Every parent has been in a position where their child is ill, and medical care is needed. Sometimes, it can be difficult to decide exactly what to do. Should you call your pediatrician and hope an appointment is available? Should you take the child immediately to the emergency room? Would urgent pediatric care be a good option? The decision is difficult, so we want to offer a bit of insight.
Life-Threatening Emergency Situations
Before we move on, if your child is in a situation that is life-threatening, there is no question. You should immediately call an ambulance or drive the child to the hospital. An urgent care center in Middlesex County, NJ, is not going to have the expertise or staff to handle that problem. Life threatening issues include trouble breathing, seizures, allergic reactions, major trauma, and neck or head injuries. If those apply, off you go to the emergency room.
For Everything Else
If your child does not have a life-threatening injury but does need to see a healthcare provider quickly, the urgent pediatric care is a fantastic option. If you cannot get in to see your pediatrician, the professionals at urgent care can help. The process is similar to visiting a doctor’s office, and there may be additional services. Below are some common reasons to visit the urgent care:
- Minor burns
- Small cuts or wounds
- Cold symptoms like a runny nose, cough, and fever
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Strep throat
- Minor fractures
If you believe your child is in need of immediate medical care but their primary physician is not available, urgent care is the next best thing. The staff are skilled and trained, able to handle any situations that come up. If you feel more comfortable, speak to your pediatrician to see where they recommend you go when their office is closed. You can also visit review sites online to get an idea of which urgent care centers in your area are highly recommended.
At My Insta Doc Urgent care of Monroe, we offer many services for pediatric patients. We can treat everything from sunburn to abscesses, burns, ear infections, sore throats, and minor fractures.