Urgent medical issues don’t always require a trip to the emergency room! Urgent care, same-day appointments in your clinic, or your doctor’s after-hours on call service can help you choose the right kind of care setting for appropriate and timely treatment.
Urgent care is ideal for non-life-threatening conditions that require prompt attention but aren’t severe enough to warrant an emergency room visit. Urgent Care is ideal for cold or flu-like symptoms, sprains and strains, possible fractures, allergies, rashes or bites, and other minor illnesses or injuries.
Emergency room (ER) visits should be reserved for severe and potentially life-threatening issues like heart attack or stroke, major trauma or difficulty breathing. If you are experiencing any of these issues or another medical emergency, go to the emergency room or call 911.
Family Care Network offers three convenient in-person Urgent Care locations in Bellingham, Lynden and Mount Vernon, typically with on-site lab and x-ray. We also offer a convenient video visit option through On-Demand Telemedicine, which can be utilized from anywhere in Washington state.
If your clinic or urgent care is closed, after-hours on-call instructions for established FCN patients are included in your clinic’s after-hours voicemail or on our website: After-Hours Contact Information. The on-call provider can evaluate your concern and determine next steps, which may help you avoid a costly trip to the ER.