Taking your child to urgent care has many benefits. Experienced urgent care providers can diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries, including the flu, diarrhea, dehydration, sprains, cuts, ear infections, and strep throat. Shorter wait times, walk-in visits, and convenient hours make urgent care a great choice when your child needs to see a provider.
At Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, we provide specialized children’s urgent care for patients aged six months and older at all three of our convenient Louisiana locations. To make your visit even more streamlined, taking some simple steps to prepare is helpful.
Gathering Information
Preparing relevant information about your child’s illness and health history before you arrive at urgent care can be very helpful. At your child’s visit, a provider will work to gather pertinent information about your child’s illness and overall health to reach an accurate diagnosis and choose the best treatment for your child.
Being able to describe your child’s symptoms and the course of their illness is important. Helpful details include:
- When did their illness start?
- If your child has an injury, when did it happen?
- How long have their symptoms lasted?
- What makes them feel better?
- What makes their symptoms worse?
- If pain is present, how severe is it?
- What medications have they had already?
Be sure to gather information about your child’s medical history, including current medications, medication allergies, previous illnesses, and any current health problems.
If your child is an infant, gather information about their feeding and sleep patterns and any concerning changes or symptoms (i.e., fever, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased urination, fussiness, or lethargy).
Important Documents
Having certain important documents ready when you arrive with your child can expedite your check-in process and provides your child’s care team with important medical information. Helpful documents include:
- Your child’s insurance card.
- Your ID, such as a driver’s license.
- Your child’s medical records (i.e., immunization records, medication allergies, medical history, current medication list, and any relevant test results).
Having gathered essential documents and relevant information, it is a good idea to help your child prepare for their urgent care visit.
Preparing Children for an Urgent Care Visit
Children are often anxious about medical visits. Taking the time to sit down with your child and preparing them for their pediatric urgent care visit can go a long way in easing their fears and ensuring their visit is as comfortable as possible.
Explain to your child why you are taking them to urgent care. Paint a picture of what they can expect there, from check-in to seeing a provider in an exam room. Using simple language, they can grasp is helpful. Understanding the process and knowing what to expect can significantly reduce anxiety for your child.
Walk-In Pediatric Urgent Care
With some simple preparation, your child’s urgent care visit can be a seamless, comfortable experience. Visit Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care for trusted, convenient pediatric care near you.
