Emergency room or urgent care in Key West?
The right answer depends on your symptoms. Use this guide to decide before you go.
Key West has walk-in urgent care clinics, a same-day orthopedic clinic, and a hospital emergency department. Each handles a different type of problem. Sending a minor illness to the ER wastes time and money. Sending a possible emergency to urgent care can be dangerous.
When in doubt about severity, go to the emergency room or call 911. Do not wait.
Emergency room
Severe · 24h · Call 911For symptoms that could threaten life, limb, or eyesight.
Go to the ER for
- Chest pain or pressure
- Stroke signs: face droop, arm weakness, slurred speech
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Major trauma, head injury, deep wounds
- Uncontrolled or heavy bleeding
- Open fracture (bone visible through skin)
- Limb that is pale, cold, or pulseless below injury
- Loss of consciousness or sudden confusion
- Severe abdominal pain
- Sudden severe headache unlike any before
Urgent care
Non-emergency · Walk-inFor non-emergency illness or minor injury you cannot manage at home.
Try urgent care for
- Cold, flu, fever, sore throat
- Ear pain or ear infection
- Mild stomach upset, nausea
- Rash, skin infection, minor allergic reaction
- Sunburn, dehydration, heat illness
- Marine stings (jellyfish, sea urchin spines)
- Simple cuts that may need closure
- Urinary tract symptoms
- Pink eye or mild eye irritation
A third option: orthopedic care.
Sprains, suspected fractures, joint pain, back pain, and sports injuries do not always belong at urgent care or the ER. For non-emergency musculoskeletal concerns, a fellowship-trained musculoskeletal specialist offers more focused evaluation, on-site digital X-ray, and expertise in bone, joint, and soft tissue injury.
Key West Healthcare recommends
Key West Concierge Orthopedics
For sprains, falls, sports injuries, and suspected fractures that are not emergencies, Key West Healthcare recommends Key West Concierge Orthopedics. Same-day or next-day evaluation may be available.
- Fracture and sprain evaluation
- On-site digital X-ray for acute injury assessment
- Sports injury evaluation and care
- Nonsurgical orthopedic management and injections
- Customized return-to-activity planning
Same-day or walk-in appointments may be available for acute injury evaluation. Availability changes, please call ahead.
For suspected open fracture (bone visible through skin), limb that is pale, cold, or pulseless, significant numbness or weakness below the injury, major trauma, or uncontrolled bleeding, call 911 or go to the emergency room first.
Visit Key West Concierge OrthopedicsAll care options in Key West.
Frequently asked questions.
How do I know if I need the emergency room or urgent care?
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for chest pain, stroke signs, severe difficulty breathing, major trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, open fracture, loss of consciousness, or any symptom that could be life-threatening. Urgent care handles non-emergency illness and injury: cold, flu, fever, ear pain, rash, minor cuts, sunburn, and similar concerns.
Is urgent care cheaper than the emergency room?
Urgent care visits typically cost less than emergency room visits. However, Key West Healthcare does not have confirmed billing information for any facility. Contact the clinic directly for cost and insurance questions.
What about a sprain or suspected fracture: ER or urgent care?
For non-emergency sprains, suspected fractures, joint pain, and sports injuries, orthopedic evaluation at Key West Concierge Orthopedics may be more appropriate than urgent care or the ER. Key West Concierge Orthopedics has on-site X-ray. For open fractures, limb pallor, or signs of vascular compromise, go to the emergency room or call 911.