After Hours Care Specialist

What is after-hours care?

After-hours care, also called urgent care, focuses on diagnosis and treatment for non-life-threatening illness or injury outside of regular business hours. 

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 65% of all emergency room visits occur after 5 pm. Most pediatric visits to the emergency room are non-life-threatening and could be managed well in your pediatrician's office. 

Acclaim Pediatrics offers quality after-hours care on evenings and weekends so that you can avoid the emergency room when your child's issue isn't an emergency. 

When should I use after-hours care? 

Acclaim Pediatrics offers after-hours care for children from infant to young adult who have minor conditions, such as:

• Skin rash or hives
• Sore throat or congestion
• Flu or cold symptoms
• Sports injuries, sprains, or strains
• Pink eye
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea 
• Ear pain or ear infection 
• Minor cuts and burns 
• Splinters or foreign bodies 

Much like a sick visit during regular business hours, after-hours care focuses just on the presenting problem, so it isn't an appropriate time for well-child exams or sports physicals.

What happens during an after-hours visit? 

With after-hours care, the Acclaim Pediatrics team provides focused assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of your child's symptoms, by: 

• Assessing your child's health concern
• Ordering diagnostic tests, including rapid strep or flu test
• Recommending appropriate treatments
• Prescribing medications 
• Scheduling a follow-up visit 
• Providing your child a school or work excuse, if needed 

If your child needs more specialized or emergency care, the team coordinates their care to ensure they get what they need as quickly as possible.

When is after-hours care not appropriate?

After-hours care is excellent for minor concerns that need quick attention but aren't life-threatening. However, some conditions require more focused, emergent treatment, and a visit to the emergency room is best. 

You should go to the emergency room, rather than after-hours care if your child has:

• Severe breathing difficulties
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Loss of consciousness 
• Head injury with vomiting or loss of consciousness
• Major bleeding or traumatic injury 
• Severe burns 
• High fever with a stiff neck
• Sudden loss of speech, sight, or coordination 
• Seizures

If your infant is younger than two months old and has a rectal temperature of 100.4℉ or more, you must seek emergency medical attention rather than after-hours care. 

For quality after-hours care, call or schedule an appointment online with Acclaim Pediatrics today.