When you have health care needs, you should always attempt to see your Primary Care Doctor first.  When you can't reach your Doctor after-hours or your Doctor is not available, you have options to get your needed care. 

Call the IEHP 24-Hour Nurse Advice Line at (888) 244-4347, TTY 711.

1. Speak to our Nurse 
Our Nurse can offer you medical advice on the phone or guide you to get the care you need. 

Common reasons to call our Nurse:  

• Cough
• Mild stomach ache
• Mild fever
• Sore throat
• Cold or flu
• Questions about your medicine 
• Ear ache 

2. Speak to a Doctor
Our Nurse may decide you need to talk with a Doctor. If so, our Nurse will connect you with a Doctor for a live phone chat or schedule a virtual visit through an app.

3. Visit an IEHP Urgent Care Clinic
Our Nurse may direct you to an Urgent Care Clinic, so you can see a Doctor the same day. Many clinics are open late, weekends and holidays. Some clinics have X-rays and lab tests. We have more than 90 Urgent Care Clinics in our network. For one near you, visit the IEHP Provider Search.

Common reasons to visit an Urgent Care Clinic: 

• Mild sore throat
• Mild fever
• Rash
• Nose bleed
• Minor trauma
• Animal or insect bite
• Asthma (non-critical)
• Cuts & lacerations

Call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room (ER) for emergency medical and behavioral health conditions. Don’t wait!

ER vs. Urgent Care Clinic

Aside from your symptoms, there are other things to keep in mind when deciding between the ER and Urgent Care. For medical advice before visiting the ER or an Urgent Care Clinic, you can call your Doctor or IEHP 24-Hour Nurse Advice Line (888) 244-4347, TTY 711. Note that ERs are open 24 hours a day and many Urgent Care clinics close in the late evening.

When Should I Go to the ER?

An emergency is when a person could die or be permanently hurt. The ER provides care for critical or life-threatening conditions.  

Visit your closest ER or call 911 if you experience:

• Changes in mental status, such as confusion
• Chest pain or pressure
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or changes in vision
• Sudden or severe pain

Visit Provider Search for listing of emergency room locations near you.

When Should I go to an Urgent Care?

Go to an Urgent Care Clinic when you need care after hours for non-life-threatening conditions. 

Here are some examples of conditions:

• A common illness like the flu
• Minor fever or headache
• Painful sore throat
• Earache or sinus pain
• Minor injuries like a sprained ankle
• Back pain
• Cuts or small wounds
• Small burns
• Rash or minor allergic reactions
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Urinary tract infections

There are more than 90 clinics in our IEHP network. Many are open late and on weekends. Search Provider Search or call the IEHP 24-Hour Nurse Advice Line (888) 244-4347, TTY 711.