Emergency department (ED) visits are up, and so are wait times.
A Moody’s report from April 2025 found that hospital ED visits had jumped 40 percent from five years earlier.
EDs in Vermont and New Hampshire have experienced similar increases in visits, resulting in longer wait times and fewer available beds. During periods of increased illness, such as flu season, the ED wait can be even longer.
If you want prompt attention for an illness or injury that is not life-threatening, consider express care that is tied to your hospital network, instead of visiting an ED or an urgent care center that is stand-alone.
When to skip your hospital’s emergency department
The general rule of thumb is to visit urgent or express care for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries that need prompt attention. For life-threatening conditions like chest pain, broken bones, or a serious head injury, go to the closest ED.
If you need urgent help, call 9-1-1.
Situations where you might want to choose express or urgent care include:
- You’ve fallen and your swelling ankle concerns you.
- You have a sore throat that will not let up.
- You are wondering if that cut needs more treatment than an antiseptic and a band-aid.
If your concern occurs during office hours, consider calling the office of your health provider first. For testing for COVID-19, try to do the test at home. A home test costs less and protects others as well.
Why hospital-linked care is better for you
Most express or urgent care centers are designed for immediate, non-emergency, walk-in care. But when you visit a hospital-linked center, your attending medical provider will likely be able to consult your medical records and share what they find with your provider.
In contrast, non-hospital-affiliated urgent care centers are usually stand-alone and so do not integrate with your hospital records.
More on Dartmouth Health’s Walk-In Care Services
Dartmouth Health’s walk-in care centers are called urgent care, walk-in services, express care, or, in the case of New London Hospital, Express Care Plus.
Names vary based on the type of license.
For example, the newly rebranded Express Care Plus at New London Hospital is a type B emergency department. That means it treats non-life-threatening conditions and illnesses while also providing patients access to advanced services such as state-of-the-art imaging, on-site labs, and collaboration with the hospital’s medical specialists.
If you live in Vermont or New Hampshire, here are the Dartmouth Health centers near you.
Find your Emergency Department or Urgent Care near you
| Member | Emergency Department | Urgent/Walk-In Care |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital | Emergency Services | Express Care |
| Cheshire Medical Center | Emergency Medicine | Urgent Primary Care Visit |
| Dartmouth Health Children's | Pediatric Emergency Medicine | After Hours/Urgent Care |
| Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics | Emergency Department | Urgent Appointments |
| Littleton Regional Healthcare | Emergency Department | Urgent Care |
| Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center | Emergency Medicine | Walk-in Services |
| New London Hospital | Emergency Department | Express Care Plus |
| Southwestern Vermont Medical Center | Kendall Emergency Department | Express Care |
| Valley Regional Hospital | Emergency Care | Urgent Care |
