Questions & Answers
Get clear answers to common emergency care questions from our board-certified physicians.
Does Bellaire ER accept my insurance?
Bellaire ER treats every patient who comes in, regardless of plan. Texas law bases emergency coverage on your symptoms a...
ER vs Urgent CareWhat is the difference between an ER and urgent care?
An ER handles life-threatening emergencies with full diagnostic capabilities (CT, X-ray, lab) and board-certified emerge...
InsuranceHow much does an ER visit cost without insurance?
ER visit costs vary based on the complexity of your condition and diagnostics required. Bellaire ER offers transparent s...
ER vs Urgent CareIs abdominal hernia an emergency?
Most abdominal hernias are not emergencies, but a strangulated hernia is. Go to the ER or call 911 if a hernia becomes s...
ER vs Urgent CareIs abdominal pain an emergency?
Abdominal pain can be a medical emergency. It is an emergency when the pain is severe, sudden, or unrelenting, or comes ...
ER vs Urgent CareIs allergic reactions an emergency?
Sometimes. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a life-threatening emergency — call 911 for trouble breathing, th...
ER vs Urgent CareIs appendiceal conditions an emergency?
An appendiceal condition can be an emergency. Seek immediate ER care or call 911 for sudden, severe, or worsening lower-...
ER vs Urgent CareIs appendicitis an emergency?
Yes. Appendicitis is a surgical emergency because an inflamed appendix can rupture within about 48 to 72 hours of sympto...
ER vs Urgent CareIs asthma attacks an emergency?
A severe asthma attack is a medical emergency. It becomes one when your rescue inhaler no longer helps, you cannot speak...
What to ExpectIs Bellaire ER open on holidays?
Yes. Bellaire ER is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — including all holidays, weekends, and overnight. No appointme...
ER vs Urgent CareIs bronchitis an emergency?
Most bronchitis is not an emergency and clears up on its own in one to three weeks. It becomes an emergency when you hav...
ER vs Urgent CareIs burns an emergency?
It depends on depth, size, and location. A burn is an emergency if it is deep (white, brown, or leathery skin), larger t...
ER vs Urgent CareIs chest pain an emergency?
Chest pain can be a medical emergency and should be treated as one until proven otherwise. Call 911 immediately if chest...
ER vs Urgent CareIs cold and rsv an emergency?
Usually no. Most colds and RSV are mild and clear up at home. It becomes an emergency when breathing is affected, so cal...
ER vs Urgent CareIs ct scan an emergency?
A CT scan itself is a diagnostic test, not an emergency, but the symptoms that require an urgent CT often are. Sudden st...
ER vs Urgent CareIs cuts and lacerations an emergency?
Sometimes. A cut is an emergency when bleeding will not stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm pressure, when it is deep or...
ER vs Urgent CareIs dislocations an emergency?
Yes. Most joint dislocations are an emergency. A joint forced out of place needs prompt reduction (realignment); call 91...
ER vs Urgent CareIs ear infections an emergency?
Most ear infections are not emergencies and clear up with pain relief, time, and sometimes antibiotics. It becomes an em...
ER vs Urgent CareIs ear, nose, and throat (ent) an emergency?
Usually not, but sometimes yes. Most ENT problems are safe for urgent care or telemedicine, but any trouble breathing, n...
ER vs Urgent CareIs eye infections an emergency?
Usually not — most eye infections like pink eye or a stye are minor and treatable with drops. But sudden vision loss, se...
ER vs Urgent CareIs flu treatment an emergency?
Usually not. Most flu is treated at home or by telemedicine with rest, fluids, and sometimes an antiviral. It becomes an...
ER vs Urgent CareIs head injuries an emergency?
A head injury can be a medical emergency. Call 911 for loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, seizures, one dilated p...
ER vs Urgent CareIs heartburn an emergency?
Usually not. Ordinary heartburn is acid reflux and rarely an emergency, but because it can feel identical to a heart att...
ER vs Urgent CareIs laceration treatment an emergency?
Sometimes. A laceration needs emergency treatment if it gapes open, is deep or longer than about half an inch, will not ...
ER vs Urgent CareIs migraine headaches an emergency?
A typical migraine is usually not an emergency, but a headache that is the worst of your life, comes on like a thundercl...
ER vs Urgent CareIs motor vehicle accidents an emergency?
A motor vehicle accident is an emergency when there is trouble breathing, chest pain, severe or worsening abdominal pain...
ER vs Urgent CareIs pediatric burn care an emergency?
Sometimes. A child's burn is an emergency if it blisters and is larger than the child's palm, sits on the face, hands, f...
ER vs Urgent CareIs pediatric care an emergency?
Sometimes. Most childhood illnesses are not emergencies, but some are: a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby und...
ER vs Urgent CareIs pediatric trauma care an emergency?
Often, yes. A child's injury is an emergency when there is a head injury with loss of consciousness or repeated vomiting...
ER vs Urgent CareIs phlebitis an emergency?
Usually not. Isolated superficial phlebitis, a small tender red area over a surface vein, is rarely an emergency. But ca...
ER vs Urgent CareIs pneumonia an emergency?
Pneumonia is an emergency when it comes with trouble breathing, shortness of breath at rest, chest pain, bluish lips or ...
ER vs Urgent CareIs poisoning by nm substances an emergency?
It can be. Poisoning from household chemicals, carbon monoxide, pesticides, antifreeze, or alcohol is a 911 emergency wh...
ER vs Urgent CareIs postpartum and birth complication care an emergency?
Often, yes. Heavy bleeding (soaking more than one pad an hour), a severe headache, chest pain, trouble breathing, a feve...
ER vs Urgent CareIs respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) care an emergency?
Usually no. Most RSV is a mild, cold-like illness, but it becomes an emergency when there are signs of breathing failure...
ER vs Urgent CareIs sepsis an emergency?
Yes. Sepsis is always a life-threatening medical emergency. It is the body's extreme, dysregulated response to an infect...
ER vs Urgent CareIs shortness of breath an emergency?
It can be. Sudden or severe shortness of breath is a medical emergency and warrants calling 911, especially with chest p...
ER vs Urgent CareIs skin infections an emergency?
It depends. Many skin infections are not emergencies, but one becomes an emergency when redness spreads quickly, you dev...
ER vs Urgent CareIs skull and face fractures an emergency?
Yes. A suspected skull or facial fracture is a medical emergency because these injuries often occur alongside a brain in...
ER vs Urgent CareIs sprains and strains an emergency?
Most sprains and strains are not emergencies, but some are. Call 911 or go to the ER if the limb looks deformed or bent,...
ER vs Urgent CareIs stomach flu an emergency?
Usually no. Most stomach flu is a self-limited viral infection that clears in one to three days at home. It becomes an e...
ER vs Urgent CareIs strep throat an emergency?
Strep throat itself is rarely an emergency and is usually treated with a rapid strep test and antibiotics through teleme...
ER vs Urgent CareIs thromboembolism an emergency?
Often, yes. A pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lungs) is a medical emergency and can be fatal within hours, so call 911...
ER vs Urgent CareIs thrombophlebitis an emergency?
Usually not. Superficial thrombophlebitis, a clot in a surface vein you can feel as a firm, red, tender cord, is often n...
ER vs Urgent CareIs urinary tract infection an emergency?
A simple bladder UTI is usually not an emergency and is often treated with antibiotics through telemedicine or urgent ca...
ER vs Urgent CareIs vomiting and diarrhea an emergency?
Usually not, but it can be. Most vomiting and diarrhea comes from a stomach virus or food poisoning and settles in a few...
ER vs Urgent CareIs x-ray an emergency?
An X-ray itself is not an emergency; it is a quick, painless imaging test. The emergency depends on the injury or sympto...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of abdominal hernia?
The main symptom of an abdominal hernia is a bulge in the abdomen or groin that stands out when you cough, stand, or str...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of abdominal pain?
Abdominal pain ranges from dull cramping, bloating, and gas to sharp, localized, or burning pain, often with nausea, vom...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of allergic reactions?
Allergic reaction symptoms range from itchy skin, hives, sneezing, and a runny nose to swelling, wheezing, stomach upset...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of appendiceal conditions?
Appendiceal conditions often cause subtle, easy-to-miss symptoms: dull or intermittent lower-right abdominal pain, bloat...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of appendicitis?
Appendicitis classically starts as dull pain near the navel that shifts to the lower right abdomen and sharpens over hou...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of asthma attacks?
An asthma attack causes wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath as the airways narrow and swell. Sy...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of bronchitis?
Bronchitis causes a persistent cough that may be dry or bring up clear, white, yellow, or green mucus, often with chest ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of burns?
Burn symptoms depend on depth. First-degree burns are red, dry, and painful with no blisters. Second-degree burns bliste...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of chest pain?
Chest pain can feel like pressure, tightness, squeezing, burning, or a sharp stab, and it may spread to the arm, jaw, ne...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of cold and rsv?
Colds and RSV share cold-like symptoms: runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and low-grade fever. RSV can...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of ct scan?
A CT scan has no symptoms of its own — it is a painless imaging test. The relevant question is which symptoms mean you n...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of cuts and lacerations?
Cuts and lacerations cause bleeding, pain, and a visible break in the skin. Warning signs of a serious wound include gap...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of dislocations?
A dislocation causes sudden severe joint pain, a visible deformity where the joint looks out of place, swelling, and an ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of ear infections?
Ear infection symptoms include ear pain that is often worse lying down, muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, fluid dr...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of ear, nose, and throat (ent)?
Common ENT symptoms include sore throat, ear pain, nasal congestion and sinus pressure, nosebleeds, hoarseness, hearing ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of eye infections?
Eye infection symptoms include redness, watery or yellow-green discharge that crusts the lashes, itching or burning, a g...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of flu treatment?
Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and include fever or chills, body aches, headache, dry cough, sore throat, congest...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of head injuries?
Head injury symptoms range from headache, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise to serious warning signs ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of heartburn?
Heartburn feels like a burning sensation behind the breastbone that often rises toward the throat, typically after eatin...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of laceration treatment?
The signs that a laceration needs professional treatment include gaping or open edges, visible fat or muscle, bleeding t...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of migraine headaches?
Migraine symptoms include throbbing or pulsing pain, often on one side of the head, with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivi...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of motor vehicle accidents?
Common crash symptoms include neck and back pain from whiplash, headache and dizziness from concussion, abdominal pain o...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of pediatric burn care?
Burn symptoms in children range by depth: first-degree burns are red, dry, and painful; second-degree burns blister and ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of pediatric care?
The symptoms that matter most in a sick child are fever (especially any fever in a baby under 3 months), fast or labored...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of pediatric trauma care?
After an injury, a child may show visible cuts, bruising, or swelling, refuse to use a limb, complain of pain, or act un...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of phlebitis?
Phlebitis causes redness, warmth, and tenderness along a vein, often with a firm, cord-like feel to the vein and mild sw...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Pneumonia symptoms include a cough that often brings up yellow, green, or rust-colored mucus, fever and chills, shortnes...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of poisoning by nm substances?
Symptoms of poisoning by nonmedicinal substances include nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, confusion or drowsine...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of postpartum and birth complication care?
Key postpartum warning symptoms are heavy vaginal bleeding, a severe headache with vision changes, chest pain or breathl...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) care?
RSV usually starts like a cold: runny or congested nose, cough, low-grade fever, and sometimes wheezing. In infants and ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of sepsis?
The hallmark symptoms of sepsis include high fever with shivering or an abnormally low temperature, a fast heart rate, r...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of shortness of breath?
Shortness of breath feels like breathlessness, chest tightness, rapid or shallow breathing, or an inability to take a de...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of skin infections?
Skin infections typically cause redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and sometimes pus, blisters, or drainage. Fever, ...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of skull and face fractures?
Skull and facial fractures cause focused pain or a felt step-off at the injured bone, rapid swelling and bruising, and s...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of sprains and strains?
Sprains and strains cause pain that worsens with movement, swelling within minutes to hours, bruising, and limited range...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of stomach flu?
Stomach flu typically causes watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, a low-grade fever, and body aches, usu...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of strep throat?
Strep throat typically causes a sudden, painful sore throat without a cough, fever of 101 F or higher, red or swollen to...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of thromboembolism?
A leg clot (DVT) usually causes swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in one leg. A lung clot (PE) causes sudden shortness...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of thrombophlebitis?
Thrombophlebitis usually shows up as a firm, cord-like vein you can feel under the skin, with redness, warmth, tendernes...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of urinary tract infection?
The hallmark symptoms of a UTI are a burning sensation when urinating, a frequent and urgent need to go, passing only sm...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea?
Vomiting and diarrhea usually come with nausea, abdominal cramps, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite. The most import...
ConditionsWhat are the symptoms of x-ray?
There are no symptoms of an X-ray itself. Instead, certain symptoms point to when you may need one, such as pain, swelli...
What to ExpectWhat should I expect at Bellaire ER?
At Bellaire ER, you will be seen by a board-certified emergency physician with minimal wait times. We have on-site CT, X...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for abdominal hernia?
Go to the ER for a hernia the moment the bulge becomes hard and cannot be pushed back in, the pain turns severe, or you ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for abdominal pain?
Go to the ER for abdominal pain that is severe, sudden, or steadily worsening, or that comes with fever, persistent vomi...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for allergic reactions?
Go to the ER for any allergic reaction with breathing trouble, throat or tongue swelling, dizziness, or symptoms in two ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for appendiceal conditions?
Go to the ER for appendiceal conditions when you have sudden or worsening lower-right abdominal pain, fever, persistent ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for appendicitis?
Go to the ER as soon as lower-right abdominal pain is worsening, especially if it began near your navel and moved there,...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for asthma attacks?
Go to the ER for an asthma attack when your rescue inhaler is not working or keeps wearing off, you cannot speak in full...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for bronchitis?
Go to the ER for bronchitis if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, bluish lips, a fever above 102 F or one lasting m...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for burns?
Go to the ER for any deep, blistering, or large burn (over about three inches), any burn that circles a limb, and burns ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for chest pain?
Go to the ER right away for any chest pain that is severe, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with shortness of bre...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for cold and rsv?
Go to the ER for any breathing trouble with a cold or RSV: fast or labored breathing, wheezing, ribs pulling in, bluish ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for ct scan?
Go to the ER for a CT scan when symptoms are severe, sudden, or from major trauma — such as stroke signs, a serious head...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for cuts and lacerations?
Go to the ER for a cut that keeps bleeding after 10 to 15 minutes of pressure, gapes open, is deep, or is on the face, h...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for dislocations?
Go to the ER right away for any joint that is visibly out of place, locked, or severely painful. Prompt reduction lowers...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for ear infections?
Go to the ER for an ear infection if there is swelling behind the ear, a very high fever, stiff neck, confusion, facial ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for ear, nose, and throat (ent)?
Go to the ER for ENT trouble breathing or swallowing, drooling, a muffled voice with throat swelling, sudden hearing los...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for eye infections?
Go to the ER for an eye infection if you have sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, marked light sensitivity, a red eye w...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for flu treatment?
Go to the ER for the flu if you have trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, signs of dehydration, or a fe...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for head injuries?
Go to the ER for a head injury if there was any loss of consciousness, worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for heartburn?
Go to the ER for heartburn if chest pain is severe, lasts more than a few minutes, spreads to your arm, jaw, or back, or...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for laceration treatment?
Go to the ER for a laceration that is deep, gaping, longer than about half an inch, or bleeding that will not slow after...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for migraine headaches?
Go to the ER for a migraine that is the worst of your life, comes on suddenly, will not break after 72 hours or despite ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for motor vehicle accidents?
Go to the ER after a crash if you have any head, neck, chest, or abdominal symptoms, trouble breathing, numbness, or a p...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for pediatric burn care?
Go to the ER for any blistering burn larger than your child's palm, burns on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or joints,...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for pediatric care?
Go to the ER for a fever of 100.4°F or higher in a baby under 3 months, trouble breathing, a seizure, dehydration, a non...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for pediatric trauma care?
Bring a child to the ER right after a head injury with loss of consciousness or repeated vomiting, a deformed or unusabl...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for phlebitis?
Go to the ER for phlebitis if a whole leg or arm swells suddenly, the pain is severe or spreading, you develop fever or ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for pneumonia?
Go to the ER for pneumonia if you have trouble breathing, shortness of breath at rest, chest pain, a high fever that wil...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for poisoning by nm substances?
Go to the ER or call 911 for poisoning when the person is unconscious, seizing, has trouble breathing, chest pain, or sw...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for postpartum and birth complication care?
Go to the ER now if you soak more than one pad an hour, have a severe headache, chest pain, trouble breathing, a fever o...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for respiratory syncytial virus (rsv) care?
Go to the ER for RSV when there is any breathing trouble — fast or labored breathing, retractions, bluish color, or paus...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for sepsis?
Go to the ER — or call 911 — immediately if you suspect sepsis. There is no safe window to wait. If someone with a known...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for shortness of breath?
Go to the ER for shortness of breath that is sudden, severe, or worsening, occurs at rest, or comes with chest pain, blu...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for skin infections?
Go to the ER for a skin infection if the redness is spreading quickly, you have a fever, red streaking, a large or facia...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for skull and face fractures?
Go to the ER for any suspected skull or facial fracture, because confirming the break and ruling out brain bleeding requ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for sprains and strains?
Go to the ER for a sprain or strain if you cannot bear weight or take four steps, the limb looks deformed, there is bone...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for stomach flu?
Go to the ER for stomach flu when you cannot keep fluids down for more than a day, show signs of dehydration, or have bl...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for strep throat?
Go to the ER for strep throat if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, are drooling, have a muffled voice, severe on...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for thromboembolism?
Go to the ER or call 911 right away for sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with breathing, fainting, or...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for thrombophlebitis?
Go to the ER for thrombophlebitis when a whole limb swells, redness spreads with fever, the vein is near the groin, or y...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for urinary tract infection?
Go to the ER for a UTI if you have a high fever with chills, flank or back pain, persistent vomiting, blood in your urin...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for vomiting and diarrhea?
Go to the ER if you cannot keep any liquids down, see blood or black material in vomit or stool, have severe belly pain ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER for x-ray?
Go to the ER for an X-ray when an injury or symptom is severe, worsening, or after hours, such as a suspected fracture, ...
ER vs Urgent CareWhen should I go to the ER instead of urgent care?
Go to the ER for chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, head injuries, stroke symptoms, high fever in infant...