Parents only want what’s best for their children, so if your little one is experiencing non-life-threatening medical emergencies, should you take your kid to your regular urgent care or urgent care that specializes in pediatric care?
Regular Urgent Care vs. Urgent Care for Kids: What’s the Difference?
If you are in a medical emergency, you don’t have time for a debate about pediatric versus regular urgent care. With that in mind, urgent care centers are more than equipped to handle non-life-threatening issues for adults and children. If you want to make sure your child receives high-quality, pediatric urgent care is the right way to go.
Some of the common conditions that a pediatric urgent care clinic can treat include the following:
- Fevers;
- Non-life-threatening burns or cuts;
- Sore throats;
- Bronchitis;
- Broken bones;
- Moderate to severe pain;
- Sports injuries;
- Flu and the common cold.
Pediatrician vs. Pediatric Urgent Care: What’s the Difference?
The first step most parents take when their kid is sick is to go to their pediatrician’s office. However, if you find yourself in a situation where your little one needs urgent care during pediatric office hours, you might find yourself at a loss and need to run around town to find a place that will take your child right away.
In terms of the difference between urgent care centers and pediatric offices, the major difference is that urgent care centers tend to offer more hours than pediatric offices and are generally available on nights and weekends.
They also tend to have more urgent care providers on staff. Pediatric offices, on the other hand, usually don’t offer urgent care services. They’re more focused on immunizations, checkups, and long-term pediatric issues.
If you’re in a pinch and need care for your kid fast, you’ll probably be able to walk into an urgent care center and get seen quickly. If you have a question about a long-term issue, you should expect to make an appointment with your pediatrician.
Is Urgent Care for Kids Really Different from Regular Urgent Care?
Over the years, non-emergency urgent care centers have slowly begun to offer more and more pediatric services. Most urgent care centers offer flu shots, strep tests, and vaccinations.
They also have pediatric specialists on staff who may be available to see your kid overnight or on the weekend. For example, you can take your kid to get a consultation with an urgent care pediatrician, who can then refer you to a specialist, if necessary.
Some urgent care centers can even give your child a referral to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist. As for the kind of ailments a pediatric urgent care can address, it includes the following:
- Minor accidents or falls;
- Allergic reactions;
- Asthma attacks;
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration;
- Cold or flu symptoms;
- Earaches;
- Broken bones;
- Burns;
- Cuts;
- Sore throats;
- General pain;
The Bottom Line: The Importance of Knowing What Healthcare Your Child Needs
As a parent, your main priority is the health and well-being of your child. When you have a child, your life becomes centered on making sure your baby is healthy, happy, safe, and as pain-free as possible.
If you suspect that your child has a medical emergency, you need to act quickly. This is why it’s important to know the difference between pediatric urgent care and regular urgent care. If you know what type of urgent care your child needs, you can get them the help they need, fast.
Are You Looking for the Best Kids Urgent Care?
Parents want nothing but the best for their kids; that’s why it’s only right to treat their discomfort from injuries or illnesses at the best urgent care for children in Orlando, FL. We offer 24/7 medical services, so you don’t have to worry about rushing to the emergency room when your child gets sick after-hours.
