Where to take your child: ER or Pediatric Urgent Care? - Premier Pediatric Urgent Care Provider in Texas - Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care

Where to take your child: ER or Pediatric Urgent Care?

  • March 15, 2016
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Imagine your child is ill or has just sustained an injury. How do you know whether you should go to the Emergency Room or a Pediatric Urgent Care? ERs are very busy and many times are overwhelmed with patients who could easily be managed in a Pediatric Urgent Care setting. More seriously injured children are cared for first than those with minor injuries and illnesses.

Examples of illnesses where an ER is a better choice include: difficulty breathing with shortness of breath, sustained high fever associated with confusion or lethargy, severe headache, or several days of vomiting with or without frequent diarrhea, fatigue, or no urination for over 8 hours. Severe prolonged abdominal pain is best evaluated in an ER. A new onset seizure with or without fever is another example. For less severe conditions, consider visiting kids urgent care for timely and appropriate treatment.

Examples of injuries where an ER is a better choice include: head injuries with loss of consciousness, headache, memory loss or confusion; also severe lacerations, limb injuries with deformities, severe burns over a large portion of the body, electric shock with burns, or altered state of consciousness. Some medicine or chemical ingestions can be very serious. Calling poison control first may save you a trip to the ER.

Pediatric Urgent Cares are able to assess most illnesses including those associated with fever, cough, ear pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. An allergic reaction not associated with difficulty breathing is another example. Urinary tract infections are commonly treated. Asthma not associated with difficulty breathing can also be treated at a Pediatric Urgent Care.

Children sustaining injuries such as lacerations, arm or leg pain after a fall, or bruising may be taken to a Pediatric Urgent Care. Evaluating a child for an ankle sprain versus an ankle fracture can be done at a Pediatric Urgent Care. Most of the time a child with a broken bone can be directly referred to an Orthopedic Surgeon, saving you the expensive and time consuming visit to an emergency room. This applies to most referrals or transfers where a child needs a higher level of care.

At Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care we strive to provide compassionate and expert care of your child. With 8 locations in San Antonio and 2 in Houston, we are open 7 days a week with extended hours. Our newest location is located at 810 S General McMullen Dr., at the intersection of South General McMullen and Castroville Road.

We accept most insurances, include Medicaid, Tricare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

-Thomas Spurgat, MD, MBA, CEO


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