Choosing where to seek medical attention, whether from an Urgent Care or a hospital Emergency Room depends on the type of injury you have and how severe it is. Urgent Care is a less expensive and more convenient option than an Emergency Room for receiving immediate care for your injury. Urgent Care does not require an appointment, they treat patients on a first-come first-served basis, without the long wait times that can be found in the ER. While Urgent Care is able to treat many different types of injury and illnesses, they are only equipped to handle cases that are not considered life-threatening. For life-threatening injuries or fractures where the bone has broken through the skin, you need to seek emergency treatment, therefore call 911, or get a friend or family member to take you to the nearest hospital. Many Urgent Care clinics have an x-ray lab on site, so they are able to properly diagnose the injury during the initial visit without having to send the patient elsewhere for additional testing. They are also able to brace and case minor fractures on site, without the patient having to sit in a long Emergency Room waiting room.