Understanding the Difference Between Urgent Care and the Emergency Room
When an illness or injury occurs unexpectedly, deciding where to seek treatment can be confusing. Should you call your primary care provider, visit an urgent care center or head directly to the emergency room? Understanding the differences between these care settings can help you receive the right treatment at the right time.
At Baptist Health Care, we are committed to helping patients navigate their health care options with confidence. Choosing the appropriate level of care not only helps patients receive timely treatment but also ensures emergency resources remain available for those facing life-threatening conditions.


Start With Your Primary Care Provider
For most non-emergency health concerns, a primary care provider (PCP) should be your first point of contact.
A PCP serves as a trusted partner in your long-term health journey, providing preventive care, wellness screenings, routine checkups and management of chronic conditions. Having an established relationship with a primary care provider allows your medical history, medications and health goals to be monitored over time.
Baptist Health Care makes it easy to connect with a provider through easyschedule.com, which offers access to more than 200 physicians and advanced practice providers throughout Northwest Florida. This includes five locations across Navarre and Gulf Breeze.
When to Choose Urgent Care
Urgent care centers are designed to treat illnesses and injuries that require prompt medical attention but are not life-threatening.
Conditions commonly treated at urgent care include cuts, minor burns, sprains, minor fractures, flu symptoms, ear infections, allergic reactions, animal bites and minor respiratory illnesses.
A Unique Approach to Care
Baptist Health Care offers an innovative model through its Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care locations in Navarre and Pensacola, providing emergency and urgent care services under one roof.
The facilities are staffed by emergency medicine-trained providers and offer advanced diagnostic capabilities, including laboratory testing, X-ray, CT and ultrasound services. This dual-care model gives patients added peace of mind. Whether someone arrives with flu symptoms, a minor fracture, an allergic reaction or a more serious medical condition, Baptist providers can evaluate the situation and deliver the appropriate level of care.
When the Emergency Room Is the Right Choice
Emergency rooms are designed to treat serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Patients should seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, stroke symptoms, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, major trauma, loss of consciousness, seizures and other potentially life-threatening conditions.
Helping Patients Make Confident Decisions
Baptist Health Care is committed to providing convenient access to care across Northwest Florida through primary care practices, urgent care services and emergency rooms. Facilities such as Baptist Urgent Care – Airport and Baptist Emergency Room & Urgent Care in Navarre and Nine Mile help ensure patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time.
Urgent Care
Baptist Urgent Care – Airport
5100 North 12th Ave., Suite 101, Pensacola
850.208.6130
Emergency Room & Urgent Care
Baptist Medical Park – Navarre
8888 Navarre Parkway, Navarre
850.908.8888 • Open 24 hours
Baptist Medical Park – Nine Mile
9400 University Parkway, Pensacola
448.227.4500 • Open 24 hours
Emergency Departments
Baptist Hospital
123 Baptist Way, Pensacola
448.227.8478
Gulf Breeze Hospital
1110 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze
448.227.8100
Jay Hospital
14114 Alabama St., Jay
448.227.5800

