For many new parents, the first reaction is to bring your child to the emergency room for any illness or injury no matter how severe – or how minor. When my energetic twins (now teenagers) were toddlers, there were numerous trips to the ER for obvious emergencies like the time my daughter broke her wrist skateboarding or the time my son fell through the coffee table, opening a two-inch gash in his forehead.
Is it really an emergency?
Through the years, my kids also suffered assorted fevers, colds, and coughs, and I considered going to the ER when our PCP’s office was closed. Late at night, with a sick child it’s hard to know if it’s okay to wait until morning. And many parents think their only options are their pediatrician or the ER.
As you know, overcrowded emergency rooms have been a widespread issue across the nation for many years. Unnecessary visits have driven up ER wait times at many hospitals. And many patients pay more out-of-pocket to use the ER, sometimes hundreds of dollars more than an office visit copay.
ER alternatives
Nowadays, patients have many options to choose from for non-emergent care. Many providers now offer after-hour urgent care options and telemedicine services as alternatives to the ER. NHP covers audiovisual telehealth visits for urgent care, and so do many other insurance companies. In addition, Partners HealthCare and NHP recently launched a new service called Partners HealthCare On Demand. Members can connect with Partners providers 24/7 right from their computer, tablet, or smartphone when they use the service in-state (out-of-state care is provided by Teladoc physicians).
It's important more than ever for patients to understand their options to ensure they receive care at an appropriate setting.
Help your patients plan ahead
- Let your patients know if you offer after-hour urgent care or telemedicine in your practice
- Tell patients about their best options if your practice is closed
- Remind patients that they should let you know within 24-hours if they’ve used an urgent care clinic or been to the ER
Also, you can share this chart with them to help them decide where to get the best care for their child or themselves.
