
Pediatric Urgent Care and Evening Hours
Important Questions to Ask Before Entrusting Your Child’s Health to a General Urgent Care Clinic
When your child needs urgent care, ensuring they receive the best and most specialized attention is vital. Here are key questions to guide your decision-making:
- Do they treat only children?
Are they a pediatrics-only facility? Remember, children are not small adults; they require specialized care. - Are they staffed by board-certified pediatricians most nights?
Board-certified pediatricians are specifically trained to manage children's unique medical needs. - Is a pediatric advanced practice provider available when a board-certified pediatrician isn’t on site?
Access to a pediatric-trained professional is essential for quality care. - Do they care for children of all ages, including infants under 2 years old?
This ensures they truly specialize in pediatric care. - Do they offer a complimentary 24/7 pediatric-only nurse triage service?
Access to round-the-clock professional guidance can be a lifesaver for parents. - Are primary care board-certified pediatricians on call 24/7 for emergencies?
Having access to your child's primary pediatrician ensures continuity and familiarity in care. - Is the urgent care certified as part of a primary pediatric medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance?
This certification indicates adherence to high-quality pediatric care standards. - Is the facility owned and directed by independent pediatricians based in the Tampa Bay community?
Local, independent ownership helps avoid conflicts of interest and keeps care patient-focused. - Is the urgent care facility free from national healthcare chains or expensive hospital-owned networks?
Independence means care decisions are driven by patient needs rather than corporate interests. - Do they provide continuity of care with instant access to your child’s medical records and history?
Can they seamlessly connect you with your child’s primary care pediatric provider for follow-ups?
For the highest quality pediatric urgent care, ensure the answer to each question is YES.
Click here to learn more about PHCA’s Pediatric Urgent Care (Evenings) and Weekend Hours.