ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) -- From sunburn to tick bites - summer ailments have sent many people to the emergency room.

But across the western North Carolina mountains, there's a more appropriate option for assistance.

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Doctor Jonathan Schwartzman, who is the medical director at Pardee Urgent Care, said many people default to the emergency room for health issues.

In most cases, urgent care is a faster and more cost-effective option, whether it's poison ivy or an X-ray for a broken bone.

"Of every 100 patients we see, we probably only send about 2% to 3% of those onto the emergency room, for something that required more than we were able to do here at the clinic," said Schwartzman said.

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Schwartzman said issues that involve chest pain or a stroke require immediate action and those people should go to the emergency room.

Pardee has three urgent care centers staffed 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.