Emergency and Urgent Care

A medical or mental health emergency is a condition with severe symptoms that may happen suddenly that is so dangerous that the following could happen if care is not received right away:

• serious danger to a person’s health (or, with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child)
• serious impairment in bodily functions
• serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part

A mental health emergency could be similar to a medical emergency as described above. Sometimes mental health emergencies involve a situation where:

• A person is an immediate danger to himself or herself or to others
• A person is unable to provide for or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder

If you think you or your family member has a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. Do not attempt to access emergency care through this website.

Examples of symptoms that may be an emergency medical condition include the following:

• chest pain or pressure which may radiate to the arms, neck, back, shoulder, jaw, arm, or wrist
• sudden onset of severe abdominal pain
• severe shortness of breath
• sudden decrease in or loss of consciousness
• sudden inability to talk or to move one side of the body, or sudden slurred speech
• severe, persistent bleeding that cannot be stopped
• major injuries such as gunshot or stab wounds or severe injuries from a vehicle accident
• for pregnant women: labor or other concerning symptom such as decreased fetal movement, bleeding, or unexpected pain.

If you think you or your family member has a medical emergency, call 911 immediately! Do not attempt to access emergency care through this website.

If you are not sure what type of care you need, please call your La Clinica clinic.

An urgent care need is one that requires prompt medical attention, usually within 24 to 48 hours, but is not an emergency medical condition.

Examples of urgent care situations include:

• minor injuries like a scrape.
• sore throats and upper respiratory symptoms
• earaches
• coughs
• backaches
• frequent urination or burning sensation when urinating

If you think you or your family member has an urgent symptom, please do not send a message through this website. If you are not sure what type of care is needed, please call your clinic.

Urgent questions are for situations where you or your family member cannot wait for a response. These may include situations where there are new or worsening symptoms, allergic reactions, and concerns that cause you or your family member to stop taking medication or to delay starting a new medication.

The doctor’s office is unable to provide medical advice or help with urgent situations through this website. If you or your family member need medical advice or are unsure whether the symptoms are urgent, please call your La Clinica clinic.