Know Where to Go for Care

When your child is sick or hurt, figuring out where to get care can be almost as stressful as the illness or injury itself. Should you call the pediatrician, head to urgent care or go straight to the emergency room? Knowing the difference can help you make a confident decision when your child needs care.

Pediatric Emergency Room: When It’s an Emergency

Children aren’t just little adults. Their bodies, and the health problems that affect them, can be very different from those of adults, which is why pediatric emergency care is designed specifically with children in mind. Wellstar has four Pediatric Emergency Departments across the metro Atlanta area and one in Augusta.

The emergency room is the right choice when your child has a serious or potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate attention. This can include trouble breathing, blue lips or skin, loss of consciousness, a severe allergic reaction or signs of severe dehydration. Serious injuries and other sudden, concerning symptoms may also warrant emergency care.

Urgent Care: When It Can’t Wait

Think of urgent care as the middle ground: your child needs medical attention, but the situation isn’t an emergency. Depending on the situation, urgent care may be available virtually or in person, giving parents another convenient option.

Urgent care can be appropriate for things such as colds and respiratory infections, low-grade fevers, minor infections, mild vomiting and other stomach or digestive issues, cuts and minor burns, and certain bone or joint injuries. Wellstar has 29 urgent care locations across the Atlanta area and offers 24/7 virtual urgent care for pediatrics.

Primary Care/Pediatrician: When It Can Wait

For non-urgent concerns, your child’s pediatrician is usually the best place to start. Your  pediatrician knows your child’s medical history and can provide ongoing care, answer questions and help determine whether additional testing or treatment is needed.

Call your pediatrician for concerns that can safely wait a few days, including ear or throat pain, rashes that don’t go away, digestive issues or fever, particularly when your child is otherwise doing well.

Your pediatrician is also your go-to resource for routine or well checkups, vaccinations, developmental concerns and managing ongoing health conditions.

Learn more about Wellstar’s pediatric services here.

With healthcare tailored to your child from the time they are newborn babies to young adults, Wellstar delivers expert care with compassion and knowledge.

Your Child. Our Expert Care.