries go for care?

NHB providers and support staff understand determining where to seek immediate care can be confusing.

The Nurse Advice Line is an exceptional resource available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The nurse will discuss the patient's concerns and provide recommendations for home treatment and care if applicable, and whether the issue should be addressed via an ER or UCC.

The Nurse Advice Line's toll free number is 1-800-874-2273, and then select option one.

According to Cmdr. James Morris, NHB UCC department head, it is imperative anyone with a potential threat to loss of life, limb, or eyesight go immediately to the nearest ER -- or call 911 -- instead of traveling to NHB's UCC.

"The right care in an expedient manner for an emergency condition requires patients to determine what the severity of their situation may be," said Morris. "There are some general guidelines to follow concerning this process. Trauma sustained from falls greater than five feet, an auto accident, accidental discharge of a weapon, arterial bleeding, or bleeding that is not controlled after applying pressure for 30 minutes should be seen in an Emergency Room. Other emergency conditions include chest pain, passing out, stroke symptoms, maternity complications, or psychiatric issues such as attempted suicide and suicidal ideation."

Morris stressed patients will never be turned away from the UCC.

"However, definitive treatment may be delayed if the condition is beyond our facility's capability to care for it," Morris said. "Transport to a higher-level care facility would then be arranged, which presents a potentially significant delay to the patient. This also affects patients who are appropriate for the UCC. Delays in treatment will ultimately follow because the provider will be tied up managing the more severe patients."

When someone needs an ER service which can't be provided on site, the NHB UCC team rallies to stabilize and transport the patient to a higher level of care. An ambulance -- air or ground -- is contacted to transport the patient from NHB to Madigan Army Medical Center, or another medical facility depending on the specific needs of the patient. The time to transfer can be adversely impacted by other medical events on the Kitsap Peninsula which affect the availability of Emergency Medical Services transport and hospital beds.

"The UCC does not replace the primary care provider," stated Morris. "It is a convenient option for beneficiaries with an urgent illness or injury after regular clinic hours, or when their regular provider or primary care team is unable to offer a timely appointment. NHB's UCC will be there for you and your family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

The bottom line is NHB encourages beneficiaries to immediately head to the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911 if they have a life-threatening or serious health problem.

Conditions which require emergency medical care include:

Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing
Compound fracture (bone protrudes through skin)
Convulsions, seizures, or loss of consciousness
Fever in newborn (less than three months old)
Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding
Deep knife wounds or gunshot wounds
Moderate to severe burns
Poisoning
Eye injuries or loss of vision
Anaphylaxis (allergic reactions)
Serious head, neck, or back injury
Severe abdominal pain
(Signs of) Heart attack (i.e. chest pain lasting longer than two minutes)
(Signs of) Stroke (e.g. loss of vision, sudden numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or confusion)
Suicidal or homicidal feelings

Urgent medical conditions are ones which are not considered emergencies, but still require care within 24 hours. Below are some examples of such conditions:

Accidents and falls (less than five feet)
Sprains and strains
Moderate back problems
Breathing difficulties (i.e. mild to moderate asthma)
Bleeding/cuts -- not bleeding excessively, but requiring stitches
Diagnostic services, including X-rays and laboratory tests
Eye irritation and redness
Fever or flu
Vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration
Severe sore throat or cough
Minor broken bones and fractures (i.e. fingers, toes)
Skin rashes and infections
Urinary tract infections

Beneficiaries should try to make an appointment with their primary care provider or Medical Home Port team.

NHB's Medical Home Port teams deliver basic care for common ailments and illnesses, minor injuries, and routine health exams, as well as assisting every patient with optimizing their health care.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Hospital Bremerton, visit http://www.navy.mil/.