When your child spikes a fever on a Saturday night or comes off the field limping, the first question is usually the same: is this an emergency? For most families, most of the time, the answer is no.
What urgent care handles well
Pediatric urgent care is built for the things that need attention today but are not life-threatening: fevers, coughs and flu symptoms, sore throats, ear and sinus infections, sprains and possible fractures, cuts that may need stitches, vomiting and dehydration, rashes, and objects stuck where they should not be.
Because we keep digital X-rays and rapid tests on site, the evaluation and the answer usually happen in the same visit. Our average wait is under ten minutes, and many families are done inside an hour.
When to go straight to the emergency room
Some situations belong in an ER, and going there first saves time:
- An infant younger than 60 days with a fever of 100.4°F or higher
- Severe difficulty breathing
- A seizure
- A head injury with loss of consciousness, or behaviour that is not normal
- Large, gaping wounds that may need extensive repair
- A broken bone that looks deformed or dislocated
- A swallowed button battery or more than one magnet
If your child’s life is in danger, call 911.
The cost and time difference
An urgent care visit typically means a co-pay of $25 to $70 and a wait under ten minutes. An emergency room visit for the same complaint often runs $150 to $500 with a three to four hour wait. For anything on the first list, urgent care is the faster and cheaper path to the same answer.
This article is general information and does not replace medical advice. Talk with one of our providers or your child’s pediatrician about your child’s specific symptoms.