How to Choose Between Primary, Virtual, Convenient, and Emergency Care on BJC

BJC HealthCare organizes its care options by urgency and setting, and bjc.org gives you a direct entry point for each one. If you have a routine or ongoing health need, start with primary care. If you have a minor injury or illness and want to stay home, virtual care is available seven days a week. If you need same-day in-person treatment for something minor, use convenient care. If the situation is an emergency, go to an emergency department, which BJC staffs 24/7 across the system. The sections below explain what each option covers and how to find it on the site.

Primary care: your first contact for ongoing health

BJC describes primary care as your first contact to prevent, treat, and manage health conditions. Providers in this setting handle current conditions and work to prevent issues later in life.

Choose primary care when:

• You need a regular provider who knows your history
• You are managing a chronic condition
• You want preventive care or a general check-in on your health
• Your concern is not urgent and can be scheduled

On bjc.org, the "Find care" section links to a Primary Care page with more detail, plus a "Find a Provider" tool if you need to select a clinician.

Virtual care: minor issues, from home, seven days a week

BJC virtual care is for minor injuries or illnesses and is available seven days a week. You receive care by video rather than traveling to a location.

Choose virtual care when:

• The problem is minor (the site specifies minor injuries or illnesses)
• You want to avoid a trip to a facility
• You need an option outside standard clinic hours, since it runs seven days a week

The "Find care" area links to a Virtual Care page for details on how to start a visit.

Convenient care: same-day, in-person, for minor problems

Convenient care locations provide expert, in-person care for minor injuries and illnesses, and BJC positions them as same-day care that fits your schedule.

Choose convenient care when:

• You need to be seen today
• The issue is minor but you want an in-person exam
• Virtual care is not appropriate for your situation, but the problem is not an emergency

The "Find care" section links to a Convenient Care page, and the site's location tools help you find a nearby site.

Emergency care: 24/7 for urgent situations

BJC emergency departments provide advanced, compassionate care 24/7 across the health system. This is the option for emergencies, not for minor complaints that primary, virtual, or convenient care can handle.

Choose emergency care when the situation is urgent and cannot wait for a scheduled or same-day appointment. The "Find care" section links to an Emergency Care page, and you can locate a hospital through the system's location listings.

Quick comparison

Finding the right entry point on the site

The bjc.org homepage groups these options under "Find care," alongside "Same-Day Care," "Find a Provider," "Find a Location," "Pay a Bill," and "Login to MyChart." If you already know you need a specific service rather than a care setting, the site also lists specialties including Cancer, Heart and Vascular, Neurosciences, Women's Health, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Primary Care, and Transplant.

BJC operates across 14 hospitals plus convenient care locations, virtual care video visits, and outpatient centers. Individual hospital pages, such as Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, and St. Louis Children's Hospital, include addresses and phone numbers if you prefer to contact a facility directly.

Practical notes

• Billing and financial assistance information, including a price transparency page, is available under the patients and visitors section if cost is part of your decision.
• MyChart login is a separate entry from care-finding tools, so use it for existing records rather than choosing a care type.
• The newsletter signup on the homepage requires JavaScript and asks for first name, last name, email, and ZIP/postal code; it is optional and unrelated to receiving care.