As parents, nothing is more stressful than caring for a sick child. Whether it’s a common illness or physical pain, all we think about is our child’s feelings. However, it’s difficult to choose the best doctor when you’re panicking.
Do you put off taking your kid to the doctor? Do you need to go to the emergency room immediately and risk paying a lot? Could the condition be treated somewhere else?
A pediatrician’s office in Georgia is ideal for children to receive medical attention. But occasionally, children get sick or hurt outside of regular business hours. So what should you do if your child develops a high fever at night or a wrist injury occurs to a young athlete during weekend practice?
The best answer is to go to after-hours pediatric services in Georgia. Here’s a guide to exploring your options regarding children’s healthcare in Georgia.
Why After-Hours Pediatrics is Best for Pediatric Urgent Care?
All you have in mind is ensuring your child’s health and overall well-being. Having a plan before anything happens is the best way to calm anxiety. To assist you in making that choice, we suggest you visit a pediatric clinic in Georgia that offers after-hours pediatric services.
1. Business Hours
Pediatricians generally keep regular office hours. This makes sense, but it rarely helps kids who get sick or hurt without warning. When your child has a health issue, it’s not always during your primary pediatrician’s business hours, let alone when you can get a same-day appointment.
However, after-hours pediatric services accept patients at unexpected times. On weekdays, we at Omega Pediatrics stay open until 9 p.m. That’s because we know that symptoms in children can appear anytime—especially in the late afternoon and evening.
It’s common for your kids to wait until it’s almost too late to tell you they need school forms or shots. You don’t need to take time off work to bring your loved ones to the clinic for a sick visit or even a routine checkup. You can simply drop by after work.
By being accessible at more convenient times and with little interference with work and school, we help the entire family save time.
2. Location
Pediatric clinics are more accessible than visiting a hospital in Georgia. For ease of access, the office of Omega Pediatrics is close to public transportation. We want to ensure our clients can reach us without taking additional taxi rides or traveling great distances.
3. After-Hours Illnesses
We’ve got you covered if you’re unsure how to differentiate between a life-threatening illness and one that a pediatric doctor can treat. The common diseases listed below are those we treat at Omega Pediatrics.
These include asthma attacks, allergies, bronchitis, colds and flu, dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, food poisoning, headaches, ear infections, pink eye, poison ivy, sore throat, strep throat, and stomach flu.
4. After-Hours Injuries
Children are more likely to go to the ER when they are hurt, especially for fractures. Being safe is preferable to being sorry. Omega Pediatrics’ urgent care services in Georgia provide the same level of care.
The injuries we frequently treat are bone fractures and breaks, burns, bee and wasp stings, cuts and wounds, dog bites and other animal bites, ingrown toenails, neck pain and whiplash, nosebleeds, spider bites, and toothaches.
5. Cost-Effectiveness
You should drive your child to the emergency room if he’s experiencing pain, or any life-threatening case for that matter, after work hours. However, you should go to a pediatric urgent care center, like Omega Pediatrics in GA, for all other needs.
Omega Pediatrics has the tools on hand to treat your child, and you won’t have to pay as much. Don’t let a split-second of panic cost you a fortune. We also offer telemedical services for common conditions such as pink eye and child rashes.
Telemedicine is covered by many insurance plans, thus allowing you to receive the same high-quality care while lounging at home.
6. More Than Just Pediatric Treatment
One advantage of pediatric urgent care is that more can be accomplished in one visit.
For instance, if you want to make the most of your time during your child’s current appointment, the pediatrician won’t administer a DOT physical.
You can, however, complete your DOT physical, get an STD test, or take advantage of any of our other services while visiting to treat your child’s common cold in the same location. Save money, reduce travel time, and receive top-notch care. It is an unrivaled choice.
Urgent Care Clinic vs Emergency Room: The Differences
Determining whether a sick child needs to go to the ER or the pediatrician’s office can be challenging. Only true emergencies should be seen at the ER. Your child will receive quicker and more effective care with a pediatrician unless they are experiencing severe symptoms.
Any crowded environment carries some risk of exposure to illness. Therefore, picking the appropriate location for a disease or injury can ensure proper care and save time.
But if your child has serious conditions, you must immediately bring them to the ER. These include a broken bone, seizures, unconsciousness, breathing problems, bleeding wounds, severe allergic reactions, severe head injuries, and a newborn fever over 100.4 degrees.
On the other hand, you should take your child to a pediatrician in Georgia for less serious conditions, such as a slight fever or cough.
When Should I Bring My Child to the ER in Georgia?
For children, many severe illnesses should be treated in the emergency room. If possible, take them to a pediatric ER in Georgia. Hospitals usually have emergency pediatric doctors on staff, kid-sized medical equipment, and a more tranquil, family-friendly environment.
However, there may be long lines before your child gets treated. You may visit an ER in Georgia if your child experiences these symptoms.
Severe Allergic Reactions
Symptoms manifested in severe allergic reactions are nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and altered responsiveness.
Extremely High Fevers
For infants two months old and younger, high-grade fevers may have serious consequences. A temperature of more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should be brought to the ER immediately.
Dehydration
Seizures and brain damage are just two serious issues that severe dehydration can bring about. Some dehydration symptoms that require emergency room care include extreme thirst, drowsiness, lethargy, coldness, and a rapid heartbeat.
Breathing Difficulties
Your child is having trouble breathing. This occurs during a severe asthma attack, excruciating chest pain, passing out or fainting, or coughing up blood.
Large Wounds
A large or complicated wound that won’t stop bleeding must be treated in the emergency room to stop excessive blood loss. The doctor will determine whether stitches are required.
Severe Bone Fractures
If there is a visible bump, deformity, open fracture, severe bone fracture, or if you believe your child has a broken bone. An expert, like an orthopedic surgeon, will offer expedited care.
Serious Burns
Serious burns caused by fire, hot liquid, chemicals, or electricity require emergency care, whereas minor burns can be treated at a pediatrician’s office in Georgia. The skin can become red or pink, painfully swollen, and blistered when a burn is severe.
Poisoning
Accidental contact with or ingestion of a poisonous, hazardous, or toxic product, such as laundry or cleaning supplies, insecticides, or acids,
Head Injuries and Other Neurological-Related Concerns
Some pressing neurological concerns include the following; a head injury, loss of consciousness, seizure, altered mental status, fever with headache and a stiff neck, and sudden changes in their ability to speak, see, walk, or move.
Suicidal Tendencies
Your child is unsafe and wants to hurt himself or others.
How To Know If I Should Bring My Child To A Pediatrician In Georgia Instead
Acute and chronic illnesses and injuries can be treated outside of the hospital in urgent care facilities. Omega Pediatrics is open after-hours and offers convenient alternatives.
Fever And Symptoms Of Cold
If your child is over two months old and suffers from a fever and cold-like symptoms like coughing and sneezing, bring them to a pediatric clinic in Georgia instead.
Infections
Pediatric clinics can help your child if you believe they have the following infections, such as pink eye, strep throat, or an ear infection.
Minor Injuries
Your child may have a strain or sprain. We can quickly and accurately evaluate your injury with our on-site X-ray. Other ailments that can be managed include stomach pain, UTIs, bug bites and rashes, and repairing cuts and burns with stitches
After-Hours Pediatrics Go Beyond Pediatric Treatment
Pediatric care could be a great substitute for ER visits. Now you know who to call if your child gets sick or hurt. To ensure your child will receive the best and most comprehensive medical care, visit a reputable pediatric urgent care center, like Omega Pediatrics.
We at Omega Pediatrics can manage your children’s healthcare in Georgia. We serve parents and children looking for pediatric after-hours clinics, urgent care, or after-hours care. Our clinic, located in Roswell, Georgia, is a convenient alternative to the emergency room.
Although we are open after-hours, our services are not just for minor ailments, and we are available to handle urgent care needs that arise after-hours.
If you visit Omega Pediatrics before 9 in the evening with an urgent issue, we can address it—as long as it is not an acute emergency. If you believe your child is experiencing an emergency, please bring them to an emergency room instead as soon as possible.
