Times When You Should ALWAYS Call
1. A fever that doesn't come down an hour after
giving your child a pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.
2. A fever that responds to medicine, but hangs on for several days--or goes away and comes back
a day or so later.
3. Abdominal pain, especially if it's on the right
side. (This could be a sign of an inflamed appendix.)
4. An unexplained poor food intake with fever for
two days or decreased urine for one day (or both).
5. Any difficulty swallowing. Your child could have something
lodged in his throat or may be having an allergic reaction.
6. Headache that's accompanied by a fever or vomiting.
7. Any kind of rash or skin issue that makes
you think "Eww, what is that?"
When something just isn't right. "Trust
your gut and call," Dr. Emery says. "I would!"
More Info Here.
Bother?
Patients and co-workers often apologized for “bothering” their pediatricians or doctors. In Dr. Fitzgerald's essay, she writes about how she once instructed the nursing staff to
contact her about any change in a terminal patient’s condition, but nobody
called her when the patient died. “It was late last night, I didn’t want to
bother you,’’ the nurse said. Dr. Fitzgerald says that when a patient calls,
the conversation always starts with, “I hate to bother you, but …”
And she
notes, with irony, that nobody ever apologizes when they notify her about an
academic committee meeting she must attend. “Committees are important,’’ she
writes.
“I tell my patients, residents and students that they should
call me if they need me. They are not an interruption to my work; they are my
work. In this sense, I can’t be ‘bothered’ by them. But a system and a culture
designed to protect doctors from their patients assume I am bothered, and so
give that same impression to those trying to reach me. This really bothers
me.’’
Going to the ER, Urgent Care or Pediatrician
When your
baby is sick or injured, the last thing you want to do is worry about whether
to take them to the pediatrician, ER or urgent care. Here are a few tips to
keep on hand and a guide you can follow when you need it most.
The first
rule you should always follow when baby is sick or injured is “better safe than
sorry.” That means call 911 and get the baby to the ER immediately
if the illness or injury is serious or if you think it might be serious at all.
The 911 operator can instruct you on the best course of action.
Other
reasons to call 911 and get baby to the ER:
- Head injury
- A high fever that
won’t go down (rectal temperature above 100.4°F or 38°C)
- A temperature that
drops too low (rectal temperature below 97.8°F or 36.5°C)
- Extreme tiredness
in baby, including difficulty waking
- Bloody urine,
stool or spit-up
- Deep cuts or
potentially broken bones
- Unexplainable swelling,
especially on the soft spot on top of baby’s head
- Breathing problems
such as rapid breathing or struggling to breathe
You can
call your pediatrician or go to the ER, but you could also elect to go to an
urgent care if you suspect baby has:
- An ear infection
- A severe cold or
flu
- Dehydration or
diarrhea
- Constant cough
You can
go to an urgent care if you feel it’s necessary, but it’s generally okay to
call your pediatrician and wait for an answer if baby:
- Appears to feel
unwell in general, with or without other symptoms such as a rash or runny
nose
- Is vomiting (not
spitting up, which is common)
- Does not have
regular bowel movements
- Has signs of a
common cold
- Has blood or pus
around the navel, or if circumcised, around the penis
- Is not responding
normally to sounds or visual cues
- Needs routine
tests, shots or vaccinations
- Requires a
standard health exam
Regardless
of what you decide to do when baby needs medical care, preparation for the
situation will help you feel more in control and make the best choices. Here
are some tips to stay prepared:
- Keep copies of key
information in your bags, cars and house with the names, phone numbers,
addresses and directions to your pediatrician’s office, local urgent care
and local ER.
- Know what to do if
you call your pediatrician’s office and the office is closed – for
example, do they have an on-call doctor?
- Have a pen and
paper on hand for medical visits to the doctor, urgent care or ER –
writing down instructions is a good way to remember the information during
a stressful time.
- Finally, make sure
caregivers know where to find this information, too, and what you expect
them to do in case of an emergency situation.
It’s also
an important part of being prepared to talk to your doctor in advance about
suggestions for what to do in emergency situations with the baby. Your doctor will
know baby’s special situation, allergies and care needs and will give you the
best advice.
Follow-up with your doctor
Remember,
if you take the baby to the ER or urgent care, you need to call your doctor as soon
as possible and report what happened. Give your baby’s pediatrician all the
information you can, and ask him/her if you need to make a follow-up
appointment for baby. This ensures your doctor can help you make the best
healthcare choices for baby in the future.
Full Article Here.
Tips Before
And During A Call To The Doctor
Your
pediatrician may prefer that you call with general questions during office
hours. Some offices, even have special "phone-in" times. Before you
call, have a pen and paper ready to write down any instructions and questions.
It's easy to forget things, especially if you are worried about your child.
During the call make sure your child is near the phone, if possible, in case
you need to answer any questions.
Also, be
prepared to provide information about your child's health.
- Fever
If you think your child has a fever, take your child's temperature before you call. If your child does have a fever, write down the temperature and time you took it. - Medical problems
Remind the doctor about past medical problems (such as asthma, seizures, or other conditions). He or she cares for many children each day and may not remember your child's health history. - Medicines
Be sure to mention if your child is taking any medicines, including prescription or nonprescription drugs, inhalers, supplements, vitamins, herbal products, or home remedies. - Immunizations
Keep immunization records at hand. These are especially helpful if your child has an injury that may require a tetanus shot or if pertussis (whooping cough) is in your community. - Pharmacy
Have the phone number of your pharmacy ready.
Always Be Ready
If the
doctor or pediatrician needs to return your call, make sure you are available for a callback.
Unblock your phone "call block," and keep phone lines open so that
your pediatrician can return your call in a timely manner. Do not leave pager
numbers. If you leave a cell phone number, be sure that you have your cell
phone on and will be in an area where you can receive calls.
Always Check In With A Pediatrician To Get Answers To Your Concerns. https://omegapediatrics.com/
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