4 Questions to Ask a Pediatric Urgent Care Doctor

Pediatric urgent care covers a wide range of injuries, and acute illnesses, from minor problems that only require reassurance, to recognizing and stabilizing more serious health problems and injuries. Pediatric urgent care can be done at a pediatrician’s office, urgent care clinic, or emergency department. The broad scope of pediatric care and urgent care does make it valuable to have someone who is trained and experienced in treating young people.
 
The needs of children can be different from the needs of adults when dealing with health issues. Understanding that difference in an urgent care setting will make it easier to treat your child in the best way possible. It can also put parents at ease when their child is being treated for an injury or sudden illness.

There are so many reasons that your child may need to see a doctor. Most of the time you will want to choose to see your primary care physician or your child’s pediatrician. If they are dealing with a persistent cough, high fever, lethargy, or an injury, you may want to get a doctor’s opinion on what may be wrong.
 
If your child has been injured and needs attention quickly, an urgent care clinic is a good choice. Injuries and illnesses that need attention quickly and are not life-threatening are the types of things that urgent care clinics deal with very well.
 
If they have profuse bleeding, extreme difficulty in breathing, or a very high fever, you may want to go to the emergency room.

The age range of people treated at a pediatric urgent care will vary on the clinic you go to. Pediatric urgent care clinics will see patients from newborns up to 21 years of age. Some choose to limit the upper age of treatment to 17 or 18 years old. This will depend on the clinic.
 
Pediatricians are trained to treat patients from newborns to 21 years old. They have experience and understanding of the special concerns of people who are still growing and developing. They are also aware of current medical trends and up-to-date knowledge in that specific area of medicine.

The primary difference between an urgent care clinic and an emergency room are the problems they can treat. An emergency room will have the staff and equipment to deal with life-threatening situations. Urgent cares can be considered that place between your family physician and the emergency room. An emergency room will be open around the clock, every day. An urgent care will be open later than most doctor’s offices and usually on weekends. An urgent care clinic is also less expensive than a visit to the emergency room.
 
Columbia Clinic Urgent Care can treat your child when those sudden issues arise. We have doctors and staff trained in pediatrics and understand how your child needs to be treated. You can walk in or make an appointment; we are happy to work with both. We serve patients from Tibbetts St Portland, Milwaukie OR, Oak Grove OR, Stark Street Portland, Fairview OR, Happy Valley OR, Gladstone OR, Cedar Mill OR, West Linn OR, Aloha OR, Tibbetts Street Portland OR, Tigard OR, Lake Oswego OR, Tualatin OR, Oregon City OR.