A woman tries to decide whether to go to an urgent care or emergency room

Free-Standing Emergency Rooms: Know the Difference

In 2009, a Texas law permitted the establishment of emergency rooms independent of hospitals. As a result, free-standing ERs resemble urgent care centers in many ways and are popping up in neighborhoods across Texas. Knowing how to identify these FCERs (as they are sometimes called), can save you thousands of dollars. Here’s what you need to know: