Everything you need to know about After Hour Clinics

You feel that your child’s fever might be more than the normal flu or your child's injured hand might actually be broken or sprained. What do you do for receiving health care outside of normal operating hours?

The answer to this dilemma is After Hours clinics. An after hours clinic is a boon when your child is sick, and you need urgent medical attention outside of regular operating hours. It refers to the care that a child receives when their condition cannot wait for treatment until regular health care services are available on the next working day.

What is an After Hours clinic?

An After Hours clinic is the extension of your pediatrician’s clinic. Your pediatrician offers expanded clinic hours wherein you receive health care from certified pediatricians during after work hours and even on the weekends. Taking your child to the same facility ensures that your child feels safe and secure in the familiar atmosphere while it will give you peace of mind knowing that your child receives the best medical attention.

What Kind of Care Can I Get at an After Hours Clinic?

Think of After Hours clinics working just like an extension of your primary caregiver office offering the same scope of services in the same facility with the added benefit of receiving services on an urgent basis and after regular office hours. If you feel that your child needs urgent attention, pediatric after hours is a quicker alternative rather than going to Urgent Care or the emergency room.

For continuity care, such as work or sports physicals or getting travel immunization, visiting your primary care doctor at regular hours is advisable, as they know your medical history better. However, for any urgent care, visiting an after hours clinic at your pediatrician’s office helps you get immediate medical attention

Also, most After Hours clinics are linked through electronic medical records, so that your primary doctors remain updated for the treatment you received, and can follow up with you when needed.

What does an After Hours visit usually cost?

Generally, After Hours clinics of care cost about the same as a single trip to your primary doctor. However, it is much less expensive than visiting an emergency room or an urgent care room. Thus, it might be financially beneficial to visit an After Hours clinic. It must also be remembered that After Hour care is usually covered by insurance, and it varies according to the person’s health insurance plan.

However, you must always consider that if you are facing any dilemma or having a life-threatening emergency, it is best to contact your nearest Emergency Room, so as to not delay appropriate health care. If you think that your child is choking, or having uncontrolled bleeding, or experiencing seizures, it is best to use the Emergency Room.