When your child is ill it’s often hard to determine what level of care they might need. Here is a breakdown of when to go to the emergency room, when to go to urgent care, when to schedule a virtual urgent care visit and when to schedule and appointment with your pediatrician.
When to See Your Pediatrician
In general, turn to your pediatrician’s office first – even after hours. Most pediatrician offices have an after-hours call line to help parents decide whether their child needs to be seen right away or if the issue can’t wait to be treated the next day during regular hours by the primary care provider.
Common ailments that can typically wait until the next day when you are able to make an appointment with your pediatrician include:
- Ear pain
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Fever in children over 1 year
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Eye drainage
- Fussy baby
Appointments can be schedule through Children’s Connect or by calling your primary care office.
When to see Virtual Urgent Care
When your primary care physician’s office is closed and you need some peace of mind, schedule a Virtual Visit. Through our Children’s Connect app, you have access to an Urgent Care provider from the comfort of your own home.
Common conditions that can be treated virtually include:
- Congestion or cough without respiratory distress
- Dehydration
- Eyelid swelling or pimple
- Fever for a child older than 3 months
- Insect bite
- Itching
- Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Pink eye
- Rash
- Vaginal redness or discharge in a pre-pubertal girl
Appointments can be scheduled by calling 402.955.8300 one hour prior to the posted Urgent Care hours.
M-F 5 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Weekends and Holidays Noon to 10 p.m.
Learn more about Virtual Visits
When to go to Urgent Care
When your child needs care urgently, outside of your pediatrician’s office hours, visit an urgent care. Urgent cares are set up to assist patients with injuries or illnesses that do not appear to be serious or life threatening but can wait until morning.
Common conditions that can be treated in urgent care include:
- Minor illness or injury
- Fractures or broken bones that are not crooked and do not cause severe pain
- Worsening fever in infants ages 2 months to 1 year
- Sprains or minor pains
- Minor burns
- Minor asthma
- Small cuts
Urgent Care Hours
M-F 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Weekends and Holidays noon to 10 p.m.
When to go to the Emergency Room
Emergency Departments (EDs) are for people with life-threatening needs. Take your child to an ED (Emergency Department) anytime you think the problem needs immediate attention.
Take your child to the ED for the following conditions:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Blue or purple lips, skin, or fingernails
- Chest or stomach pain or pressure
- Seizures
- Animal, snake, or human bites
- Severe bleeding or burns
- Head, spinal cord or eye injuries
- Infants under 2 months of age with a fever
- Signs of allergic reaction such as hives; swelling of the face, lips, eyes, or tongue; fainting or trouble breathing
- Uncontrolled pain
Hours: 24 hours/7 days a week
Location: Children’s Nebraska, 8200 Dodge Street
