Pediatrics at UF Health Jacksonville.

UF Health Emergency & Urgent Care Centers have caring physicians highly trained in pediatric emergency care. We treat infants, children and adolescents who face urgent and emergency situations. Our staff has the compassion and experience to keep kids as calm and comfortable as possible during their time with us.

With emergency and urgent care under one roof, we make it easy for your child to get the level of care they need at any time of day or night. Our commitment to fair billing means you pay only for the level of service you receive. That means your child will see emergency medicine staff, and you’ll pay a lower fee if your child only needs urgent care services during the visit.

Symptoms of an emergency.

Call 911 right away or bring your child to the nearest emergency room (ER) if they have any of these injuries or signs of a serious medical emergency:

• Allergic reaction
• Animal bite, or an insect sting that causes a reaction or infection
• Complications of a chronic illness
• Deep laceration (cut) or open wound
• Difficulty breathing
• Foreign object in the body that needs to be removed
• Head injury
• High fever
• Ingesting a toxic substance
• Loss of alertness or consciousness
• Rhythmic jerking
• Severe injury from a car wreck, fall, burn, choking, drowning, electric shock or other accident
• Severe pain
• Sudden and unusual changes in behavior or energy level
• Turning blue

It’s important to get medical help, even if you aren’t sure the situation is an emergency. Some conditions progress quickly and can cause long-term damage or complications.

Be prepared for an emergency.

Most parents have long to-do lists. But preparing in advance of an emergency can help your child at a time when every minute counts.

Here are steps you can take to be prepared before needing urgent or emergency care:

• Keep a list of your child’s medication and medical history.
• Bring your health insurance card to the ER.
• Write down emergency contacts and the name of your child’s primary pediatrician.
• During an emergency, pay attention to details to share with the emergency responders or physicians.
• Be able to recount these details to share with your child’s pediatrician at the next visit.

As a parent, you are your child’s best advocate. When visiting any doctor, don’t hesitate to ask questions or speak up with concerns about your child’s health or well-being. During a visit to an emergency or urgent care center, don’t leave until you fully understand how to best care for your child at home during their recovery.

Contact your child’s pediatrician after you leave our care center to let them know the situation. They may ask to see your child for a follow-up appointment to check on their health and healing.