One of the most frustrating and upsetting moments for parents is when your child gets sick or suffers an injury but it’s after the office hours for your pediatrician. While you can visit the emergency room when needed, sometimes the services provided there go above and beyond what is warranted. That’s one reason that urgent care for kids can be a fantastic solution or families who need medical care but aren’t in a life or death situation.
Reasons the Emergency Room Might Not Be the Best Choice
While your pediatrician’s office is likely welcoming and inviting, most emergency rooms do not have that same atmosphere. These areas are often chaotic, noisy, and full of people who are in serious need of help. With a small child, this type of environment can be alarming and upsetting. In addition, the staff in emergency rooms typically are not pediatricians. You will also find that visiting an emergency room can be prohibitively expensive or associate with a high co-pay that you may want to avoid.
Why Pediatric Urgent Care is Gaining Popularity
Before looking at the reason urgent care for kids is so popular in New Jersey, it must be stated that urgent care and the emergency room are two very different facilities. The emergency room is available for those who are seriously injured or ill, especially if the situation is life-threatening. Urgent care treats those who are moderately or mildly injured or ill for a low cost and more quickly than the emergency room.
Situations Where You Should Visit Urgent Care
If you or your child are seriously ill or injured, you should visit the hospital. However, there are many times when medical treatment is needed but the problem is not life-threatening. Here are some examples:
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Asthma
- Abscess, boil, or rash
- Headaches
- Fevers
- Flu
- Bronchitis
- Ear, eye, or skin infections
- Colds
- Insect bites
- Minor cuts
- Minor burns
- Sports injuries
- Foreign body removal
- Minor fractures and sprains
Convenient Care in New Jersey
If you are looking for a convenient option for care for your child who is not in an emergency situation, urgent care is a fantastic option. At MyInstaDoc Urgent Care, we offer pediatric care every single day of the year.