Pediatric After Hours Care vs Emergency Room: Where Should You Go for Your Child’s Medical Needs?

Where should you go to take your sick or injured child? Should you visit a pediatric after hours care clinic, the urgent care or emergency department, or wait to see your child’s primary care provider? This page can help you decide.

Pediatric Associates of Austin provides comprehensive care for children, including access to after hours care. This service ensures your child receives prompt, expert care when your regular pediatrician’s office is closed. Contact us today for more information!

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“Thank you all of the wonderful staff at PAA for caring for our kids! I am a pediatric healthcare worker and despite my medical background, this clinic gives me the comfort and safe space to just feel like ‘mom.’ I appreciate the extra mile that everyone goes through to make our family feel at ease!” — Emma M.

Where Should I Take My Child for Medical Care?

The best place for your child’s care depends on the severity and urgency of their condition. Each option—after hours care, the emergency room, urgent care centers, and your child’s primary care provider—serves a distinct role.

Pediatric After Hours Care: Ideal for minor illnesses or injuries that can’t wait until the next day but aren’t life-threatening.
Emergency Room: Reserved for life-threatening emergencies or severe injuries requiring immediate medical attention.
Urgent Care Centers: These offer care similar to after hours clinics, but they are often not specialized in pediatrics.
Primary Care Provider (Your Child’s Pediatrician): Best for routine check-ups, ongoing health issues, and follow-up care.

Choosing the right option saves time and ensures your child gets the appropriate level of care.

When Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room?

The emergency room (ER) is designed for serious, life-threatening conditions. If your child is experiencing any of the following, seek emergency care immediately:

Trouble breathing or severe shortness of breath
Uncontrolled bleeding
Severe allergic reactions (swelling of the face or difficulty breathing)
Possible broken bones (especially if the bone is visible or dislocated)
Seizures lasting more than a few minutes
Severe burns or large cuts
Concussion symptoms with any of loss of consciousness, vomiting, progressively worsening headache, one-sided symptoms, or inability to balance

If you’re unsure whether your child’s condition warrants an emergency room visit, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and go. Emergency departments are equipped to handle life-threatening injuries and critical medical issues 24/7.

When Should I Take My Child to After Hours Care?

Pediatric after hours care is a convenient alternative to the ER when your child’s condition isn’t life-threatening but still needs attention outside of normal office hours. After hours care clinics are specifically designed for children, so they offer a more child-friendly environment than urgent care centers.

Consider after hours care for:

Fever (without seizures or difficulty breathing)
Cold, flu, or sore throat symptoms
Ear infections or ear pain
Rashes, skin irritations, or mild allergic reactions
Mild cuts that may need wound glue but aren’t gaping wounds
Minor injuries, sprains, or mild strains

Pediatric Associates of Austin offers after hours care to ensure your child can receive quality medical treatment even when your regular pediatrician is unavailable.

When Should I Take My Child to His Pediatrician?

Your child’s pediatrician is your most familiar and consistent source of care. For non-urgent medical issues, schedule an appointment with your child’s primary care provider. Your pediatrician is best equipped to handle:

Routine check-ups and vaccinations
Monitoring chronic conditions like asthma, ADHD, or allergies
Follow-up care after an emergency room visit
Developmental screenings and wellness exams
Behavioral health concerns (e.g., anxiety, sleep problems, and any issue for which you would go to After Hours Care, but that occurs during daytime hours).

If you’re unsure whether you should visit the pediatrician or seek more immediate care, contact your child’s provider. They can advise you on the best course of action.

What Should I Do if My Child is Sick or Injured?

When your child is sick or injured, it’s important to assess the situation calmly and quickly. Follow these steps to determine where to seek care:

Evaluate the Symptoms: Is your child having trouble breathing, showing signs of a severe allergic reaction, or bleeding uncontrollably? If so, go to the emergency room.
Check for Serious Injuries: Is there a possible broken bone, a large wound, or a head injury? Head to the emergency department.
Consider After Hours Care: If it’s late at night or the weekend and your child has a fever, mild injury, or non-emergency illness, visit a pediatric after hours care center.
Contact Your Provider: If you’re unsure where to go or the situation isn’t urgent, call your child’s provider for guidance.

By assessing the urgency of your child’s condition, you can decide whether to visit an after hours care center, your pediatrician’s office, or the emergency room.

When Should I Choose Urgent Care Instead of After Hours Care or the ER?

Urgent care centers provide medical services similar to after hours care but often lack pediatric specialists. If a pediatric-specific option, like Pediatric Associates of Austin’s After Hours Kids, is available, it’s generally a better choice for children. However, you can still consider urgent care centers for:

Sprains and strains
Mild burns
Mild asthma attacks (if breathing is not severely impaired)
Minor cuts, scrapes, or animal bites

Unlike after hours care, many urgent care centers treat adults and children, so they may not have the same child-friendly approach. For the best care, look for a pediatric urgent care center that specializes in treating kids.

Get After Hours Care at Pediatric Associates of Austin

Knowing when to go to the emergency room, an after hours care location, urgent care centers, or your child’s primary care provider can make a big difference in your child’s health—and your peace of mind.

Pediatric Associates of Austin provides high-quality pediatric care, including comprehensive after hours care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. If your child is sick or injured, don’t hesitate to contact our office in Austin, Texas, for expert guidance and support!

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