What Is Urgent Care and When Should You Use It?

With the over-abundance of “Urgent Care Centers” and “Minute Clinics” popping up everywhere, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of you and your child’s relationship with his/her pediatrician.  The Doctors at these facilities do not “know” your child, your child’s health history, and/or special needs. Dr. DeNise does! In addition often times the Doctors treating your child are PA’s (Physician Assistants) and not fully educated Physicians. 

Please review the below, and remember we are typically just a phone call away and we would much rather treat our patients than them be treated elsewhere when it can be avoided.

Urgent care is not a substitute for emergency care.

In general, an emergency condition is one that can permanently impair or endanger the life of an individual. Some examples of conditions that require emergency medical care at a Hospital’s Emergency Room/Department include:

  •  Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing

  • Compound fracture (bone protrudes through skin)

  • Convulsions, seizures or loss of consciousness

  • Fever in newborn (less than 3 months old)

  • Heavy, uncontrollable bleeding

  • Deep knife wounds or gunshot wounds

  • Moderate to severe burns

  • Poisoning

  • Serious head, neck or back injury

  • Severe abdominal pain

  • (Signs of) Heart attack (i.e.. chest pain lasting longer than two minutes)

  • (Signs of) Stroke (e.g. loss of vision, sudden numbness, weakness, slurred speech, or confusion)

  • Suicidal or homicidal feelings

What is considered an Urgent Medical Condition?

Urgent medical conditions are ones that are not considered emergencies but still require medical care within 24 hours. Some examples of such conditions include:

  • Accidents and falls

  • Sprains and strains

  • Moderate back problems

  • Breathing difficulties (i.e. mild to moderate asthma)

  • Bleeding/cuts -- not bleeding a lot but requiring stitches

  • Diagnostic services, including X-rays and laboratory tests

  • Fever above 101degrees or flu

  • Vomiting, diarrhea or dehydration

  • Severe sore throat or cough

  • Minor broken bones and fractures (i.e. fingers, toes)

  • Skin rashes and infections

  • Urinary tract infections

Did You Know?

That 9 out of 10 times when you call the office prior to heading to one of these “Urgent Care Centers” and “Minute Clinics”, we will be able to accommodate your needs and see the patient? After hours, weekends, just another convenience of Dr. DeNise practicing from the comfort of her home which the children are familiar and comfortable with!

Samantha LaBarbara