Help with Understanding Emergency and Urgent Care

What is a medical or psychiatric emergency?

An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following:

• serious jeopardy to your health
• serious impairment in your bodily functions
• serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part

Examples of symptoms that may be an emergency medical condition include the following:

• chest pain or pressure which may radiate to the arms, neck, back, shoulder, jaw, arm, or wrist
• sudden onset of severe abdominal pain
• severe shortness of breath
• sudden decrease in or loss of consciousness
• sudden inability to talk or to move one side of the body, or sudden slurred speech
• severe, persistent bleeding that cannot be stopped
• major injuries such as gunshot or stab wounds or severe injuries from a vehicle accident

If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately! Do not attempt to access emergency care through this Web site.

If you are not sure what type of care you need, please call Student Health & Counseling Services at (916) 278-6461.

What is an urgent symptom?

An urgent care need is one that requires prompt medical attention, usually within 24 to 48 hours, but is not an emergency medical condition. Examples of urgent care situations include:

• minor injuries
• sore throats and upper respiratory symptoms
• earaches
• coughs
• backaches
• frequent urination or burning sensation when urinating

If you are not sure what type of care you need, please call Student Health Services at (916) 278-6461.