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Urgent Care
When you or your family need to see a healthcare provider right away, but don’t require a trip to the emergency department, you can rely on The University of Kansas Health System's urgent care team. Our urgent care locations in the Kansas City area, as well as our urgent care virtual visits, allow you to see a provider without an appointment. Use urgent care for concerns like asthma, allergies, coughs, fevers, rashes, sore throats, headaches or vomiting.
We perform COVID-19 testing at drive-thru swab clinics by appointment. Learn more about swab testing.
Find urgent care now
We make urgent care quick and convenient. For in-person care, check our locations, hours and wait times. To request an urgent care video visit – a telehealth visit – you’ll need a computer, tablet or smartphone with audio and video capabilities. Visit MyChart: Go to Visits, and then choose Urgent Care Video Visit.
Need urgent care? Call 913-574-2273 (CARE). You can also request your urgent care visit using MyChart.
If you are setting up an urgent care video visit for a minor, you will need to create a MyChart account for them or request proxy access to their current account. Email the completed form to mychart@kumc.edu. This process typically takes 2-3 business days. Meanwhile, seek in-person urgent care or call 913-574-2273 (CARE) for assistance.
Urgent care video visits
Our care team can treat a variety of health conditions in urgent care video visits. From allergies to coughs to rashes to fevers to sore throats and more, we can use video visits for most of the health needs typically seen in an in-person urgent care setting. For the complete list, check our FAQ section below.
We cannot prescribe or refill medications, write notes for employers or for workers' compensation, treat broken bones, or perform testing through urgent care video visits. We cannot treat serious conditions, like head injuries or breathing difficulties. If your need is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Urgent care FAQ
How and when to use urgent care
Urgent care clinics can provide quick access to medical help.
Urgent care facilities seem to be popping up everywhere. These clinics provide quick access to medical help when you need it for conditions that don't warrant a visit to the emergency department.
However, it can be tricky to know when you should visit urgent care instead of taking your troubles to an emergency department or waiting until your primary care physician can see you.
Urgent care clinics also provide services not available in most traditional doctor’s offices, including X-rays, some lab work and tests such as electrocardiograms. Urgent care clinics may also be more convenient because you can walk in without an appointment, in a close location to where you live or work.
It's natural to be confused about which symptoms are severe enough to need emergency care vs. urgent attention. Calling your primary care physician for direction is a great first step if you're wondering where to go. They can advise you how to proceed as you seek medical help. – Maiko Ebersole, MD
Family medicine specialist
Do visit urgent care for
- Asthma and allergy symptoms
- Sore throats
- Coughs
- Fevers
- Rashes
- Minor burns
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms
- Simple fractures or sprains
- Cuts that might require stitches
Do not visit urgent care for
Urgent care visits are not able to handle serious symptoms, like:
- Serious head injury
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Throwing up or coughing up blood
- Bleeding that won't stop
- Severe allergic reactions that include face swelling or itching throat
- Seizures
- Chest pain
- Fevers in babies 3 months old or younger
- Pregnancy issues
- Any symptoms that make it impossible to walk, breathe or perform other basic functions
These serious symptoms need immediate attention and may indicate life-threatening conditions. In these instances, you need to seek emergency services.
Tips for using an urgent care clinic
Once you've decided urgent care is your destination, you can do a few things to make the most of your visit.
- Be able to describe your symptoms.
- Be prepared for a brief wait. Typically, patients are served in the order they arrive, unless it is determined that someone's needs are much more urgent.
- Continue a relationship with your primary care physician.
- Know your basic medical history.
- Provide a list of your current medications and allergies.