Where to Go for Immediate Care: A Quick Guide

Helping you find the right care at the right time

Sometimes, life throws a curveball. You go for a hike and twist your ankle, or your little one gets a fever. You need medical help, so you grab your phone and search for nearby healthcare options.

But as you type, uncertainty creeps in. Is this a case for urgent care, or is it more fitting for your primary care provider? Could this be handled with eCare? Could this even be an emergency room situation?

Navigating through these questions can be overwhelming. As an urgent care provider, I'm here to tell you – I totally get it. These questions are common, and they deserve clear answers. In this guide to all your options at St. Luke's, we've not only provided information on each service but also incorporated considerations for urgency. So, whether you need assistance in a few days, within 24 hours, or immediately, we've got you covered, helping you know where to turn in every situation.

Primary Care: Your First Line of Defense

Open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm

Whenever possible, seeing your primary care provider should be your first step for common, non-life-threatening conditions. Your primary care provider knows you best. Many times, they will be able to get you in for a same-day appointment.

Your primary care provider is well-equipped to:

• Treat common conditions, like cold and flu symptoms, earaches, eye infections, skin conditions, urinary tract infections (UTI) symptoms, female genital complaints and sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Address general health concerns
• Offer preventive care
• Administer screenings and vaccines
• Provide referrals to specialists
• Perform X-rays and electrocardiograms (EKG)

This service is available at these locations. Don’t have a primary care provider? To establish care at St. Luke’s, visit slhduluth.com/schedule or call 218.249.4000.

Primary Care Plus: Same-day Appointments and Walk-In Care

Open Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm

With Primary Care Plus, you can get all the benefits of a primary care provider combined with the convenience of an urgent care provider. You do not need to be a St. Luke’s patient to use this service for minor health concerns and quick preventive care, such as:

• Blood pressure checks
• Minor burns and cuts
• Diabetic or medication checks
• Pink eye
• Rashes and shingles
• Sports physicals
• Sprains and strains
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• Upper respiratory infections
• UTI symptoms and female genital complaints

This service is available at these locations. If you need a same-day appointment, calling to schedule is recommended. However, walk-ins are also welcome. There are minimal wait times if you schedule a same-day appointment. For walk-in care, wait times vary depending on the number of patients ahead of you.

eCare Online Clinic: Receive Care at Home

Open 7 days a week, 8 am – 6 pm

Picture this: You’re at home and your throat feels like sandpaper. Or maybe a strange rash is paying you a visit. St. Luke’s eCare can help, offering medical attention without the need to go anywhere. Just a few clicks away, eCare is perfect for minor discomforts like:

• Colds
• Coughs
• Eye infections
• UTI symptoms and female genital complaints

With minimal wait times, a healthcare professional will review your symptoms and, when appropriate, prescribe medications, all while you stay wrapped up in your favorite blanket. Plus, it only costs $31. Get virtual care now.

QCare: Your Express Health Stop

Open Thursday – Monday, 9 am – 7 pm

Life’s pace can be relentless, and that's where St. Luke’s QCare comes in – your express health stop for those days when you need walk-in convenience. With a warm welcome, minimal wait times and evening hours, QCare providers treat common concerns like:

• Colds
• Coughs
• Flu symptoms
• Eye infections
• Sore throats
• Sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• UTI symptoms and female genital complaints

Conveniently located inside Cub Foods in Duluth, QCare is a great way to have your medical needs met compassionately and quickly.

Urgent Care: For Significant, but Not Life-Threatening, Issues

Hours vary by location

When your situation requires immediate. more-advanced attention, St. Luke’s Urgent Care is your go-to option. It can be considered as a step before heading to an emergency department. However, it's important to note that urgent care facilities, while valuable, have limitations in terms of on-site resources, such as X-ray capabilities and a limited set of lab tests. Wait times vary but are typically longer than an office visit. This option is good for:

• Minor cuts and wounds that require stiches
• Broken bones and sprains
• Burns
• Fevers, cough and cold symptoms
• Skin infection and abscesses
• UTI symptoms and female genital complaints

Urgent care is available at these locations. While Urgent Care can also treat colds, coughs, eye infections and rashes, it’s generally faster to receive care for these symptoms in QCare or eCare. Issues that have been present for weeks, months or years are best addressed by your primary care provider, as they will likely require follow-up care. If you are very sick especially with increasing abdominal pain, headache, chest pain or pressure – these are problems which need to be addressed in an emergency department. 

Emergency Care: Swift Response for Critical Situations

Open 24/7

St. Luke’s Emergency Department is always open and prepared to provide urgent medical attention for concerns such as:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Poisoning
• Head trauma
• Moderate/severe abdominal pain

If you have any of the above symptoms or feel severely ill, do not go to urgent care, QCare or eCare. Providers at these locations will likely need to send you to the Emergency Department, where we have advanced equipment to diagnose and treat you.
 

Immediate care at St. Luke’s

Knowing your immediate care options empowers you to make informed decisions about your health and get the care you and your loved ones need. At St. Luke’s, your health and well-being are our priority, and we're here to serve you whenever you need us. If you are still uncertain of where to go, view our immediate care options or call 218.249.4000, Monday - Friday, 7 am - 5:30 pm.