At California Urgent Care Center we can often provide the same level of quality care as an ER, but for non-life-threatening conditions. There are many reasons why receiving treatment from an urgent care center is preferable to the emergency room. Hospital emergency rooms often have longer waiting periods and the cost is more expensive. Since urgent care centers are designed to handle minor injuries and illnesses, patients are less likely to be exposed to more dangerous infectious diseases that are common in an ER.