Every parent has been there. It’s 7:30 PM, the pediatrician’s office is closed, and your child’s illness seems to be worsening. You’re not sure if you should wait until morning or take her to the ER. And what about urgent care?
Read on for a pediatrician’s perspective on this dilemma and tips to get your child the best medical care after hours.
Our after-hours call schedule
At Pediatric Associates of Cheshire (PAC), there is a pediatrician from our practice on call during all non-business hours, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
When the office closes (around 5:00 PM), the on-call doctor takes over. When you call the office, you will be transferred to a paging service. The doctor will then call you back, typically within 1 hour. If you do not hear back, call again.
Beginning at 7:00 PM, a pediatric nurse will screen calls. The nurse will answer simple questions and decide which calls require the doctor’s attention. Currently, there is an unusually high volume of calls. The nurses are overwhelmed. If you do not hear from the nurse within 1 hour, call back. If you are very concerned about your child at this point, you should consider going to the ER rather than waiting.
When to call
- Difficulty breathing or fast breathing
- Change in level of alertness (excessive sleepiness, confusion, repetitive speech)
- Dehydration (not passing urine in 6 hours, not tolerating even sips of fluids)
- Fevers that do not improve with fever-reducing medicines like Motrin or Tylenol
In the end, trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable caring for your child without expert guidance, or if something doesn’t seem right, call.
What to expect
Phone calls with a nurse or doctor are not intended to provide a diagnosis or specific treatment. Rather, the goal is to triage. We can help you decide if your child can be cared for at home, if (s)he needs a sick appointment in the morning, or if (s)he needs to be evaluated tonight. In our experience, the vast majority of phone calls result in the doctor or nurse giving advice for supportive care at home, with instructions to call the office in the morning.
Know your resources
Emergency department
- Go here if you are concerned that your child has a true medical emergency, such as difficulty breathing, severe allergic reaction, dehydration, or a change in level of alertness.
- If you go here for a less serious medical problem, you can expect wait times exceeding 4 hours, as the staff will be busy caring for more severely ill patients.
Urgent care center
- Go here for less serious medical problems such as a small cut, arm/leg injury, mild to moderate respiratory symptoms, or ear pain.
- Wait times tend to be shorter.
If the nurse or doctor does not specify where you should bring your child, feel free to ask.
Keep it “pediatric” when possible
In the event of a true medical emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. There is no time to waste.
If the problem is not a true medical emergency, however, you should go somewhere specializing in pediatrics. “Adult” medical providers are relatively inexperienced with children. Once a child is about 16 years of age, it is more acceptable for him or her to see an adult medical provider.
Below are some notes about local emergency departments and urgent care centers to help you choose where to go. When possible, we recommend choosing locations marked with ✓, which specialize in pediatrics.
Bristol Hospital Emergency Department
- Located in Bristol
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
- Get Directions
✓ Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) Emergency Department
- Located in Hartford near Hartford Hospital
- The best option for pediatric emergency care in central CT
- Long wait times; reserve for true emergencies
- Get Directions
✓ Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) Urgent Care Center
- Located in Farmington. Right off I-84, very easy to get to. Big parking lot.
- Staffed by CCMC pediatric providers. Open until 9:00 PM.
- A great option for non-emergency issues requiring evaluation after hours.
- Get Directions
John Dempsey Hospital (UConn Health Center) Emergency Department
- Located in Farmington
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
- Get Directions
Midstate Medical Center Emergency Department
- Located in Meriden
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
- Get Directions
Ortho Ouch Pediatric Orthopedic Urgent Care
- Located in Wallingford
- Call ahead to be sure a pediatric provider is able to see your child
- Able to perform x-rays. Can also do casting, splinting
- Get Directions
Orthopedic Urgent Care Centers (non-pediatric, in general)
- Various locations around CT
- Call ahead to be sure a pediatric provider is able to see your child
- Able to perform x-rays. Can also do casting, splinting
✓ PM Pediatrics Urgent Care Center
- Locations in West Hartford and Manchester. Easy to get to. Easy parking.
- Staffed by pediatric providers. Open until midnight.
- A great option for non-emergency issues requiring evaluation after hours.
- West Hartford – Get Directions
- Manchester – Get Directions
St. Mary’s Hospital Emergency Department
- Located in Waterbury
- Has a branch of CCMC within the Emergency Department
- Has fewer pediatric resources than Yale or CCMC’s main campus
- Get Directions
The Hospital of Central Connecticut Emergency Room – Bradley Memorial Campus
- Located in Southington
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
- Get Directions
Urgent Care Centers (non-pediatric; GoHealth, DOCS, etc., in general)
- Various locations around CT
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department
- Located in Waterbury
- Better to use a pediatric center instead, when possible
- OK for children > 16 years of age
- Get Directions
✓ Yale Pediatric Emergency Department
- Located in New Haven near Yale New Haven Hospital
- The best option for pediatric emergency care in southern CT
- Long wait times; reserve for true emergencies
- Get Directions