Choosing Your level of Care:

primary Care, Urgent Care or Emergency Room?

When it comes to your health, there are a number of options from which to choose. In order to determine the right level of care for your specific needs, it is important to consider how quickly your condition should be evaluated/treated. 

Primary Care: $

As the name suggests, primary care providers should be your primary health care resource. They are familiar with you and your medical history — supplemented by a record of any medications or chronic conditions you may have, as well as any prior or pending treatment plans. Primary care is the most cost effective level of care. Those with insurance typically have a nominal co-pay for this type visit. Annual wellness exams may be covered by insurance.

Your primary care provider is responsible for treating most of your health care needs, including but not limited to:

Looking for a doctor? Find a physician on the medical staff at one of our hospitals by using our Find A Doctor tool. To find a Maury Regional Medical Group provider, visit MauryRegional.com/Find-a-Doctor or MauryRegionalMedicalGroup.com.  

Urgent Care: $$

When your primary care provider is not available, urgent care centers provide treatment without delay — no appointment required. For conditions that do not require emergency treatment, a visit to an urgent care center is typically more cost effective than seeking treatment in an emergency department.

Urgent care professionals treat a variety of conditions, including:

  • Cold, flu, strep and other illnesses
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Migraine
  • Ear ache
  • Broken bones
  • Cuts that need stitches
  • Rashes, poison ivy and other skin conditions
  • Muscle injuries, sprains and strains
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Urinary tract infections

Maury Regional Urgent Care offers multiple locations that serve the Columbia and Spring Hill areas. Learn more about our services, locations and hours here.

Emergency Room: $$$

Serious, life-threatening conditions should be treated in an emergency room. These conditions or symptoms can include but are not limited to:

  • Chest pain
  • Sudden difficulty breathing
  • Sudden confusion or trouble speaking, walking or maintaining balance
  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
  • Broken bones
  • Deep cuts or lacerations
  • Severe pain
  • Overdose
  • Poisoning
  • Head injury
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Unresponsiveness
  • Trauma

The emergency rooms at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Marshall Medical Center in Lewisburg and Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro are open 24 hours, 7 days per week.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911.