From strains and sprains to fevers and pain, Akron Children’s offers a whole host of options to quickly and conveniently get your children the excellent care they need. But, you may be wondering: Where do I go for care?
Primary care is the best place to start because your child’s pediatrician knows your child and health history best, said Aml Kelada, MD, of Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Amherst. Many Akron Children’s Pediatrics offices have same-day appointments or walk-in hours to make care convenient for families.
If your primary care office is closed or full, Dr. Kelada offers general guidelines for each level of care to help you make health care decisions. She notes, however, they can overlap and if your child’s condition is listed in multiple levels, choose the option that is most convenient for your family.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (ER).
“If you’re still unsure of where to go for care, contact your child’s pediatrician through MyChart,” she said. “The care team can help you navigate the options based on your child’s symptoms and find a location most appropriate — and convenient — for your family.”
You also can download Akron Children’s Anywhere. The app’s Symptom Checker can help you find out what your child’s symptoms mean and what you should do. If your child needs to be seen, the app can help you find the appropriate level of care, schedule an appointment and find a location nearest you.
Primary care e-visits
Available at all primary care locations, e-visits are kind of like a digital appointment — no need to come to the primary care office or set a specific appointment time.
Instead, you can securely email your child’s care team in MyChart and they’ll respond with treatment recommendations, typically within 24 hours. Your provider can write a prescription or recommend an in-person office follow-up.
E-visits are best for:
- Cough and cold
- Insect bites, lice or pinworms
- Rash
- Red eyes or pink eye
Quick Care
With locations in Austintown, Boardman and Portage, Quick Care is for in-person care to diagnose and treat minor illnesses or injuries when your child’s pediatrician isn’t available. The best way to ensure your child will be seen is to schedule a Quick Care visit.
For added convenience, Quick Care Online also is available to connect with a pediatric provider via a compatible phone, computer or tablet from the comfort of your home. It’s available to anyone age 6 months to under age 21 in Ohio, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Akron Children’s pediatric providers can diagnose, recommend treatment and prescribe medication, if medically necessary.
Quick Care is best for:
- Allergies
- Burns/sunburns (minor)
- Cold and Flu/sinus/congestion: For ear pain, schedule an in-person appointment.
- Cough: For breathing difficulty, wheezing, schedule in-person appointment.
- Cuts (small, minor)
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Ear infections/earaches – in-person Quick Care only.
- Fever (3 months or older): For fevers lasting 3 or more days, schedule an in-person appointment.
- Headache (without nausea, vomiting or vision changes)
- Insect bite: For breathing difficulty, schedule in-person appointment.
- Nausea
- Pain upon urination
- Pink eye: For kids under age 2 or ear pain, schedule an in-person appointment.
- Physicals for sports or work ($45)
- Rash/skin infection
- Sore throat: For strep diagnosis, schedule an in-person appointment.
- Stomach pain (minor)
Urgent Care
Urgent Care is for common illnesses and minor injuries that aren’t life-threatening, but should be treated within 24 hours.
“If emergency care isn’t necessary, Urgent Care is a great option because they’re less costly and can save families time because emergency rooms usually are very busy,” said Dr. Kelada. “If the provider determines care is emergent, he or she will refer your child to the nearest emergency room.”
Urgent Care is best for:
- Allergic reaction (rash)
- Allergies
- Asthma attack (minor)
- Broken bone (skin intact)
- Burn (minor/sunburn)
- Colds, cough or congestion
- Cuts (small, simple cuts that can be treated with surgical glue)
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Earache/ear infection
- Eye redness/drainage/itching
- Fever (3 months or older)
- Flu
- Headache (without nausea, vomiting or vision changes)
- Head injury (child remains conscious)
- Insect bite/sting or minor dog bite
- Nausea
- Pain upon urination
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Splinter or tick removal
- Sports physicals ($45, by appointment only)
- Sprain or strain
- Stomach pain (minor)
- Urinary tract infection
Emergency Medicine
For emergency and life-threatening situations, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Emergency medicine is best for severe injuries and illnesses that could threaten a life or a limb, or for mental health crises. Akron Children’s offers ERs on the Akron and Boardman campuses. In addition, Akron Children’s has partnered with Memorial Health System to provide pediatric emergency care in Belpre.
The ER is best for:
- Asthma attack (major)
- Allergic reaction (difficulty breathing or swallowing, facial swelling)
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Broken bone (obvious break)
- Burn (major)
- Cast problems (wet or soiled)
- Cuts (deep, long cuts that continue to bleed, or large boils)
- Dehydration
- Fever (under 3 months)
- Head injury (severe)
- Migraine headache
- Pneumonia
- Poisoning or swallowed object
- Rash with purple spots or bruising
- Seizure, shock or fainting
- Stomach pain (severe)
Your child does not have to be a current Akron Children’s patient to use Quick Care, Quick Care Online, Urgent Care or the ER.
“We offer different levels of care to treat patients where they are at any time,” said Dr. Kelada. “But rest assured, all our providers are connected electronically and have access to your child’s history and current conditions, so your child can be treated right away. Plus, providers can send notes back to your child’s pediatrician about the care they provided.”
Need care now? Log in to MyChart to start an e-visit, schedule an appointment for Quick Care or use On My Way scheduling to get in sooner at Urgent Care. For emergencies, call 911 or head to the nearest ER.
