Emergency Room or Urgent Care Published April 24, 2015 5th Medical Group MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Do you know the difference between an emergency room visit and an urgent care visit? As a patient, members should only visit the ER when they are seeking care for loss of life, limb or eye site. When it is not a life-threatening condition, the patient may be better suited to visit an Urgent Care Clinic. In many cases Urgent Care Clinics have less of a wait and are much less expensive to the Air Force. The cost of a visit to an ER for a diaper rash or minor cut can run up to $600, but an urgent care clinic can take care of similar problems for an average cost of $80 to $100. When you need to go to the emergency room: If the patient has a serious condition - stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding, head injury or other major trauma - go straight to the nearest ER. Don't take a chance with anything life-threatening. The ER is the best place for the conditions below and other critical conditions: · Chest pain · Difficulty breathing · Severe bleeding or head trauma · Loss of consciousness · Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision When an Urgent Care Center can better meet the patient's needs: · Minor burns or injuries · Sprains and strains · Coughs, colds and sore throats · Ear infections · Allergic reactions (non-life-threatening) · Fever or flu-like symptoms · Rash or other skin irritations · Mild asthma · Animal bites · Broken bones All patients can call the appointment line at (701) 723-5633 or visit www.tricareonline.com to make an appointment. Active-duty personnel will be seen at the 5th Medical Group for all urgent care within 24-hours. When there are no appointments available within 24 hours for urgent conditions, non-active-duty patients will be referred to one of the Urgent Care Clinics. All TRICARE beneficiaries except active-duty service members who are treated in the Personnel Reliability Program and Flight Medicine Clinic can utilize the nurse advice line for medical advice and authorization for after hour care at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) Option 1. The PRP Clinic has walk-in return to duty hours Monday-Thursday from 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Active-duty members assigned to the Flight Medicine Office have walk-in hours for a 1042 from Monday-Friday 7:30-8 a.m. and 1-1:30 p.m. TRICARE Prime beneficiaries enrolled to the 5th MDG must call the appointment line to receive authorization to be seen in the downtown network for care that is non-emergent. Emergency rooms: Trinity Hospital Emergency Room 1 Burdick Expressway West Minot, North Dakota 58701 (701) 857-5260 Urgent Care Facilities: Sanford Health Clinic 801 21st Ave SE (701) 839-3150 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on holidays Trinity Medical Arts Clinic 400 Burdick Expressway East (701) 857-3310 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays Noon to 6 p.m. on weekends Open some holidays Saint Alexius Medical Center 2700 8th St NW (701) 858-1800 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays For the most up to date information please visit http://www.minot.af.mil/5thmedicalgroup/. Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/5thMedicalGroup.