When Should I Take My Child To A Primary Doctor, Urgent Care Or The Emergency Room?

When Should I Take My Child To A Primary Doctor, Urgent Care Or The Emergency Room?

Health and Fitness July 2, 2017

Std testing clinics

Your child’s health is important. You always look after their wellness in any way you can, such as cooking them healthy meals every night, bandaging their knees on the playground and taking them to the dentist when they complain of aches. When that health is put under threat, your first instinct is to seek out the best resource possible. A health clinic for children shouldn’t just have the basics covered. It should offer friendly staff that make your child feel comfortable, flexible prices and after-hours urgent care for emergencies that can’t wait.

Skincare And Cancer

One of the most common, yet underappreciated, issues involving basic health is that of skincare. Thanks in no small part to the popularity of tanning beds alongside the gradual depletion of the atmosphere’s protective ozone layer, skin cancer rates have tripled since 1975. While this sounds scary, skin cancer can be easily avoided with day-to-day care. Physical sunscreen with high concentrations of zinc oxide as well as layers go a long way in protecting from harmful UV rays. It’s also recommended by professionals that outdoor activities are done earlier or later in the day, since afternoon is when the sun is at its peak.

Anxiety And Depression

Mental health is just as important as physical health. A health clinic for children should not just have confidential STD testing or family quick care, but resources to assist with your child’s mental and emotional well-being. Anxiety is characterized by racing thoughts, constant nervousness and difficulty with day-to-day tasks. Depression is defined by feelings of hopelessness, detachment, constant fatigue and disinterest in daily life. If your child has been showing consistent signs of the above for weeks on end, it’s imperative you provide them with the assistance of a certified therapist.

Cuts And Sprains

More basic issues like cuts, sprains and strains should be considered with the aid of family care physicians or a health clinic for children. A very common injury that children experience is that of twisted ankles and sprains, brought on by rowdy activity on the playground or with friends. These are often not serious enough for the ER, but require treatment that can’t wait for an appointment. This is where urgent care, as well as the ER room, comes in.

When To Go To The ER

There are times to visit your family care providers through an appointment, times to drop by an urgent care center and times to see the emergency room. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey has recently reported that the average ER visitor will pay total costs of $1,300, with a mean cost averaging at $600. The mean wait time at the ER, as well, has gone up by a quarter from 45 minutes to an hour. If your child has a life-threatening injury or allergic reaction, visiting the ER is essential. When they have something less serious but demanding immediate attention, however…

When To Go To Urgent Care

An urgent care center is a middle-ground between the hospital and the emergency room. They’re when your child has suffered a burn that isn’t life-threatening, but is finicky enough to need immediate medical assistance as not to worsen. They’re for when your child has a sprain that should be bandaged. With medical costs rising and people attempting to sort through their options, a health clinic for children is a major relief for all parties. There are times to see your doctor and times to seek out urgent care facilities. Knowing the difference will go a long way in ensuring your child’s consistent health and happiness.