What should you do if your infant has a high temperature at night or if a young athlete injures his wrist during a sporting event? Urgent Care is the answer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that in certain situations, even if you are aware that the clinic is closed, you should always call your pediatrician’s office first. They are highly used to answering the phone at all hours of the day and night, and they can frequently solve issues over the phone. In short, calling your pediatrician wouldn’t be a bother at all.
However, you could find brand-new institutions opening up in your neighborhood and claiming to provide “urgent” care services frequently without an appointment.
The AAP advises calling your pediatrician’s office—your child’s “medical home”—to discuss your child’s requirements before visiting one of these clinics. They will give you advice on the best place for your kid to receive care and how soon you should schedule an appointment if they are unable to see you but think your child needs to be evaluated.
The Different Types of Urgent Care Services
- Urgent Care and Nonemergency Hospital-Based Acute Care
These clinics deal with medical conditions that might not necessitate a trip to the emergency room but nevertheless need to be addressed. On weekends and after hours, they are frequently open. Remember that the medical professionals who work at these facilities might have yet to receive extensive training in pediatrics and might not feel at ease treating newborns and small children. In general, urgent care centers are thought to provide a higher standard of service than retail-based clinics.
- Retail-Based Clinics (RBCs)
These clinics are generally located inside pharmacies, supermarkets, and big-box retailers. Despite their seeming convenience, they typically only offer a small selection of adult and pediatric health services. RBCs are primarily staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, who are frequently trained in family practice but have less experience with pediatrics; there is typically not a physician present.
What to Do If Your Child Is Seen by Someone Other than Their Pediatrician
It is crucial to give the clinic accurate and comprehensive medical information so that your kid will receive the best care possible, just in case they are seen by a healthcare professional other than their physician at one of the acute care programs or clinics mentioned above.
- Information concerning your child’s immunization history should be brought to the clinic.
- List the medications your child is now taking (including the dose) and any medications they have previously taken, as well as any pharmaceutical allergies your child may have.
- Don’t forget to mention any illnesses they may have, such as diabetes or asthma.
- To ensure that the pediatrician understands your child’s treatment thoroughly, ask for information detailing the appointment to be given to them. Obtain copies of the services your child received and give them to your pediatrician as soon as you can if the clinic does not provide this service.
Conclusion
Urgent care clinics are becoming an increasingly popular choice for health care, as they offer many benefits over traditional emergency room visits. By understanding the basics and significance of urgent care, you can make the most informed decision about where to seek care for yourself, your children, or your other loved ones.
If you are looking for an institution that provides urgent care for kids in Orlando, FL, look no further than our clinic here at Your Kids Urgent Care. We offer nothing but superior and convenient urgent care pediatric services to all the children who enter our clinic. Visit one of our branches today—let us help your child recover in no time.
