Whether it's an injury, illness or other medical emergency, when your child feels bad, you want her to feel better as soon as possible. But with the array of healthcare professionals available at all hours, you may be confused as to where your child needs to go. Your schedule and your child's school schedule may influence your decision as well. So here are a few ways to decide who should care for your child. Obviously, her pediatrician will have the most information about her medical history and ideally can make the best decisions about her health. Don't be shy about calling your pediatrician's office at odd hours. There should be a doctor on call to answer your questions and make the call as to whether or not your child needs immediate medical attention or if you can wait to make an appointment. If your child comes home from school sick or falls ill in the early-evening hours, then an urgent care center might be the place to go.
They're typically open after doctor's office hours and can diagnose and treat illnesses, such as strep throat, pneumonia, flu and injuries such as sprains and cuts that require a few stitches. Urgent care centers are great for times when you can't get an appointment to see your regular doctor as well, and if you're without health insurance, then what you see is what you get charged at urgent care centers, where prices are usually posted clearly. If your child has a fever that's more than 102 degrees, is bleeding profusely or can't breathe, then a trip to the emergency room is probably in order. Your pediatrician might even recommend it if it's the middle of the night and there's no other option. If your child's problem isn't life-threatening, then your pediatrician should be able to coach you on what to do.