Which option is right for me?

Making the right decision about your health can be tricky, especially when you aren't feeling well. Penn State Health has many levels of care to meet your needs.

Emergency Care

You should call 911 or come right to the emergency room if you are systemically sick. That's when an illness affects your entire body, and you have severe pain or sudden onset of severe symptoms, a fever that won't break, or "something doesn't work", like you're unable to move an arm or leg or breathe normally

Typical conditions treated:

  • Head injuries
  • Seizures
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Compound fracture
  • Shortness of breath
  • Uncontrolled bleeding

Urgent Care

Unless a condition is life-threatening, a trip to an urgent care is a better use of a patient's time and resources to treat injuries, fevers, infections and other ailments. Urgent care clinics have far shorter wait times than the ER and cost less than a traditional hospital emergency room visit.

Our clinics are staffed by experienced physicians who treat both adult and pediatric patients and are available 7 days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. If necessary, urgent care providers can also connect you with a higher level of care.

Typical conditions treated:

  • Cuts or minor burns
  • Sprains or joint pain
  • Back or muscle pain
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Bronchitis

Walk-in Care

Similar to an urgent care clinic, walk-in clinics are a better use of a patient's time and resources for minor injuries and ailments.

Our walk-in clinics do not require an appointment.

Typical conditions treated:

  • Cuts or minor burns
  • Sprains or joint pain
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Bronchitis

Virtual Health Care

In addition to providing urgent care options from anywhere, anytime, Penn State Health now offers scheduled virtual visits with your own provider for your health care needs.

Please call your Penn State Health Medical Group directly to schedule a visit with your own Penn State Health provider “virtually” from the safety and convenience of your own home.