When to Take Your Kids to an Urgent Care Center (and when not to)

by Ken Goldberg

With the kids home from school and long, sunny days ahead, many of us are spending more time with our families engaged in outdoor activities and planning a needed family vacation. However, with this increase in time spent outside, whether home or travelling, the risk of injury or illness also rises. Oftentimes we find ourselves with bruises and scrapes or even serious wounds that need more attention than our trusty first-aid kits can provide.

As road warrior parents, we know to always be prepared- including a complete list of doctors’ phone numbers, the nearest hospital emergency room and maybe more importantly, the hours of a local urgent care facility.

Why urgent care?

(And more important, what does an urgent care facility offer that is not available by visiting a local doctor or emergency room?)

Like many of us, at one time or another, you’ve probably headed right to the emergency room as the only viable place for immediate care. Anyone who has spent time visiting an emergency room knows that the hours spent in the waiting room can ruin the best of plans and take up an uncontrollable amount of time. And then, weeks later, a costly medical bill arrives for the services provided.

For a family, their local physician’s office is the usual go-to place for common illnesses such as colds, ear infections, strep throat, or the flu. However, for all but the most flexible/responsive of family care physicians and pediatricians, getting an appointment just a few days in advance is difficult, and trying to get “a same day appointment” is usually impossible; and forget about weekends or holidays. Recent studies have found that nearly two thirds (63%) of Americans with a primary care physician report difficulty in getting access to health care on evenings, weekends and holidays. Unfortunately, reduced availability of primary care physicians is only projected to increase.

Urgent care facilities fill the growing need for convenient and affordable health care.

Most urgent care centers provide the following:

Immediate Medical Care for Non-life threatening illnesses and injuries

- Digital X-Ray Services on Site
- Lab Work on Site
- Occupational Health
- Vaccinations and Physicals
- Prescription Medications

The best part? There’s no appointment necessary and wait times are short!

Urgent care facilities are often open seven days a week with extended hours, weekends and holidays. The facilities work with most insurance programs while also providing services at a much lower cost. In addition, the employees are licensed medical professionals including doctors, nurses, assistants, and x-ray technicians.

Best tip:

Next time you’re packing your bags for the family trip, or checking your first aid kits, be sure to find out the address of the closest local urgent care facility. It will take you just a few seconds of internet searching and can save you hours and dollars in the long run.

In summary:

Take your child to the emergency room for serious conditions (including, but not limited to):

The child is unresponsive or having serious breathing problems
The child has a compound fracture (bone sticking out)
The child’s skin or lips have turned blue
The child has sustained a serious head injury or has slurred speech

Take your child to urgent care when:

The child has suffered cuts, bruises and other minor trauma
The child has minor illness, upper respiratory infection, or ear aches
The child displays rashes, hives, or asthma

Wait for a pediatrician appointment for:

Routine check-ups
Follow up care of chronic illnesses

Ken Goldberg is the owner of the new AFC/Doctors Express Urgent Care in Norwalk, CT.

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