Watch Now: Facts About the ER — A Short Check List (Infographic)

Every year, there are about 136 million visits to hospital emergency departments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Injuries account for about for 40.2 million of ER visits, and 12 percent of all ER patients are hospitalized, according to CDC data.

But what if you’re not sure if that belly pain is indigestion or a symptom of appendicitis?  You should never feel silly about going to a hospital emergency department or an urgent care center or calling your primary care physician with a question, says Joseph Scott, M.D. chair and medical director, Department of Emergency Medicine, West Kendall Baptist Hospital.  (To learn more, watch Dr. Scott in the video.)

And before you leave home, here’s a quick check list:

Tags: community health, emergency care