Episode 42: Stop Choosing Urgent Care Over the Emergency Department (ER) for Your Loved One

Are you putting your loved one at risk by choosing urgent care when they actually need the ER? When you’re in the middle of a stressful medical situation, every second counts—and so does the decision of where to go.

Many caregivers default to urgent care for speed and convenience, especially with long ER wait times. But what most people don’t realize is that choosing the wrong setting can delay critical treatment, limit access to life-saving resources, and impact long-term outcomes.

In this episode, you’ll discover: How to confidently choose between urgent care and the emergency room based on real symptoms—not guesswork The critical limitations of urgent care that most caregivers only discover when it’s too late How the care setting you choose can directly affect diagnosis speed, treatment quality, and recovery outcomes If you’ve ever hesitated in a medical emergency or worried about making the wrong call, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to act fast and protect the people who matter most. Listen now to make smarter, safer care decisions when every moment matters.

About Dr. Emily Gorman Emily Gorman, MD, is a board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician.

She has worked for over 10 years as a staff physician in the Emergency Department at South Shore Hospital, a busy Community Hospital. She is currently starting a Health Care Advocacy business as an additional way to help patients navigate the increasingly complex medical field.

She studied at Boston University for Medical School and at Boston Medical Center for her Residency. Prescription for Admission is a podcast for Gen X and Millennial family caregivers navigating the healthcare system and medical system for loved ones living with conditions like diabetes, dementia, cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline, helping them understand hospital care, navigate hospital stays, work effectively with doctors and specialists, organize medical records, connect with a case manager, seek a second opinion, become an effective medical advocate, and improve care coordination and discharge planning.

Visit my website: Follow me on socials: Instagram/@the_happiest_hospitalist Facebook/DrMoniqueNugent LinkedIn/DrMoniqueNugentMDMPH YouTube/@DrMoniqueNugent TikTok/@drmoniquenugent