About Xpress Pediatrics
How is Xpress Pediatrics different from other urgent care practices?
Xpress Pediatrics is an urgent care center that provides care exclusively to children from the ages of newborn to 21 years. Xpress Pediatrics always has an on-site health care providers (pediatrician or nurse practitioner), who are trained, experienced in pediatric medicine. Children are NOT small adults. Children’s health issues are different from adults. Children’s physical examination requires a separate set of skills and their laboratory or x-ray results require a different interpretation. Our providers understand the children’s needs and has expertise. Whereas traditional urgent care centers are generally staffed by non-pediatric providers.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Xpress Pediatrics sees patients on a walk in basis. However, we have an option for the patient to sign up on the website, to virtually get in line for check-in before visiting the Xpress Pediatrics. This is not an appointment. It gives us an opportunity to notify us of your arrival, so that we can arrange our resources accordingly.
Do you have physicians on-site?
Yes. There is a pediatrician on site at all times for staff supervision and consultation. We employ experienced doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, all trained in pediatric acute care. If you prefer to make a request during the registration at the front desk to see a particular provider or physician, we will accommodate your request.
What are the ages of patients seen at Xpress Pediatrics?
Xpress Pediatrics evaluates children from newborn to 21 years of age.
About Your Visit
What should I bring with me?
We recommend bringing the following items with you when visiting Xpress Pediatrics:
- Driver’s license or photo ID if you are a parent or a patient 18 y/o or older
- Proof of insurance, including an insurance card or a copy of plan details
- Payment for self-pay patients or credit card to authorize on file
- List of medications, allergies, and past surgeries
- Any relevant forms that need filled out during the visit such as for school or sports physicals
How can I get my medical records?
You may request your full medical records in one of the following ways.
You may walk in to Xpress Pediatrics center with your current identification to receive a copy of your medical records or you may call our urgent care to speak with a front desk representative or log in to our website and use our Patient Portal.
On-Site Services
What services are available?
- Clinical services: We can diagnose, evaluate and treat several acute illnesses and minor injuries. We perform several treatments and procedures when indicated such as wounds that require stitches, broken bones, sprains and other minor trauma that may require splints.
- Children with fever, ear infections, allergies, vomiting or diarrhea, dehydration requiring intravenous, fluids respiratory infections, asthma, headache or abdominal pain and many more conditions not specified here. If you are not sure, please call 240-616-1616 so that we can help you with an advice with regards to whether we can see you or your child in our center.
- X-Ray services: Xpress Pediatrics is equipped for routine digital x-rays of the chest, abdomen, spine, skull and extremities.
- Lab services: The CLIA-approved labs in every Xpress Pediatrics are equipped to do many routine lab tests from blood work to pregnancy tests on-site during your visit.
- Vaccines:
- Seasonal vaccines: Flu vaccine, Covid-19 vaccine
Insurance, Billing and Payment
Does Xpress Pediatrics accept insurance?
We accept most insurances. For an updated list of plans we accept, click here. If your insurance carrier is listed, you will be responsible for your copayment, coinsurance, and any deductible required by your carrier.
What information should I have available when I call Xpress Pediatrics about my bill?
For faster and more accurate service, please provide: the name of the patient, legal guardian or the name of the person who accepts financial responsibility for the bill (guarantor), the account number shown on your bill, the date the service was received and you should also have your insurance card available in case we need the name of the insurance company, your policy number, or other information displayed on the card.
Xpress Pediatrics can only help explain bills after the insurance company has taken action. If your insurance company has not already taken action on a claim, you should call them before calling Xpress Pediatrics.
I have a bill from Xpress Pediatrics that should have been paid by my insurance company. What should I do?
Xpress Pediatrics routinely submits the bills to your insurance companies within two days of the date of service. If the insurer does not respond within 60 days, we assume that our billing information is invalid or incorrect or that the patient did not have the listed health insurance plan in force at the time of service and we will bill the patient. If the bill was sent to the wrong insurer, please call us to give us the correct information and then we will be glad to submit your claim.
Can you help me with questions I have about my insurance benefits?
Insurance plans have payment levels and payment rules which vary by individual patient and which may change over time. You should call your insurance company about your health insurance benefits and coverage limits and any changes to your plan. We certainly can explain the reasons for why we are billing you and for what services provided during your visit.
What is the Xpress Pediatrics payment policy?
Xpress Pediatrics is a privately run medical organization which receives no financial assistance from state or federal programs and which relies solely on revenue from patients and their insurers.
We believe that the physician-patient relationship is strengthened when there is a clear understanding between both parties as to their rights and obligations.
In order to maintain financial stability in the current medical insurance environment and to provide the best possible medical care at the lowest possible cost, we have established the following payment policies:
If Xpress Pediatrics participates in your insurance plan, Copayments are required at registration.
Payment for charges from earlier visits not covered by insurance is due at registration.
If Xpress Pediatrics does NOT participate in your insurance plan, Payment of all unpaid balances on your account is required at registration.
Payment in full for your visit charges is required at discharge.
If you do not have insurance, Payment of all unpaid balances on your account is required at registration.
Payment in full for your visit charges is required at discharge.
How much does a visit cost?
How much you pay for your visit depends on your insurance plan.
If you do not have insurance or have an insurance with which do not participate, Xpress Pediatrics offers an economical Self-Pay program. To view the self-pay prices for office visit charges and add-on services here.
What is the difference between co-payment, deductible, and co-insurance?
- Co-Payment – The fixed out-of-pocket cost you pay for a visit, defined by your insurance plan.
- Deductible – The cumulative amount you must pay out-of-pocket for visits and services before your insurance begins to pay on any visit or service. If your deductible isn’t met, you may be responsible for as much as the entire visit cost.
- Co-Insurance – The percentage of visit and service charges you pay after your deductible is met.
Pediatric Urgent Care Q & A
What is pediatric urgent care?
Pediatric urgent care includes diagnostic services and treatments available for children and adolescents immediately. You don’t need to book an appointment before bringing your child to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children to receive high-quality care right away. The team can diagnose and treat newborns and children ages 21 and younger.
Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children is open seven days a week with convenient extended hours. Illnesses and injuries don’t always work with your everyday schedule, and pediatric urgent care acknowledges that. You can get walk-in care or book an appointment ahead of time.
When should I bring my child in for an urgent care visit?
There are many reasons to bring your child to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children for an urgent care visit. The team can evaluate and treat a wide range of symptoms and conditions. Your child can get care right away for:
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Cuts and scrapes
- Bruises
- Sinus infections
- Minor bone fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Earaches and infections
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Burns
- Rashes
- Sports injuries
The team of pediatric specialists at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children are trained to provide age-specific care for your child and can communicate with your child’s primary provider or another specialist about all of the services and treatments they received.
What happens during a pediatric urgent care visit?
During your child’s pediatric urgent care visit, the team asks about your child’s medical history and your family medical history. They take your child’s height, weight, and vitals before performing a physical examination and reviewing your child’s symptoms.
The next steps are on an as-needed basis. To help get an accurate diagnosis, the team might recommend X-ray imaging or blood testing after an in-office blood draw. They use information from tests like these to find out what’s affecting your child and the extent of the condition.
If your child is dehydrated, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can provide intravenous (IV) fluids to quickly rehydrate them and ease symptoms.
What’s the difference between pediatric urgent care and emergency care?
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can provide a wide range of fast and effective services for your child. However, urgent care is not the same as going to the emergency room.
For mild or moderate conditions, an emergency room visit might require you to sit in the waiting room for hours. Additionally, emergency rooms might not have pediatric specialists that can offer your child the age-specific care they need.
There are situations in which you should bring your child to an emergency room instead of Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children for urgent care. If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, involves a lot of bleeding, or results in a loss of consciousness, a visit to the emergency room is necessary.
To find out more about pediatric urgent care and decide whether a visit is necessary for your child, come into Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, call ahead, or book your visit online today.
Asthma & Allergies Q & A
What is asthma?
Asthma is a condition that makes it hard for your child to breathe. The symptoms can be ongoing or come in brief flare-ups called asthma attacks.
Asthma attacks happen when your child comes into contact with specific triggers like dog hair, chemical fumes, physical exercise, and more. They can also happen because of allergies.
The symptoms of your child’s asthma might include:
- Chest tightness
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Rapid heart rate
- Sleeping problems
When diagnosing your child with asthma, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children asks about your family’s medical history as well as your child’s personal medical history. They also ask about the symptoms and their frequency. They might also test their lung function before coming up with a long-term treatment plan for your child.
What are allergies?
Allergies are highly common in people of all ages. Your child gets allergic reactions in response to something in their environment, called an allergen.
Allergic reactions happen when your child’s immune system overreacts to substances that are normally harmless to their health. Common allergens include:
- Pet dander
- Pollen
- Mold
- Milk
- Eggs
- Shellfish
- Nuts
- Medications
The symptoms of allergies can range from mild to severe and even life-threatening. No matter the cause, it’s important to have a treatment plan if your child’s allergies are severe.
When you bring your child to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children for allergy care, the team performs allergy testing to find the allergen causing the reaction and creates a treatment plan appropriate for the type and severity of their allergies.
How are allergies and asthma treated?
If your child has asthma, the team may prescribe a medication to take daily to ease their symptoms. Additionally, they might receive an inhaler to use in the event of an asthma attack.
The gaseous medication inside the inhaler opens your child’s airways to help them breathe through an attack. If the asthma attack is severe, you should still find immediate medical care for your child.
For allergies, the team encourages your child to avoid their triggers whenever possible. However, some allergens are impossible to avoid at all times. You should tell your child’s teachers, babysitters, and other guardians about their allergies.
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children may prescribe your child medications like eye drops and nasal sprays to help manage an allergic reaction.
If your child’s allergy is severe enough to cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, your child may need to carry an epinephrine pen to use in the event of a reaction. The team shows you how to use the pen so you can share the information with other caretakers.
To find out if your child has asthma, allergies, or both together, walk into Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, call ahead or book an appointment online today.
Newborn Care Q & A
What is newborn care?
Newborn care is age-specific care for babies up until they turn two months old. When you have a newborn baby, you might be eager to give them the care they need and are probably anxious about any changes in their demeanor or their symptoms.
At Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, the team can help you navigate life with a newborn and treat your newborn for any symptoms or conditions they experience.
To keep your baby healthy, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children also provides the vaccines they need. Vaccines are injections that your baby receives to protect them against certain viruses and bacteria invaders, called pathogens.
Each vaccine contains an inactive version of the pathogen or a protein from the pathogen that your baby’s immune system learns to recognize. The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children helps you keep up on your newborn’s vaccine schedule.
What are some common issues that newborns experience?
There are several health complications that commonly affect newborns, and the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can help you learn to recognize them.
If your baby shows symptoms, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children perform a physical examination and provides treatment if necessary. They can help you manage these and other conditions in your newborn baby:
Jaundice
Jaundice is a condition causing your newborn’s skin and eyes to turn yellow. The condition is usually mild and goes away just weeks later. However, you should still seek regular care for your newborn because severe jaundice can quickly become dangerous for their development. If your physician thinks that the degree of your newborn’s jaundice is high, your baby may need a diagnostic blood test to see if treatment is necessary. Some babies may require a form of light treatment called phototherapy to help reduce jaundice.
Umbilical cord care
Your baby’s umbilical cord stump will usually dry and fall off between 5-12 days. You should clean around the stump with tap water and gently dry the area. Powders and lotions are not recommended. If you notice any redness or discharge, contact the office.
Bowel function and diaper care
Your newborn should make their first bowel movement within 24 hours. The first motion is referred to as meconium, and it will likely look green and sticky. Between 3-5 days, the color of your baby’s fecal matter will change to a yellow color. Babies should also pass urine within the first 24 hours of life. However, it can be difficult to tell if this has happened as the amount of urine produced is very small. To reduce the risk of diaper rash, change your babies diaper frequently. Signs of diaper rash may include redness of the skin around the buttock region.
Crying
All babies cry, but some babies cry more than others. The reason will vary, but this distress call may indicate the need for a diaper change, a feed, or a cuddle. Sometimes, crying can mean that your baby is not feeling well. You can comfort your baby by breastfeeding, holding it close to you, swaying, or making soothing sounds.
Colic
Some babies can get trapped gas, which is usually referred to as colic. Babies who have colic can have difficulty settling and may appear distressed. Talk to your provider if you think your baby has these symptoms.
Skin rashes
Your newborn’s skin is delicate and prone to rashes. Even though most rashes are mild and will go away without treatment, a rash can cause distress for your baby. The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can ease your newborn’s skin symptoms to make them more comfortable.
Feeding problems
Most feeding problems with your newborn are normal. Your baby might refuse to eat during meal times, spit up their food, or struggle to gain weight. If you’re concerned about your baby’s eating habits, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can evaluate them for poor nutrition, dehydration, and other complications.
How should I care for my newborn at home?
After bringing your newborn to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children for evaluation and treatment, you should follow all instructions that the team gives you for home care. Additionally, there are steps you can take to keep your newborn healthy. You should:
- Avoid smoking in the house or near your baby
- Feed your baby regularly
- Keep their diapers clean and dry
- Be gentle while handling your baby
- Give your baby regular skin-to-skin contact
- Avoid bed-sharing
- Lay your baby down face-up to sleep
Of course, if you notice any changes in your newborn’s behaviors or if they have symptoms, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children is available to answer your questions and provide a physical examination if necessary.
To find out more about infant care, visit Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children or book an appointment by phone or online today. You can also walk-in for immediate care.
Pediatric X-Rays Q & A
What are pediatric X-rays?
An X-ray is a medical imaging technique that allows your child’s providers to view their bones and soft tissues. X-rays can show injuries that you can’t see otherwise or show the true extent of an injury. They also help your child’s doctor plan an effective treatment appropriate for the injury.
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can provide your child with a diagnostic pediatric X-ray right away without an appointment. They use state-of-the-art X-ray equipment to create a black and white image of your child’s bones and tissues to analyze to form a diagnosis.
How do X-rays work?
X-rays send beams of electromagnetic energy through your body tissues. When the energy bounces off your tissues, it delivers an image to the X-ray machine in different shades of grayscale.
Your bones appear white because they absorb a high amount of energy. The parts of your X-ray image that appear black show air, which absorbs the least amount of electromagnetic energy.
When does my child need a pediatric X-ray?
There are many reasons why the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children might request an X-ray. They might order a pediatric X-ray to help evaluate, diagnose, or treat:
- Bone fractures
- Digestive issues
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Infections
- Swallowed objects
If your child needs an X-ray, the team makes sure both you and your child know exactly what to expect before the X-ray happens.
If you have concerns about your child’s symptoms or an injury, you can come to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children for a pediatric X-ray without making an appointment days ahead of time. The team can tell you whether an X-ray is beneficial in your child’s case.
Are X-rays safe?
You might feel worried about the radiation that X-rays emit. If your child’s doctor has requested an X-ray, they’ve decided that the benefits of getting the X-ray to diagnose or treat your child far outweigh the risks.
It’s important to remember that the radiation that comes from an X-ray is very small and your child is already exposed to radiation every day from other sources, like the sun. Still, your provider gives your child a protective lead vest to wear during the X-ray to lower their exposure to radiation.
To find out more about pediatric X-rays and why your child might need one, visit Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, call ahead, or book an appointment online today.
Chronic Illness Q & A
What is a chronic illness?
Chronic illnesses are ongoing medical conditions that last for three months or longer. They’re the opposite of acute conditions like colds, ear infections, and the flu which typically last for days or weeks. Many chronic illnesses have no known cure, but you and your child can learn to manage them with the right treatment strategies.
Which chronic illnesses can kids get?
Chronic illnesses affect men, women, and even children of all ages. The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can help with the management of a wide variety of different chronic illnesses and the symptoms they present. A few examples are:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition affecting the way your child processes blood sugar. Too much blood sugar can cause serious health complications, so you need to monitor your child’s blood sugar and control it with dietary adjustments, medications, and other strategies.
Sickle cell anemia
Normal blood cells are round and flow smoothly through your vessels. If your child has sickle cell anemia, the blood cells are elongated, rigid, and sharp. They can get stuck and stop oxygen from getting to various parts of your child’s body.
Neurological conditions
Neurological conditions, like epilepsy, spina bifida, or migraines, affect your child’s nerves or brain. They might start at birth or develop after an injury or infection.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease can develop from congenital disabilities or infections. It can result in a slow growth rate, frequent urinary tract infections, fatigue, and other complications.
How are chronic illnesses treated?
Treatment for chronic illnesses often focuses on easing symptoms and improving quality of life, especially if there is no available cure.
In most cases, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children may recommend one or more ongoing treatments for your child’s chronic illness. They give you all the information you need to help your child keep up to date on their treatment and to live life to its fullest. Their treatment might require:
Medications
Many chronic illnesses are treatable with daily medications or medications that you take as you need them. The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children tells your child how and when to take their medication.
Technology
In some cases of chronic illness, children need to rely on technology to meet their needs. For example, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can help your child learn to live life with a feeding tube for nutrition or other medical devices.
Lifestyle adjustments
To help your child manage their chronic illness, the team might recommend adjusting their diet or encouraging more physical exercise as part of their ongoing treatment.
To find out how you can help your child manage their chronic illness, call Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, walk in for immediate care, or book an appointment online today.
Teen Health Q & A
What is teen health?
Teen health is the subcategory of pediatrics dedicated to treating adolescents. At Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, you don’t need to make an appointment before coming in for a physical evaluation, diagnostic testing, and treatment.
Teens also have access to knowledgeable health care professionals who can answer their questions honestly and give them the information they need. Teens aren’t always ready to open up to their parents about health issues affecting them, but the trusted team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children are there to help without judgment.
What makes teen health different from children’s health?
Teen health is different from children’s health for many important reasons. While their home environments might not change much, they face different social settings at school and in other parts of their lives.
One key reason for the drastic shift between childhood and the teenage years is puberty. Puberty is a developmental period that happens when children’s bodies begin to grow and change into adult bodies. During this process, their bodies produce lots of hormones to aid in growth, development, and sexual maturation.
The hormones produced during puberty can affect your teen’s emotions and behaviors. They might feel confused about the changes to their bodies or other parts of life that they didn’t think about before.
Mood swings, anxiety, and other complications can make puberty a difficult time for teens, and they might need help understanding their bodily changes, new health issues affecting them, and their mental health.
Which services do teens need?
Teens can continue attending sick visits and physical exams to review their health. However, the issues causing them to visit Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children are often different from younger children’s reasons for visiting. Your teen might need help with:
Mental health concerns
If your child’s emotions seem more intense than regular emotions, or if their behaviors are affecting their schoolwork, it might be more than just the hormonal changes. The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children can diagnose and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions.
Young women’s health
Young women should start attending annual women’s health visits starting between ages 13 and 15, around the time they hit puberty. Your teen can come to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children to address their questions and concerns regarding sexual and reproductive health without making an appointment.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria enter your urethra, bladder, ureters, or kidneys and cause an infection. Most urinary tract infections happen in the lower part of the urinary tract, and they’re more common in women than in men. Symptoms include the frequent need to urinate and burning sensations while urinating.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes are all highly manageable with the right help from your teen’s doctor. The Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children team offers quick STD testing in the office.
To find out more about teen health services, walk in to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, call ahead, or book an appointment online today.
Telehealth Q & A
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is a convenient medical service that allows you and your child to access your providers without coming in for a visit. For a telehealth visit, you stay at home and use communication technology like computers, tablets, or mobile phones to correspond with your child’s provider at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children.
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children offers telehealth visits from 10 AM to 10 PM every day, including holidays and weekends. They also provide free consultations as an option to all patients who require a follow-up visit.
They might also ask you to record information about your child’s health and send it to them via email or through an app. In this way, they can gather vital information about your child’s health and the efficacy of their treatment without frequent in-person visits.
When does my child need telehealth?
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children often recommends telehealth services in place of follow-up appointments.
At an initial in-person visit to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, the team evaluates your child and might order diagnostic services like X-rays and lab testing. Once they come to a conclusive diagnosis, they choose a course of treatment for your child.
Your provider might ask you and your child to take part in a follow-up telehealth visit to monitor your child’s treatment for:
- Skin Rashes
- Pink eye
- Allergies
- Fever
- Asthma
- Cough or cold
- Sore throat
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Headache
- Trouble breathing
- Flu symptoms
- Earache
- Bites, bruises
- Stomach ache
If your child still has symptoms throughout treatment, or if new symptoms appear, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children wants to know. They can make adjustments to your child’s treatment or they might recommend you to come back in for another visit.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
Telehealth benefits you and your child as well as your child’s provider. The advantages of using telehealth in place of a follow-up appointment include:
- Greater convenience
- Saves time for follow-up visits
- More cost-effective
- Saves travel time to the office
- No time in the waiting room
If you’re uncertain whether telehealth is beneficial for you and your child, the team can help you weigh the benefits and decide whether to use telehealth instead of in-person visits. The team makes sure you have the time and resources to invest in telehealth follow-up visits.
How do I connect with my provider?
Before you connect with your provider at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, make sure you have the following handy:
- A smartphone or a laptop or desktop with a camera
- The patient’s name, date of birth, and their parent or guardian’s residence and contact information (email, phone number, etc.)
- The patient’s insurance card information
- A credit or debit card for payment
- The patient’s temperature and weight
Once you are prepared, you can connect with your doctor by following three simple steps:
- Step-1: Call 240-616-1616 and enroll your child
- Step-2: Wait for a link that your provider will text or email
- Step-3: Click the link on your cell phone or laptop to connect
Following your telemedicine visit, you will receive patient education material and a visit summary. Please take note of the information below before setting up your appointment:
- Some illnesses or medical conditions require an in-person evaluation to diagnose and treat accurately. Your doctor will advise if the patient needs to be seen in person.
- The fee associated with the visit will be waived if the patient is seen at the office following a telemedicine visit.
- In the case of a life-threatening emergency, a child’s parent or guardian should call 911.
To find out more about telehealth and how it can enhance your child’s health care, call Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, come in, or book a visit online today.
Trauma Treatment Q & A
What is trauma?
Trauma refers to physical injuries that you get upon impact or from a blunt or sharp object. Traumatic injuries result in damage to your bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other bodily tissues and require repairs to restore their function.
Kids have lots of energy. They might play a little too roughly or fall from several feet. At Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children, the team can diagnose and treat your child’s mild traumatic injury right away. You don’t need to book an appointment beforehand, simply visit the clinic shortly after the injury happens.
The team uses the in-house X-ray to determine the extent of the injury. You don’t need to go to another location for advanced diagnostic techniques for effective treatment.
What are some common traumatic injuries?
The team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children is equipped to treat a wide range of minor traumatic injuries that aren’t life-threatening.
These injuries often happen to active and adventurous kids, and with the right treatment, your child can make a full recovery. You can bring your child to Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children if they have:
- Lacerations (cuts)
- Bruises
- Sprains and strains
- Bone fractures
- Concussions
- Injuries from sports
If the injury causes excessive bleeding or results in your child losing consciousness, they may have a moderate or severe traumatic injury and you should go straight to the emergency room instead of an urgent care center.
How are traumatic injuries treated?
After the Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children team reviews your child’s symptoms and X-ray images, they can plan a treatment to help your child’s injury heal effectively. Depending on the injury and its extent, their treatment might involve:
Stitches
If your child has a small laceration or cut, the team at Xpress Pediatrics, Urgent Care for Children might repair it with stitches. You’ll come back for a second appointment to have them removed.
Bandages
Bandages can hold wound dressings in place and support the tissues around your injury. You’ll need to change your child’s bandage regularly to keep it clean and dry.
Splints
A splint protects a bone fracture or joint injury and helps your body heal it properly. They provide support and comfort until you visit the orthopedic specialist.