Should I go to urgent care or the hospital?

The hospital emergency department (ED) is critical when you need immediate treatment for a life-threatening situation. But what about those other cases when your ailment or injury isn't dire, but still requires prompt attention? For example, do you have an ankle sprain or a suspicious rash? That's where urgent care comes in.

"Urgent care's scope of service is for minor, moderate illnesses and injuries that are not life-threatening," says Michael Kaplan, MD, a family doctor with GoHealth Urgent Care in Montgomery, Texas. "The value we bring to the healthcare industry is fast, efficient, professional clinical care."

Patients can go to one of nearly 11,000 urgent care facilities in the United States when they don't have access to their general practitioner, when they're visiting from out of town, or when it's simply more convenient. You don't usually need an appointment, and compared to an ED, urgent care can be significantly cheaper and much quicker. Facilities provide simple lab tests and can refer patients to emergency care or another provider if more extensive testing is necessary.

What types of issues are treated at urgent care? From burns to broken bones, here's what you should know.