LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — As flu season approaches, doctors are urging patients to understand when to visit the emergency room, an urgent care facility or a primary care physician to help manage potentially extended wait times in emergency departments.

Dr. Foster Kordisch, an emergency room physician at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, explains that the hospital sees between 50,000 to 53,000 patients annually, ranging from minor injuries to life-threatening emergencies. The severity of a patient’s condition is a key factor in determining wait times, with more critical cases being prioritized.

“Generally, the older and sicker you are or the younger you are, infants, those lean towards more emergencies,” Dr. Kordisch said.

Common illnesses such as upper respiratory infections, minor sprains, allergies, coughs and colds can often be treated at urgent care centers rather than emergency rooms. For issues like medication refills, visiting a primary care physician is recommended.

Dr. Kordisch emphasizes the importance of understanding the severity of one’s condition when deciding where to seek medical attention.

“I never want to discourage anybody from listening to their bodies and not coming to the emergency room,” he said. “It’s just that it may be a lot more effective, maybe less expensive to go to an urgent care or just call your doctor if you think it’s appropriate.”

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, a Level Two Trauma Center, is equipped to handle primary traumas and treat patients that other trauma centers in the region cannot.

“So, because of that, our patients tend to be like really sick. You know, and so that can kind of also affect the wait times,” said Dr. Kordisch.

Dr. Kordisch emphasizes the importance of assessing the severity of an illness and listening to one’s body when deciding whether to visit the emergency room, urgent care or a primary care physician. He reassures patients that they will be seen by a doctor at the emergency room, but the wait time will depend on the severity of their condition and the availability of beds.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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