When to Go to the ER, Urgent Care or Your Doctor?

judy Uncategorized

Emergency Room     

When should I go to the ER?

The choice to go to the emergency room is rather straightforward. Emergency departments are set up to treat the most severe symptoms. Examples of when emergent care is needed and 911 should be called immediately if you or a loved one is:

  • Choking
  • Having breathing difficulties or has stopped breathing
  • Suffering from a head injury, particularly if it’s causing fainting or confusion
  • Suffering from a neck or spine injury, especially if it’s accompanied by loss of feeling or inability
  • Suffering from an electric shock or lightning strike
  • Severely burned
  • Having severe chest pain or pressure
  • Having a seizure(s) that lasts between three and five seconds
  • Lacerations
  • Broken Bones
  • Respiratory concerns for children 6 months or less
  • Fevers over 103.0 Fahrenheit that is not coming down

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What illness treatments can you get at an urgent care center vs. an ER? | Corner Stone Urgent Care Center

When should I go to urgent care ?

Difficulties getting appointments, long delays in waiting rooms and abbreviated appointments have caused many Americans to supplement their primary care with services from urgent care centers and walk-in clinics. Urgent care centers are convenient, they don’t typically take appointments, are opened longer during the week than primary care offices and offer weekend hours. And because they’re dealing with urgent health issues, they’re often equipped with X-ray machines.

In a pinch, urgent care centers are ideal for treating when your primary care provider is not available or at capacity.

Both urgent cares and primary care can treat:

  • Small cuts
  • Flu and bad colds
  • Sprains and muscle pulls
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever and headache
  • Diarrhea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Sinus infections
  • Ear infections
  • Minor eye injuries
  • Rashes
  • Colds
  • Congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Urinary infections

 

 

AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Sahara Medical Institute Healthy Child

Ref: AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits

Ref: Why Well-Child Visits Matter (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Don’t fall behind on your child’s routine care — a minor issue today could become a major problem tomorrow.

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to make sure your child regularly visits the doctor – not just when they are sick, but also when they are well.

Well-child visits allow your pediatrician to examine your child holistically, assess their physical and emotional needs, support their growth and development, and intervene quickly if any issues arise.

Image from healthychildren.org

What are the risks of skipping well-child visits?

If your child is healthy, it can be easy to let well visits fall by the wayside. While those annual checkups may seem like just another thing to fit into your family’s hectic schedule, they play a crucial role in preventing future problems. Well visits are essential to ensure your child gets the required vaccinations to attend school, go to daycare and participate in sports. Visiting the pediatrician when your child is well also provides you with an opportunity to ask questions – and get expert answers – about your child’s health, development and well-being. Delaying these visits can put your child at greater risk of illness or delay needed interventions. For example, many common developmental delays are discovered during routine checkups with pediatricians – early intervention makes a big difference in getting your child the support they need before something small turns into a bigger issue.

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What’s on MyPlate

Sahara Medical Institute Healthy Child

Source: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/what-is-myplate

Start Simple with MyPlate

The benefits of healthy eating add up over time, bite by bite. Small changes matter. Start Simple with MyPlate.

A healthy eating routine is important at every stage of life. It can have positive effects that add up over time. It’s important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients. Make every bite count

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Habits to start NOW! At any age

Sahara Medical Institute Healthy Child
Source: https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6213-7-healthy-habits-to-teach-your-kids

Start your children on the path to well-being

Parents can help their children develop healthy habits early in life that will bring lifelong benefits.

“Children look up to their parents, so parents can set a good example,” says Kimberly Leek, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Clinic, Santee.

Try these seven tips to get you and your family started.

1. Keep it positive

“Helping your children develop a positive attitude can greatly contribute to their well-being throughout their lives and help them build resilience,” says Dr. Leek. “Tell kids what they can do, not what they can’t and celebrate successes.”

2. Limit screen time

Children and teens are growing up immersed in the digital world, exposed to digital media at all hours of the day, including computers, smartphones and television. Parents play an important role in teaching their children how to use screen time in a healthy way that can enhance daily life.

“Make your own family media use plan, set limits and encourage play,” says Dr. Leek. “Overuse of media can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and displace important social interactions, exercise and even sleep.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has tools to help you create a personalized family media use plan.

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Teen depression

Sahara Medical Institute Healthy Child

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985

Image: nationwidechildrens.org

Teen depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how your teenager thinks, feels and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional and physical problems. Although depression can occur at any time in life, symptoms may be different between teens and adults.

Issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens. But for some teens, the lows are more than just temporary feelings — they’re a symptom of depression.

Teen depression isn’t a weakness or something that can be overcome with willpower — it can have serious consequences and requires long-term treatment. For most teens, depression symptoms ease with treatment such as medication and psychological counseling.

Symptoms

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