Seasonal self-pay special: urgent care visits $149, regularly $210. Through November 30. See what’s included
Labs & Testing
Lab Testing
COVID-19 Testing
Flu Testing
STD Testing
HIV Testing
TB Testing
View Labs & Testing
Treatments & Infusions
IV Therapy
GLP-1 Weight Loss
Bronchitis
Strep Throat
Sinus Infection
Norovirus
Seasonal self-pay special:
urgent care visits $149, regularly $210. Through November 30.
See what’s included
Services
View all →
Imaging & Diagnostics
Labs & Testing
Treatments & Infusions
Physicals & Specialty Care
Conditions
View all →
Illnesses & Infections
Stomach & Digestive
Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: When to Go
Urgent care is for illnesses and injuries that need care today but aren’t life-threatening. The emergency room is for serious symptoms and injuries that may need immediate hospital care.
Use this guide to compare symptoms, services, imaging, and costs—and understand when to visit ContinuEM in Lakewood or seek emergency help.
If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911. Do not wait for an urgent care appointment.
For non-emergency care:
Should I Go to Urgent Care or the ER?
The right setting depends on your symptoms, how severe they are, your age, and your medical history. These examples can help you choose where to seek care; they are not a diagnosis or a complete list of emergencies.
When to Call 911 or Go to the ER
Call 911 for chest pain or pressure that could signal a heart attack, severe trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, loss of consciousness, or another possible life-threatening emergency. A major injury, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a sudden severe headache also needs emergency care.
Stroke signs can include a drooping face, sudden weakness on one side, or trouble speaking. Do not wait for symptoms to improve or for urgent care to open.
When Urgent Care May Be Appropriate
Urgent care can evaluate non-emergency problems that need attention before your regular doctor can see you, including:
- Fever or a bad cough without emergency warning signs.
- A sprain or a possible minor fracture.
- A cut that may need stitches, when bleeding is controlled.
- Vomiting or diarrhea without severe dehydration or other emergency symptoms.
- Symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
If you are unsure where to go and have no emergency warning signs, contact a healthcare professional or your insurer’s nurse advice line. Age, pregnancy, and existing health conditions can change which setting is appropriate.
| Symptom or situation | Care considerations | Emergency warning signs |
|---|---|---|
| Chest pain | New or unexplained chest pain needs prompt medical assessment. Do not assume it is a pulled muscle. | Chest pressure or pain with trouble breathing, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. |
| Abdominal pain | Persistent or worsening pain needs assessment; the appropriate setting depends on severity and other symptoms. | Sudden severe pain, a rigid abdomen, fainting, or vomiting blood. |
| Fever | Age, other symptoms, and medical history matter. A fever in a young infant needs prompt medical advice. | Fever with confusion, a stiff neck, trouble breathing, or difficulty waking. |
| Breathing trouble | New or worsening breathing difficulty needs medical assessment. | Severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, or inability to speak normally because of breathlessness. |
| Vomiting or diarrhea | Ongoing symptoms or difficulty keeping fluids down need medical advice. | Blood, confusion, fainting, or signs of severe dehydration. |
| Cuts or wounds | Urgent care may evaluate minor wounds, including some that need stitches. | Bleeding that does not stop with pressure, major injury, or a deep wound with significant tissue damage. |
What Is the Difference Between Urgent Care and the Emergency Room?
Urgent care and emergency rooms serve different needs. The equipment, staffing, and services available at a particular clinic also matter when deciding where to seek care.
| What to compare | Urgent care | Emergency room |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Prompt evaluation of non-emergency illnesses and minor injuries. | Evaluation and treatment of serious or potentially life-threatening conditions. |
| Resources | Exams, treatments, and selected tests; capabilities vary by clinic. | Emergency treatment and access to hospital-level resources when needed. |
| Availability | Set clinic hours; some services may have different availability. | Emergency departments operate around the clock. |
| Testing and imaging | Available tests vary and depend on clinical evaluation. | Testing is selected according to the emergency evaluation; a particular scan is not automatic. |
| Patient priority | Timing depends on clinical needs, staffing, and demand. | The most urgent conditions are prioritized, rather than arrival order alone. |
| Costs | Often lower for appropriate non-emergency care; actual charges and coverage vary. | Costs depend on the evaluation, treatment, facility, and insurance coverage. |
MRI and CT Scans: Urgent Care or the ER?
The right scan depends on the medical problem and how urgently it needs treatment. Having access to imaging does not make an urgent care clinic a replacement for an emergency department.
Can You Get an MRI in the Emergency Room?
An ER doctor can order an MRI when it is needed for emergency evaluation. MRI may help assess certain brain, spinal cord, or nerve problems, but it is not always the first or best test. For example, suspected stroke may be evaluated with CT or MRI, depending on the situation.
If an MRI is not needed for the emergency evaluation, the ER may treat the immediate problem and recommend an outpatient MRI afterward. Scheduling and any required insurance authorization can affect when that scan takes place.
You can ask the ER doctor whether an MRI would help. The doctor decides whether it is appropriate and how urgently you need it; asking for one does not guarantee that it will be performed during the visit.
What Counts as an Emergency MRI?
An MRI may be needed on an emergency basis when delaying diagnosis or treatment could cause lasting harm. The emergency team determines which test is appropriate.
Back pain with new leg weakness, numbness around the groin, difficulty urinating, or loss of bladder or bowel control needs immediate emergency evaluation. These can be signs of pressure on the spinal nerves. Signs of a stroke also need 911 right away. Do not wait to schedule an MRI at urgent care.
A knee or shoulder injury, ongoing back pain, or a possible tendon tear may need an MRI without being an emergency. A clinician should assess the symptoms and decide whether a scan is needed and how soon.
Does Urgent Care Do MRIs and CT Scans?
Imaging availability varies by clinic. ContinuEM has X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound on site, plus a lab, so an exam and medically appropriate testing can take place in one location.
MRI is in the building. If our doctor recommends it for a non-emergency concern, our team can schedule the scan for the same day when available or the next available appointment. Timing depends on clinical needs, scheduling, and any required insurance authorization. Call to check availability.
Can Urgent Care Do a CT Scan?
Yes—ContinuEM offers on-site CT scans when our doctor determines that CT is appropriate. CT may help evaluate selected cases of abdominal pain, suspected kidney stones, or injuries that need more detail than an X-ray provides.
Some head injuries and fractures require hospital care. Our doctor assesses the injury and decides whether it can be evaluated here or needs the ER. Severe head trauma, loss of consciousness, new weakness, or a major injury needs emergency care.
An ER doctor can also order a CT scan when needed for emergency evaluation. Choose the care setting based on symptoms and severity, rather than the scan you think you need. Learn more about CT scans at ContinuEM.
What Symptoms Can Urgent Care Evaluate?
For non-emergency concerns, a medical evaluation can help identify the cause and next steps. Explore the symptom guides below. Emergency warning signs take priority over the list of symptoms a clinic evaluates.
- Abdominal pain: Learn about evaluation and warning signs that need emergency care.
- Chest pain: Review why chest discomfort needs careful assessment and when to seek emergency help.
- Dehydration: Understand signs of fluid loss and when to get help.
- Diarrhea: Find guidance on persistent symptoms and warning signs.
- Sore throat: Learn about assessment and testing when appropriate.
- Fever: Consider age and accompanying symptoms, not temperature alone.
- Persistent cough: Ask about a cough that is lingering or getting worse.
- Back pain: Get an assessment of pain and any related symptoms.
- Migraine or headache: A sudden severe headache needs emergency care.
Already know the diagnosis? Browse conditions we treat.
Is Urgent Care Cheaper Than the ER?
Urgent care often costs less for an appropriate non-emergency visit, but your bill depends on the evaluation, treatment, tests, and insurance benefits involved. A copay or upfront payment may not represent the full cost of care.
Urgent care may also involve a shorter wait for non-emergency concerns, but wait times vary. Emergency rooms prioritize the most seriously ill or injured patients.
Review Insurance & Pricing or Self-Pay options, and ask our team about expected charges. For a possible emergency, getting the right medical care comes first.
What to Expect at ContinuEM Urgent Care
An Evaluation by an ER-Trained Doctor
Every doctor at ContinuEM has emergency room training. We examine you, assess your symptoms, and decide whether urgent care is the right setting. When appropriate, the next steps may include treatment, lab work, or imaging.
Our team will explain the recommended tests and follow-up care. Imaging availability can differ from clinic hours, so call ahead if you need a specific service.
If You Need Hospital Care
If we find that you need hospital care, we explain why, begin appropriate stabilizing care within our clinic’s capabilities, and help arrange transfer to the appropriate emergency department.
If you already have emergency warning signs, call 911 rather than stopping at urgent care first.
FAQ
Urgent Care Visit FAQs
Your regular doctor is usually the right place for routine visits and ongoing care. If a new symptom needs attention sooner, contact their office for advice or consider urgent care when there are no emergency warning signs. Do not wait for an appointment if you may be having an emergency.
Our pediatric services evaluate non-emergency illnesses and injuries in children. Call to confirm that the clinic can meet your child’s needs. Young infants and children with emergency warning signs need prompt medical guidance or emergency care rather than a routine walk-in visit.
Walk-ins are welcome during clinic hours. You can also book a visit. Call ahead to check availability if you need a particular test or imaging service.
FIND US
Visit ContinuEM in Lakewood
Lakewood is home. We’re on South Street, minutes from Long Beach, Cerritos, Bellflower, and the surrounding communities, with easy parking and walk-in care during clinic hours.
ContinuEM is an urgent care clinic, not a 24-hour emergency room. If you need a 24-hour ER in Lakewood, seek a hospital emergency department. For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 at any hour.
PHONE
FAX
(562) 461-0082
HOURS & APPOINTMENTS
Monday – Friday
8 AM – 11 PM (last check-in at 10:30 PM)
Saturday & Sunday
10 AM – 6 PM (last check-in at 5:30 PM)
Times may vary. See Holiday Hours.
Medically reviewed by
Written by
ContinuEM Editorial Team
Last updated
October 30, 2026
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding a medical condition. If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
