It can be hard to tell whether or not you need a trip to the emergency room or an urgent care facility — it can be even tougher when you have to read the mind of your crying child. Knowing the difference between urgent and emergency might be the key to figuring out what your child needs. If you catch yourself typing “pediatric urgent care near me?” into a search bar, take these tips into account when trying to choose the best option for your child.
Urgent Care
What is urgent care? Urgent care rests somewhere between a trip to your family doctor and the emergency room: you need to get health care now, but you’re not in any imminent danger. This can range from minor fractures to fevers, to mild allergic reactions, to scrapes. These services are especially important for children, as they may have never experienced an allergic reaction or an infection from a scrape before. Their throat may feel itchy after trying something new, or you think your child needs stitches after a fall — regardless, these issues are non-life threatening, but still need urgent attention.
Urgent cares aren’t always open 24 hours a day, so it’s important to include that in your “pediatric urgent care near me” search in the event medical attention is needed on the weekend or late at night. If it’s anything more serious, consider visiting an ER near you.
Emergency Room
Emergency rooms deal with, well, emergencies. These may be life-threatening or potentially life-threatening. Where a concussion might need a trip to your free clinic, a second or third concussion that results in confusion or dizziness may require immediate emergency care. This includes any specialist resources as well. Emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day throughout the week, so know where the nearby location is in proximity to you in the event you need more serious medical care.
Keep in mind that nearly 65% of ER cases could have been resolved in an urgent care facility. Save money and time by looking into urgent care options for your child before bringing them to the ER.
Pediatric Urgent Care
Many nearby urgent care centers are equipped to handle pediatric issues along with the health conditions an adult may face. However, finding a “pediatric urgent care near me” is necessary if you have young children, especially if that child has a chronic, but non-life threatening health condition. If you would rather find a location that both you and your child can go to, finding a family urgent care is a great option.