Tampa Bay

Tampa ER wait too long? When a video visit is the faster choice

Creator: Erik Petersen, DO
Published: 2026-06-04

By Dr. Erik Petersen, DO · Medically reviewed by Dr. William Carlson, MD
Board-certified physicians · Updated June 4, 2026

As an emergency physician, I'll always tell you the ER is the right place for an emergency. But a lot of what fills Tampa Bay waiting rooms isn't an emergency — it's a UTI, a sinus infection, a kid with an earache — and those patients spend hours and hundreds of dollars on a problem that could've been handled from the couch. Here's how to tell the difference.

The real cost of "just going in" for the small stuff

A non-emergency ER visit in Tampa commonly runs several hundred to several thousand dollars by the time the bill arrives, and a busy night can mean hours in the lobby. Even a walk-in urgent care, on a bad day, can stack up a long wait and a surprise facility fee. Against that, a FirstCall video visit is a flat $100 — you know the price before you start, and you're typically talking to a physician in minutes, not hours.

Good candidates for a video visit

These are the everyday problems a board-certified ER physician can evaluate and treat over video:

Colds, flu, COVID symptoms, sinus infections
Sore throat and suspected strep
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Ear infections and pink eye
Rashes, allergies, and skin infections
Mild dehydration, nausea, and minor injuries

How it works: book and pay your flat $100, choose a time, meet your ER physician by secure video, and we send any prescription to the Tampa Bay pharmacy nearest you — every day, 8 AM–8 PM.

When to skip the video visit and go straight to the ER

Some symptoms need hands-on care and monitoring right away. Don't wait on a video visit — and don't drive yourself if it's serious.

Call 911 or go to the nearest ER for chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech), severe abdominal pain, a severe allergic reaction, confusion, or any injury that looks serious.

If you're in the gray zone between the two, a video visit is still useful: a physician can quickly tell you whether you're safe to treat at home or need to be seen in person tonight — which beats guessing in an ER parking lot.

The bottom line for Tampa Bay

Save the ER for emergencies. For the everyday urgent stuff, a flat-fee video visit with a real ER doctor gets you answers and a prescription faster, cheaper, and without the drive across town. You can be seen the same day, from anywhere in Tampa Bay.

Frequently asked questions

Is a video visit cheaper than the ER?

For non-emergencies, almost always. A FirstCall visit is a flat $100; a Tampa ER visit commonly runs several hundred to several thousand dollars even before tests.

What's appropriate for a video visit?

Non-emergency urgent issues — colds and flu, sinus infections, sore throat, UTIs, ear infections, pink eye, rashes, allergies, mild dehydration, and minor injuries. Anything severe goes to the ER.

How fast can I be seen?

Same-day video visits, every day from 8 AM to 8 PM — usually far faster than a non-emergency ER or urgent-care wait.

Don't wait hours for the small stuff

See a board-certified ER physician by video for a flat $100 — same day, across Tampa Bay, with your prescription sent to the pharmacy nearest you.

Book a $100 Visit

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Costs are general estimates and vary. For a medical emergency, call 911.