When it comes to your child getting sick or injured, it may not always be easy to take them to their pediatrician. This is often the case if they need medical attention during the evening hours or on the weekend. The good news is that there are alternatives. Pediatric urgent care clinics are a great option for when your child needs medical attention quickly during times when going to the pediatrician is not a possibility. Here's what you should know about taking your child to a pediatric urgent care clinic.
When to Take Them
Knowing when pediatric urgent care is the right option is key. In some cases, a trip to the emergency room may be a better option. Heading to urgent care is often the right option if you suspect your child has a cold or the flu, if they have symptoms of an ear infection, a sore throat, or vomiting or diarrhea. Heading to the emergency room is the best option if you suspect that your child has a broken bone, a concussion, a fever when they are less than two months old, a seizure, a deep cut, or other more serious medical issues or injuries.
How Much It Will Cost
The cost of a visit to urgent care will vary depending on a variety of factors. The condition being treated and whether or not you have medical insurance will all have an impact on how much your visit will cost. On average, a visit to an urgent care facility is around $150. The average visit to the emergency room costs $1,233. In most cases, a trip to an urgent care facility will be less expensive. However, it's important to go to the emergency room if your child has a serious injury or is exhibiting certain symptoms.
Wait Times Vary
When it comes to urgent care, it's typically first come, first serve. While having walk-in appointments can be convenient, it can also mean longer wait times during busy times of the day. Evenings and weekends can be especially busy. Wait times for urgent care are typically less than one hour and are less than 15 minutes more than half of the time. Emergency room wait times are typically around the two-hour mark.
When it comes to taking your child to urgent care, there are a few things to keep in mind. Urgent care is a great option when your child is experiencing mild or even moderate injury or illness. However, there are plenty of situations where a trip to the emergency room may be more appropriate. Costs can vary, but the average urgent care visit costs around $150. Wait times can also vary, but normally, you will be seen within an hour at an urgent care facility.
Share29 May 2019
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
