24/7 Emergency Care. Our patients are first.
If the wound will not stop bleeding, the edges are pulled apart, or you can see deeper tissue, get it checked right away. Deep cuts can involve tendons, nerves, blood vessels, muscle, or bone.
Go to the ER right away if the cut or laceration has:
These are the wound patterns most likely to need closure, deeper evaluation, or emergency treatment.
Some wounds should be checked sooner — even if the bleeding slows down.
Come in early for cuts on the face, lips, hands, fingers, or over a joint, and for wounds where scarring, function, or infection risk matters. Puncture wounds and dirty wounds can be more serious than they look from the outside.
Not every cut needs the ER
Many minor cuts and scrapes can be treated at home with pressure, cleaning, and a dressing. But once a wound is deep, contaminated, hard to clean, still bleeding, or affecting movement or feeling, home care is no longer enough.
What to do first before you come in
Apply firm direct pressure. Rinse the wound gently with clean water if you can. Cover it with a clean dressing. Do not dig around in the wound for glass or other embedded material. If the bleeding is severe, call 911.
When stitches or closure may be needed
A cut is more likely to need stitches, staples, or skin adhesive if it is deep, jagged, gaping open, over a joint, on the face, or on the hands or fingers. Closure is not just about appearance — it can help control bleeding, protect function, and support better healing when the wound is appropriate for closure.
Do not underestimate puncture wounds
Puncture wounds can look small on the surface but go deeper into tissue underneath. They may not bleed much, yet they can still carry a meaningful risk of deeper injury or infection. That is why puncture wounds, especially dirty ones, deserve more caution than people often give them.
Watch for infection
Redness that is spreading, increasing pain, warmth, swelling, pus, bad odor, fever, or red streaks moving away from the wound are warning signs of infection and should be evaluated promptly.
Tetanus matters with certain wounds
Deep, dirty, contaminated, bite-related, or puncture wounds may require tetanus review depending on the wound type and your vaccine history. If you are not sure when your last tetanus shot was, that is worth bringing up during your visit.
What Post Oak ER can do for cuts and lacerations
At Post Oak ER, we can stop bleeding, examine wound depth, clean and irrigate the injury, close appropriate wounds with stitches or tissue adhesive, assess infection and tetanus needs, and use on-site X-ray or CT when a foreign body or deeper injury is a concern. We treat both adults and children, 24/7, with no appointment needed.
When to call 911 instead of driving in
Call 911 for severe or uncontrolled bleeding, signs of major trauma, or if the injury is life-threatening. A wound that is spurting blood or causing signs of shock should be treated as an emergency transport situation, not a routine drive-in visit.
If the cut is small, clean, and stops bleeding, home care may be enough. If it is deep, dirty, gaping, still bleeding, numb, hard to move, or possibly has glass or tissue damage underneath, it needs emergency evaluation.
Whether you’re in Westchase, Midtown, or the Heights, getting to Post Oak ER is simple. We’re centrally located near major Houston routes like I‑610 and San Felipe — just a short drive from Memorial Park and River Oaks. Many patients reach us via Westheimer or Woodway Dr., depending on their neighborhood.
We accept most major insurance plans and also welcome self-pay patients with transparent, upfront pricing. Many Memorial-area patients visit us using Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Molina, and United Healthcare.
Yes. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our freestanding ER model is designed to minimize or eliminate wait times so you’re seen fast.
No. Walk in anytime. If it’s an emergency, come straight in or call ahead and we’ll be ready: 832-581-2277.
5018 San Felipe St, Houston, TX 77056 — near The Galleria/Uptown. Free, convenient parking right by the entrance.
Yes. Our board-certified emergency physicians care for all ages, including pediatric emergencies.
Chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache/migraine, abdominal pain, injuries and fractures, cuts requiring stitches, high fever, dehydration, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and more. If you believe it’s life-threatening, call 911.
Yes. We offer on-site CT scans, digital X-rays, and a full laboratory, so most tests and results are done during your visit.
Absolutely. We routinely see patients from Uptown, The Galleria, River Oaks, Tanglewood, and Memorial.
A photo ID, insurance card (if available), a list of medications/allergies, and any recent medical records you have.
We accept most major private insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan; our team will help verify benefits and discuss any out-of-pocket costs. Questions? Call 832-581-2277.
Urgent care handles minor illnesses/injuries. ERs have advanced imaging, lab, medications, and emergency physicians for time-sensitive or severe conditions (e.g., chest pain, severe abdominal pain, serious injury, difficulty breathing).
Yes. If inpatient care or surgery is required, we coordinate a direct transfer to the appropriate hospital.
Times vary by condition and testing, but our no-wait intake and on-site diagnostics help you get answers and treatment as quickly as possible.