Urgent and Emergency Care

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

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 24/7 CMHC Crisis Line at 512-471-2255 or call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Medical Emergencies

Emergency rooms provide care for severe or life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Use the map feature on your computer or phone to find a hospital emergency room near you.

Hospital emergency rooms are located within hospitals, while freestanding emergency departments are separate facilities that provide emergency care but are not physically connected to a hospital. Both provide emergency services, but freestanding emergency departments may have different insurance coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs.

If you're insured and circumstances allow, contact your insurance company to find out which emergency facilities are in-network. We recommend checking this information and saving it in your phone before an emergency.

Known HIV Exposure

Call the 24/7 UHS Nurse Advice Line immediately to be evaluated for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is only effective within the first 72 hours after exposure.

512-475-6877

Sexual Assault

View information about sexual assault medical care appointments.

Urgent medical concerns

When UHS is open

University Health Services is not an urgent care or emergency center. UHS provides routine, preventive and ongoing medical care by appointment. If you need help determining how soon you need care, you can call the 24/7 UHS Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877.

When UHS is closed

For medical care outside UHS operating hours, visit our After-Hours Care page for information.

Compare your care options

Use the chart below to understand the differences between UHS primary care, urgent care and emergency rooms.

Category	Primary Care (UHS)	Urgent Cares	Emergency Room
General Scope of Care	Routine, preventive and ongoing care Manages chronic conditions Evaluates non-urgent symptoms	Treats many non-severe, non-life-threatening acute conditions Many can perform X-rays Basic labs (e.g., strep, UTI)	Treats severe or life-threatening conditions Advanced imaging, extensive labs, surgical capabilities Specialists on staff
Access to Hospital Care	Clinic-based Not physically part of a hospital	Usually free standing Not physically part of a hospital	Usually part of a hospital with access to admission and advanced care
Hours of Operation	Business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)	Extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays	Open 24/7, 365 days a year
Wait Time	Scheduled appointments Some same-day availability	Typically shorter than ERs First come, first served	Can be long; triaged by severity
Cost	Lowest cost — usually a standard doctor visit co-pay (if you have insurance)	Moderate cost; may be billed as specialist visit with higher co-pay Payment often due at visit	Highest cost Higher co-pays Some plans may not cover non-emergency ER visits
Examples of Conditions Treated	Annual exams Preventive care Mild illness (colds, allergies) Chronic condition management Follow-ups Vaccinations	Flu symptoms Fever with rash Bronchitis or severe cough with fever Sprains or minor fractures Vomiting/diarrhea Minor cuts requiring stitches Bites UTIs	Severe chest pain/pressure Difficulty breathing Severe abdominal pain Paralysis Severe injuries/burns Confusion Vomiting blood Major trauma