1. When should I go to an Urgent Care vs. an Emergency Room (ER)?

Urgent care
If you need care quickly and have a minor illness or injury an Urgent Care center might be a good choice. It is likely that you won’t wait as long as at the Emergency Room and your out-of-pocket expenses will also be considerably less. An Urgent Care center can help with:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Minor Broken Bones
• Mild Asthma Attacks
• Minor Infections
• Small Cuts
• Sore Throats
• Rashes
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Pelvic Infections
• Minor Burns

Emergency Room
These are appropriate when the situation is serious or life threatening. At the Emergency Room, true emergencies take priority. This may mean waiting a long while there before you are seen. Care at an ER will also be more expensive. If a situation is life threatening call 911. The following conditions are most appropriately treated in an Emergency Room:

• Heavy Bleeding
• Large Open Wounds
• Sudden Change in Vision
• Chest Pain
• Sudden Weakness
• Trouble Breathing
• Major Burns
• Spinal Injuries
• Severe Head Injury
• Loss of Consciousness

2. Do you take appointments?
No. Urgent Care visits patients are seen in order of severity. In other words, people who appear to be sicker are seen sooner. If there are many people who are equally ill, then they are seen in the order of arrival. Waiting time is typically less than 20 minutes.

3. What insurances do you take?
Laguna Dana Urgent Care takes most PPO’s, fee for service Medicare, and Workers Compensation. However the patient must pay their portion of responsibility at the time of service, including unmet deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance.

4. When should I visit my Primary Care Physician as opposed to an Urgent Care?
Urgent Care Centers can present a convenient option when your regular Doctor’s office is closed such as on Weekends or Holidays. We are also available when you need care quickly and cannot wait to see your family physician. We will work closely with your Physicians office to develop the proper plan of treatment.

5. How qualified are the physicians at Laguna Dana Urgent Care?
Dr. Robert C. Amster has over 30 years of experience as a residency trained and board certified Emergency Physician and board certified Occupational Medicine Physician. He has been the Director of Emergency Departments, Medical Director at several large California Health plans (e.g. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California), was a member of the Industrial Medical Council in California, and is a Workers Compensation MRO and QME. He is a lifetime Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

6. What are your hours of Operation?
Laguna Dana Urgent care is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Friday and from 9am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This holds true 362 days per year with the only exceptions being Thanksgiving Day, Christmas day, and New Years day when we are closed.

7. Should I call my family physician first?
Yes. Your primary care physician can direct you to either urgent care or the emergency room depending on your medical condition. In the event that you do not have a family physician, you are always welcome at Laguna-Dana Urgent Care. The physician on staff will take care of your immediate needs then refer you back to your primary care physician for follow-up care.

8. What information should I bring with me when I come to the Urgent care facility?
Always remember to bring your most up-to-date insurance card and your photo ID with you to your urgent care visit. Let us know about any allergies and your medical history and bring a list of current medications. If possible, ask a family member or friend to accompany you.

9. How do I choose the best Urgent Care/Walk in clinic for me?
Location, quality of care, recommendations from friends, reputation, accessibility/hours of operation and insurances accepted all come into play in choosing an Urgent Care facility. In your search results, click on the name of an urgent care walk in clinic to see more information such as photos, video tours, amenities, description of available services, insurance accepted, contact information, and much more.