Respiratory illnesses are increasing across our region. Essentia Health offers many same-day and virtual care options to help you get the care you need, when and where it's right for you. Research shows that about one in three emergency department (ED) visits are for conditions that are not emergencies. Essentia encourages patients to choose the level of care that best matches their symptoms. This helps you get timely care and keeps EDs available for people with life-threatening needs.

Helping you choose the right care

Visiting an ED with a non-medical emergency can cause bottlenecks that delay emergency care for patients who need it most. If you or a loved one aren’t feeling well, consider these alternative options based on symptoms:

• 24/7 Video Visit On Demand: Get care anytime, anywhere through the MyChart patient portal for many urgent needs.
• E-Visit: Get online care from an Essentia provider 24/7 through MyChart for common conditions.
• Primary care visit or a virtual video visit: This is best for common illnesses such as cold (cough, congestion), flu or fever, sore throat, eye redness, nausea or vomiting, ear pain or rash.
• Urgent care or walk-in care: For symptoms such as low-grade fever, migraines, mild but ongoing nausea or vomiting, or persistent cough. View our Wait Time Map to see locations near you.

Go to the ED if you’re having trouble breathing, chest pain, severe pain or serious injury, severe stomach pain, sudden numbness or weakness, fainting, confusion or suicidal thoughts.

Not sure where to start? Call the Essentia Nurse Care Line at 1 (800) 714-4646; access MyChart; or go to the Essentia Health same-day care webpage. You also can learn more about immediate care options with this convenient online tool.

“We have a number of ways to ensure our patients receive the right level of care, based on their symptoms,” said Dr. Josh Honeyman, an emergency medicine physician at Essentia, and Christie Erickson, a nurse practitioner and associate chief medical officer for Essentia’s East Market. “These include same-day options so we can get you in right away. We’re experiencing an especially challenging flu season, and we want to do everything we can to keep people healthy and out of the hospital.”

North Dakota respiratory activity

According to North Dakota Health and Human Services, statewide influenza cases spiked 47% last week, climbing to 1,725 from 1,174 the previous week. Many of those cases (744) were reported in Cass County. And the majority of all influenza cases (1,080) were among children ages 0-9. COVID-19 cases were up to 322, from 237 the week before, and there were 21 cases of RSV, down from 24.

Specific to Essentia Health-Fargo, about 15% of our patient visits to the ED over the past week have been for influenza.

Minnesota respiratory activity

The most recent data from the Minnesota Department of Health, logged Dec. 21, 2025, show more than 5,100 cases of influenza statewide. That compares to fewer than 1,900 cases of influenza two weeks prior. High rates of COVID-19 and RSV also are stressing health care resources.