What is the primary consideration when choosing between the emergency room and urgent care?

The main consideration is how serious the condition is. A life-threatening emergency—such as severe trouble breathing, major bleeding, or signs of a stroke—needs emergency-room care. Urgent care is generally for non-life-threatening problems, so convenience, wait time, or business hours should not outweigh the danger of the condition. The correct choice is whether the condition is life-threatening.

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