Most of the illnesses and injuries suffered by a child during childhood such as fever, ear infections, sprains, cuts requiring stitches, strep throat, and flu do not warrant a visit to an emergency room (ER). Rather, they require speedy, skilled, and reasonably priced health care. This is provided 7 days a week with no appointment needed at Sahara West Urgent Care.
Making an incorrect choice at that time can lead to hours of needless wait time before receiving treatment, a bill that is 5-10 times higher than what it needed to be, or a child waiting for treatment in a crowded ER waiting area when he or she would have been treated and discharged from an urgent care center in less than an hour.
Making an incorrect choice can lead to hours of needless wait time… at Sahara West, our Urgent Care services provide a faster, more affordable alternative for your family.
This guide provides clear answers to parents’ questions regarding their children’s health; therefore, when your child is sick and requires treatment at an inconvenient time, you know where to go for care.
At Sahara West Urgent Care, we believe that informed parents are empowered parents. This guide clearly delineates whether a parent should utilize a pediatrician, an urgent care center, or an emergency room to provide treatment for their sick child, so a parent will never have to make an uninformed decision when his or her child is not feeling well.
The Role of Your Child’s Pediatrician — And When They’re the Right Call
A pediatrician is much more than merely a medical practitioner that attends to health issues. A pediatrician is a long-term health care professional alongside your child; a pediatrician has a complete understanding of your child’s medical history, developmental milestones, behavioral patterns, family background, and other chronic health conditions. This breadth of knowledge cannot be replaced.
A pediatrician is able to see that your child having a chronic stomachache indicates an emotional (anxiety) issue rather than a gastrointestinal issue. A pediatrician is able to connect the dots between the third time this year your child has had an ear infection with a need for anatomy evaluation. This holistic, long-term continuum of your child’s health can only be offered to you in a way that no urgent care visit or emergency room visit will ever offer.
Choose your pediatrician for:
- Routine wellness and preventive care: The best health care professional for the provision of routine health checks and preventive care (annual checkups, vaccinations, school and sport physicals and developmental screenings) is a provider who can examine patterns in your child’s growth over time.
- Mild or ongoing symptoms: It is an appropriate time to schedule an appointment for a pediatric visit for your child if they have mild or ongoing health symptoms, including a chronic cough, another rash, seasonal allergies, and gradual changes in their eating and sleeping habits.
- Chronic and behavioral conditions: Long-term management of chronic and/or behavioral diagnoses such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and developmental delays requires continuous and comprehensive care that only a pediatrician can provide you and your child.
- Same-day sick appointments during business hours: Pediatricians typically set aside appointment slots every day for unexpected illnesses. When your child develops signs and symptoms of an illness while the office is still open, you should call your pediatrician’s office first. In addition, many pediatric practices offer nurse advice lines available 24/7 that will help evaluate the severity of the symptoms and provide assistance while you are at home.
- Non-urgent questions and prescription refills:Medication questions, follow up appointments and additional questions that do not require immediate in-person visits to your child’s pediatrician can usually be submitted through the patient portal.
In any instance of uncertainty during business hours call the pediatrician first. A quick phone triage (2 minutes) could save you hours of waiting and assist you with the quickest and correct option for care.
When Sahara West Urgent Care Is the Right Choice for Your Child
Pediatricians are considered the gold standard for providing routine and chronic care for your children, but one major downside to using pediatricians is that they close. Most pediatric offices do not have in-person visits after 5 p.m. on weekdays or at all on the weekends, which is when your child is most in need of care. Sahara West Urgent Care provides a vital connection point for your child between their primary care doctor and an emergency room visit.
Bring your child to Sahara West Urgent Care for:
- After-hours and weekend illness: If your child becomes ill after hours or over the weekend (fever, sore throat, vomiting, ear pain, or diarrhea), when the pediatrician’s office is closed, Sahara West Urgent Care is open and ready to help!
- High fever in children over 1 month: If the child develops a high fever (above 102–103°F) and is over the age of 1 month, you should evaluate the child at Sahara West Urgent Care.
- Minor injuries: If your child suffers a minor injury, you can take them to Sahara West Urgent Care for an evaluation and treatment.
- Rapid diagnostic testing:If your child needs rapid diagnostic testing, can perform on-site tests for the following illnesses: strep throat, influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and urinary tract infections, giving you fast and accurate results for your child.
If your child needs rapid results for peace of mind, we provide on-site STD Testing (for teens/young adults) and screenings for common pediatric illnesses like Strep and RSV. - Eye and ear concerns: We provide convenient access to pediatric care for children with eye concerns (pink eye (conjunctivitis), ear infections), and mild, seasonal allergies can be treated.
- Skin conditions:In addition it has access to medical professionals with experience in evaluating and treating rashes, hives, insect bites, and minor burns
- Basic imaging: If your child has a minor injury and requires an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture, we have X-ray capabilities for you.
If a fracture is suspected after a fall, our on-site X-Rays allow for immediate imaging without the ER price tag.
Our physicians are experienced in diagnosing children of all ages with child-friendly tools, pediatric dosage protocols, and a comfortable, family-friendly setting, so that they can ease your child’s anxiety and provide the care your child requires without unnecessary delay.
The most important advantage: Urgent care visits are much quicker and more affordable than going to an emergency room (ER) for a non-life threatening condition. You receive appropriate medical treatment, as well as on-site diagnostic testing and treatment, without having to wait in an ER for 3-6 hours and paying substantially more.
When to Skip Urgent Care and Go Directly to the Emergency Room
In certain cases, you cannot wait for either a Pediatric provider or Urgent Care to see you. If any of the following symptoms occur, you need to get yourself to an emergency department (E.D.), or call 911 for immediate help.
Go to the ER immediately if your child experiences:
- Difficulty breathing; Labored breathing; wheezing at rest; or blue lips/tips of fingers.
- Any seizure, especially a child with previous no seizures.
- Loss of consciousness or extreme lethargy; unresponsive; unable to be awakened; or extremely disoriented.
- High fever in an infant less than 30 days; Any baby that has a temperature greater than 100.4*F must be taken for an emergency room evaluation as soon as possible.
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis); swelling of face, throat, tongue. Difficulty swallowing or breathing after exposure to a known allergen.
- Serious trauma/uncontrolled bleeding; deep cuts that will not stop bleeding; suspected spinal cord injury; severe head trauma from a fall.
- Signs/Indications of dehydration may include: No urine output for over 8 hours; diapers not wet/swollen; eyes appear sunken; mouth appears dry; has done a significant amount of crying with no tears present.
- High fever combined with stiff neck/headaches may be a sign of meningitis therefore a child should receive an immediate evaluation.
Go with your gut and make an informed decision if you have doubts about the level of severity. You are the parent of this child so you know how they are; if they feel wrong get medical help.
A Simple Decision Framework for Parents
| Situation | Best Option |
| Routine checkup, vaccines, sports physical | Pediatrician |
| Mild symptoms during office hours | Pediatrician (call first) |
| Chronic condition management | Pediatrician |
| After-hours fever, ear pain, sore throat | Sahara West Urgent Care |
| Minor injury, sprain, laceration | Sahara West Urgent Care |
| Rapid strep, flu, COVID, RSV testing | Sahara West Urgent Care |
| Difficulty breathing, seizure, severe trauma | Emergency Room / Call 911 |
| Fever in infant under 1 month | Emergency Room / Call 911 |
| Severe allergic reaction | Emergency Room / Call 911 |
Smart Tips Every Parent Should Keep in Mind
Call Before You Go: If your child is sick or hurt, you can contact your pediatrician’s office to speak to a nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A quick phone call will help you determine if you need to bring your child in for a visit or if you can provide home care.
Bring Medical History Records: Make sure to bring a complete record of your child’s medications, allergies, chronic conditions, and any recent illnesses when going to any healthcare provider besides your pediatrician. This assures that the provider has all the information necessary to make the best decision for your child.
Check Back with Your Pediatrician: You should let your pediatrician know what happened during your visit to the urgent care or emergency room. Your pediatrician will need this information to make sure your child continues to recover and has no disruption in their long-term healthcare.
For parents looking for ongoing wellness support beyond urgent needs, we also offer Primary Care and programs to help your family maintain long-term health.
Choose a Pediatric-Specific Urgent Care: When looking for urgent care for your child, it is critical that for children under 2 years of age, you only use facilities that have healthcare providers who are trained in pediatric assessment and in how to prescribe medications for children. Adult urgent care facilities or emergency rooms may not have the necessary training and/or equipment to properly assess and treat young children.
Sahara West Urgent Care — Here for Your Child When It Matters Most
At Sahara West Urgent Care, We’re Parents and We Know That Having a Sick or Injured Child is Extremely Difficult. We Also Understand That You Need Immediate Help from an Experienced Pediatric Provider When You Can’t See Your Pediatrician or You Don’t Need to Visit a Hospital’s Emergency Room.
We Provide:
- Walk-Ins Welcome , No Appointment Required
- Extended Hours, Weekends and Evenings
- On-Site Rapid Diagnose Testing
- Minor Injury X-Rays
- Pediatric-Focused Providers in a Child-Friendly Environment
- Fast Service at Less Expense Than the Emergency Room
Your Child Can’t Wait, and Neither Should You
Booking an Appointment Online!
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take my child to urgent care instead of a pediatrician?
Urgent care is best for after-hours illnesses, minor injuries, fever, sore throat, or ear infections when your pediatrician is unavailable.
What conditions can Sahara West Urgent Care treat for kids?
We treat fevers, flu, strep throat, minor cuts, sprains, ear infections, rashes, and more.
When should I take my child directly to the emergency room?
Go to the ER for difficulty breathing, seizures, severe injuries, loss of consciousness, or high fever in newborns.
Is urgent care faster than the emergency room?
Yes, urgent care visits are usually much faster and more affordable for non-life-threatening conditions.
Can Sahara West Urgent Care perform rapid testing for children?
Yes, we offer rapid testing for flu, COVID-19, RSV, strep throat, and other common illnesses.
Should I still follow up with my child’s pediatrician after urgent care?
Yes, follow-up care helps your pediatrician monitor recovery and maintain complete health records.
Does Sahara West Urgent Care accept walk-ins for kids?
Yes, walk-ins are welcome with no appointment required for pediatric urgent care visits.
