Choosing the Right Level of Care | VMFH
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:25
Choosing the Right Level of Care | VMFH
Experiencing higher call volume/longer wait time. We’re sorry for delays & appreciate your patience |
Privacy Incidents-NorthGauge/Pinnacle & Access Information
Urgent Care or Emergency Department?
Urgent care or emergency department? Choosing the right level of care.
Choosing the right level of care isn’t always simple. Below we provide a quick summary of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s primary care, urgent care, and emergency services, so knowing where to go is one less thing you’ll have to worry about.
If the situation doesn’t require immediate care, turn to your primary care provider. They can provide routine health exams; regular screenings; vaccinations; prescription refills; and treat illnesses like the flu and ear infections, and minor injuries, partnering with you to follow your overall health.
Primary care needs differ for each individual and change depending on your stage of life. That’s why we have health care experts in a variety of fields providing care and expertise for your entire family, including:
Family medicine
offers preventive and ongoing health care for all ages, including pediatric services, obstetrics, and routine gynecologic care.
Internal medicine
focuses on adult care. Internal medicine doctors called internists specialize in managing complex illnesses and chronic conditions.
Pediatric care
includes health and wellness services for children from infancy through adolescence.
Sports medicine
provides injury prevention and nonsurgical musculoskeletal care for sports-related injuries for both athletes and those who wish to become more active. Some primary care sports medicine physicians also provide sports concussion management.
Online scheduling
You can schedule appointments online, at your convenience—whether you are a new or returning patient.
Schedule now
For those times when you need care the same day, but your provider isn’t available—such as evenings and weekends—
urgent care
offers walk-in appointments and extended hours. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinics provide digital X-ray, stitches and care for minor injuries and illnesses, like cuts, lacerations, minor burns, sprains and infections.
Visit urgent/walk-in care for:
Allergic reaction
Bladder infection
Cold and flu symptoms
Cuts, scrapes, bites, burns or rashes
Earaches or headaches
Low-grade fevers
Pink eye
Simple fractures (bones not broken through skin)
Sinus infections
Sprains or strains
Vomiting or diarrhea
Find a clinic
Virtual urgent care
is a supplement for in-person care and provides an appointment via video chat from 6 a.m. to midnight with board-certified providers. Virginia Mason Francsican Health virtual urgent care provides consultation, diagnosis and treatment, including prescriptions, as appropriate, all from the comfort of home - or on the go. In many cases, virtual urgent care can be there when the flu strikes late, a nasty cough develops during an important meeting, or a camping trip is interrupted by a spider bite.
Make an virtual urgent care appointment for:
Acne
Allergies
Asthma
Athlete's foot
Back pain
Burns
Colds
Congestion
Constipation
Cut
Cough
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Ear pain
Eye Issues
Fever
Flu
Headache
Hives
Insect bites
Nausea
Pink eye
Rash
Scrapes and bruises
Shingles
Sinus symptoms
Sore throat
Sprains
Stomach flu
Urinary tract infection in adult women
Vomiting
Yeast infection
Learn more
Life-threatening emergencies and trauma require emergency treatment. If you or a loved one has serious symptoms, go to the
nearest hospital Emergency Services department
or call 911 immediately. Our Emergency Services departments are open 24 hours a day. Symptoms that require emergency care include:
Chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack
Coughing or vomiting blood
Deep cuts or bleeding that won’t stop
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Numbness in the face, arm or leg
Seizures
Severe abdominal pain
Severe burns
Sudden blurred vision
Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination or balance
Sudden, severe headache
Any other condition you believe is life-threatening
Find emergency care
Higher than normal patient volumes and longer wait times
Emergency Departments (EDs) and urgent care clinics are recording record volumes. We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes. We are doing our best to work closely with our hospitals and clinics to support patients during this time of increased demand.
Experiencing higher call volume/longer wait time. We’re sorry for delays & appreciate your patience |
Privacy Incidents-NorthGauge/Pinnacle & Access Information
Urgent Care or Emergency Department?
Urgent care or emergency department? Choosing the right level of care.
Choosing the right level of care isn’t always simple. Below we provide a quick summary of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s primary care, urgent care, and emergency services, so knowing where to go is one less thing you’ll have to worry about.
If the situation doesn’t require immediate care, turn to your primary care provider. They can provide routine health exams; regular screenings; vaccinations; prescription refills; and treat illnesses like the flu and ear infections, and minor injuries, partnering with you to follow your overall health.
Primary care needs differ for each individual and change depending on your stage of life. That’s why we have health care experts in a variety of fields providing care and expertise for your entire family, including:
Family medicine
offers preventive and ongoing health care for all ages, including pediatric services, obstetrics, and routine gynecologic care.
Internal medicine
focuses on adult care. Internal medicine doctors called internists specialize in managing complex illnesses and chronic conditions.
Pediatric care
includes health and wellness services for children from infancy through adolescence.
Sports medicine
provides injury prevention and nonsurgical musculoskeletal care for sports-related injuries for both athletes and those who wish to become more active. Some primary care sports medicine physicians also provide sports concussion management.
Online scheduling
You can schedule appointments online, at your convenience—whether you are a new or returning patient.
Schedule now
For those times when you need care the same day, but your provider isn’t available—such as evenings and weekends—
urgent care
offers walk-in appointments and extended hours. Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinics provide digital X-ray, stitches and care for minor injuries and illnesses, like cuts, lacerations, minor burns, sprains and infections.
Visit urgent/walk-in care for:
Allergic reaction
Bladder infection
Cold and flu symptoms
Cuts, scrapes, bites, burns or rashes
Earaches or headaches
Low-grade fevers
Pink eye
Simple fractures (bones not broken through skin)
Sinus infections
Sprains or strains
Vomiting or diarrhea
Find a clinic
Virtual urgent care
is a supplement for in-person care and provides an appointment via video chat from 6 a.m. to midnight with board-certified providers. Virginia Mason Francsican Health virtual urgent care provides consultation, diagnosis and treatment, including prescriptions, as appropriate, all from the comfort of home - or on the go. In many cases, virtual urgent care can be there when the flu strikes late, a nasty cough develops during an important meeting, or a camping trip is interrupted by a spider bite.
Make an virtual urgent care appointment for:
Acne
Allergies
Asthma
Athlete's foot
Back pain
Burns
Colds
Congestion
Constipation
Cut
Cough
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Ear pain
Eye Issues
Fever
Flu
Headache
Hives
Insect bites
Nausea
Pink eye
Rash
Scrapes and bruises
Shingles
Sinus symptoms
Sore throat
Sprains
Stomach flu
Urinary tract infection in adult women
Vomiting
Yeast infection
Learn more
Life-threatening emergencies and trauma require emergency treatment. If you or a loved one has serious symptoms, go to the
nearest hospital Emergency Services department
or call 911 immediately. Our Emergency Services departments are open 24 hours a day. Symptoms that require emergency care include:
Chest pain or other symptoms of a heart attack
Coughing or vomiting blood
Deep cuts or bleeding that won’t stop
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Numbness in the face, arm or leg
Seizures
Severe abdominal pain
Severe burns
Sudden blurred vision
Sudden dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination or balance
Sudden, severe headache
Any other condition you believe is life-threatening
Find emergency care
Higher than normal patient volumes and longer wait times
Emergency Departments (EDs) and urgent care clinics are recording record volumes. We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes. We are doing our best to work closely with our hospitals and clinics to support patients during this time of increased demand.