FROM OUR PARTNERS AT ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM
Help ! Where Should I Take My Child for Care ?
What should you doifyour child wakes up in the middle ofthe night with abdominal pain ? If your teen twists an ankle at aweekend soccer game and can ’ t bear weight ? When your baby spikes ahigh fever just before bedtime ? Unexpected accidents and illnesses happen all the time – somakesure you know where to go when ahealth emergency strikes .
“ Your first call should be to your pediatrician or familydoctor ,” says Michael Gerardi , MD , an Atlantic Health System emergency physician and pediatric specialist .“ When that ’ s not anoption , knowing ahead of time where toget care and what specialists and services are on-site will give you peace of mind when you ’ re inastressed mental state .”
Dr . Gerardi explains that parents should know care locations , hours and ages treated before they ’ re faced with acrisis . Here are the different levels of care if – and when – you need to see adoctor , fast .
Before you ’ re faced with a health crisis , make sure you plan ahead and know the nearest urgent care and emergency care locations , hours , ages treated , and insurances accepted .
Pediatrician / Family Medicine
Urgent Care
Atlantic Health Advanced Urgent Care
Hospital Emergency Department ( ED )/ Pediatric ED
APPOINTMENTS HOURS CARE AGES
Appointments preferred ; online appointments and virtual visits available
No appointments needed , walk-in care , virtualvisits
No appointments needed , walk-in care , no virtual visits
No appointments needed , walk-in care , no virtual visits
Business hours , some evenings / weekends
Business hours , weekday evenings / weekends
7days / week ( 8:00am -8:00pm and Saturdays / Sundays 8:00am-5:00pm ), 365 days ayear
Open around-the clock , 365days ayear
PediatricianorFamily Doctor
Well and sick visits , moderate healthconcerns that need to be treated quickly
Convenient , same-day medical care for mild to urgent health concerns
Immediate care for minor to complex illnesses or injuries . CT scans , X-rays , comprehensive on-site labs are available
Life-savingcare , severe mentalorphysical health concerns thatneed to be treatedimmediately . The ED is supported by the full hospitaland its medical staff .
Newborn to 21
Call in advance ; site and clinician dependent
All ages
All ages
COURTESY OF ATLANTIC HEALTH SYSTEM
The familiar environment of your doctor ’ s office is always the first option to considerfor an illness or injury . Because these doctors know you andyour child , they can help you make swift and prudent medical decisions . Many offices now see patients during the evenings , on weekends and virtually as well . This gives your family expanded access to the medical experts you know and trust – which brings comfort and speedy care to your family .
Walk-inClinics or UrgentCare Centers
These offer convenient , same-day medical care for a variety of health problems : sore throats , cough , and sprains , strains or small cuts that may require stitches . They are open days , evenings , and weekends and are staffed by board-certified physicians , nurse practitioners , and physician assistants . Medical teams handle injuries and illnesses that need to be treated right away but are not apparent life or limb-threatening emergencies . They also provide physical exams , vaccines , and referrals to specialists , if needed .
Advanced Urgent Care
For more complex emergencies , advanced urgent care sites are available without needing an appointment . They are efficient alternatives to hospital emergencydepartments . AtlanticHealth System facilities are staffed by emergency medicine physicians , acute care nurses , and techs with advanced on-site labs and imaging such as X-rays and CT scans . Advanced urgent care sites refer only2 % of the patients that come through the doors to an emergency department . These centers have extended and weekend / holiday hours with easy access to experts and health care services , typically for ages 6 months and older . They will follow you through your acute illness or injury if your primary care physician / specialist is not available .
Hospital EmergencyDepartments Severe illnesses and injuries call for swift action . Some hospitals have a designated pediatric emergency department . All hospital emergency departments are open around-the clock and staffed with emergency physicians and nurses capable of handling the most complex and critical needs . If your child is in crisis with a fever with rash , respiratory distress , uncontrolled bleeding , protruding broken bones , or lacerations that need plastic surgery , they needemergency department care fast . If they ’ re unresponsive or unstable , you need to call 911 immediately . “ Parents need to know their options in advance because the severity of achild ’ s injury dictates the level of care needed ,” says Dr . Gerardi . “ A lack of planning just adds to a parent ’ s anxiety in the moment , so it ’ s important to talkwith their primary care physician ahead of time and be prepared forthe unexpected .” Dr . Gerardi also advises parents to establish a MyChart account for every family member . This electronic medical record travels with you and gives doctors quick , easy access to your child ’ s health history and medications .
For more information , visitatlantichealth . org
12 SPRING 2023 | THE RECORD HEALTH QUARTERLY | PREPARED BY THE ADVERTISING DEPT .