Walk-In Urgent Care for after-hours and acute injuries for patients in St. Lawrence County
Operated by Canton-Potsdam Hospital, our Urgent Care Center in Potsdam, NY offers care for patients of all ages for a wide range of acute, non-life-threatening injuries. Patients are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with no appointments required. Upon examination, our staff will be able to provide treatment or refer you to your primary care provider, a specialist, or the Emergency Department. Urgent Care is not considered an appropriate avenue for medical emergencies; for life-threatening conditions, please visit your closest emergency room or call 911 for care.
What Can Be Treated at Urgent Care?
The staff at our urgent care center will be able to provide a comprehensive diagnosis of, and treatment for a number of non-life-threatening, acute illnesses and injuries, including:
*Stomachaches *Fevers *Headaches *Dizziness
*Cough, cold, and other upper respiratory symptoms
*Pink eye, styes, and eye infections *Cuts requiring stitches
*Mild to moderate allergic reactions *Bone breaks and fractures
*Muscle sprains, strains, and spasms
When Should I Visit the Emergency Room instead of Urgent Care?
Urgent Care should not be used as your main form of medical care and cannot be used to treat all ailments or injuries. Urgent Care should only be used as an option for acute conditions that do not require life-saving treatment. If you or your loved one are experiencing any of the following symptoms, visit your local emergency room for more immediate critical care:
*Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath *Head, neck, or spinal injury
*Difficulty speaking *Electric shock or anaphylactic shock
*Confusion *Pregnancy complications or bleeding
*Profuse bleeding that has not stopped after applying pressure for over 15 minutes
Potsdam Urgent Care is supported by physicians from St. Lawrence Health System, with specialists referred from around the network when more specific and technical care is needed. Our Urgent Care Center is open seven days a week from 8:00AM – 8:00PM (excluding major holidays) to provide patients with the care they need, when they need it.
Urgent Care vs Emergency Department
 |
 |
Urgent Conditions |
Emergency Conditions |
| Stomach ache | Palpitations |
| Vomiting and/or diarrhea | Chest pain and pressure |
| Cough or cold | Numbness in face, arm or leg |
| Earache | Sudden paralysis |
| Sinus infection | Difficulty speaking |
| Sore throat, cough or cold | Difficulty breathing |
| Headache or dizziness | Sudden and/or severe pain |
| Dehydration | Fever in infant less than 2 months old |
| Heat exhaustion | Seizure |
| Fever | Poisoning |
| Pink eye or minor eye injury | Choking |
| Minor burns | Severe burn |
| Nosebleed | Heavy bleeding |
| Mild/moderate asthma | Pregnancy-related bleeding |
| Mild/moderate allergic reaction | Electric shock |
| Animal or insect bite | Unconsciousness |
| Urinary tract infection | Anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction |
| Infection | Deep wound |
| Cut requiring stitches | Broken bone (protruding from skin) |
| Fall/Sprain/Strain | Loss of limb |
| Possible broken bone (not protruding from skin) | Injury to head, neck, or spine |
| Sports-related injury |