Recently, I was at a birthday party where a small child had an accident that resulted in a cut on their head. Her parents immediately thought to take her to an urgent care clinic, and not to an ER. I was fascinated by the choice, and realized how much sense it made. No one wants to travel all the way to a good hospital with a child in distress (NY Presbyterian from Brooklyn is a trek), and wait in a scary ER for what could be hours. The fact that there are children’s urgent care clinics now in Brooklyn that are usually open, is a wonderful thing. Here, we speak with PM Pediatrics‘ Christina Johns about the appeal of these clinics for parents and kids alike.
~Rebecca Conroy, Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn
Why are urgent care facilities the wave of the future? They seem to be popping up everywhere…
Urgent Care centers are part of the neighborhood and community! They are more convenient than an Emergency Department, are more cost efficient, and often can take of urgent care issues more quickly. Open after many doctor’s offices close, they provide the right care at the right time, when you need it.
In what case shouldn’t you bring your child to an urgent care facility, and rather head to the ER?
If your child sustains major trauma, burns or has a broken bone with a deformity, in general, a Pediatric Emergency Department will be the right place to handle those injuries. For complex, technology-dependent children who likely need subspecialty care, a Pediatric Emergency Department is also the right place to be seen. A pediatrics-only urgent care practice is more than equipped with the right facilities and skilled personnel to manage just about everything else!
Why is an urgent care facility a better idea in most cases for kids than the ER?
Urgent care centers treat patients who are urgently sick or injured and need same day care. That’s the case with most kids when they get sick. In general, patients who have medical problems like fever and rashes, or who have uncomplicated injuries can be treated more quickly and efficiently in an urgent care center. The most important component for children is that they are seen by specially trained pediatricians and pediatric emergency physicians. Children are not small adults, and deserve medical care that reflects that.
What makes an urgent care facility a good choice, rather than the regular pediatrician’s office, during the day?
We encourage all kids to have a close relationship with their general pediatrician, but if the office schedule is full, it’s important to have an immediate trustworthy alternative, a place that partners with a child’s pediatrician to provide seamless communication and fast access to care. The same goes with later evening hours and holidays. Some are open 365 days a year – every day until midnight.
Tell us about PM Pediatrics, and where in Brooklyn are they located?
PM Pediatrics currently has two Brooklyn locations in Cobble Hill (240 Atlantic Avenue) and in Midwood (1273 Coney Island Avenue). In total, we have 18 locations throughout New York, New Jersey and Maryland, and our 19th will open in Staten Island later this month. PM Pediatrics is a specialized urgent care provider staffed by Pediatric Emergency Specialists trained in treating newborn through college-age patients in urgent situations while minimizing pain and unnecessary tests. Each location features digital x-ray and lab and treats a broad array of illness and injuries including asthma, fever, infections, dehydration, fractures, wounds requiring stitches and more. Unlike traditional urgent care practices, PM Pediatrics treats children and young adults exclusively, utilizing highly trained specialists, appropriately sized equipment and an office environment tailored for pediatric patients. PM Pediatrics accepts most insurance and features short wait times and convenient hours, 365 days a year.
An example of a PM Pediatrics room, and of how a pediatric urgent care facility caters to children in a way that the ER doesn’t
Dr. Christina Johns is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. She has been a regular medical contributor on ABC News’ Good Morning America, and has had multiple appearances on a variety of CNN and Discovery Health shows. She hosted Doctors Call, a medical talk show on Clear Channel Radio, and has written interactive blogs for local newspapers and Health websites. Dr. Johns also served as a spokesperson for SafeKids Worldwide on behalf of child advocacy on Capitol Hill. She is also the Senior Medical Advisor for PM Pediatrics.
