How Does Pediatric Urgent Care Differ from the ER?

Knowing where to seek care—whether at an urgent care center like ours or at the emergency room—can make a significant difference in your child’s well-being and peace of mind for your family.

When to Visit Urgent Care for Your Child

SoCal Urgent Care is equipped to handle most non-life-threatening illnesses and minor injuries in children that need prompt attention but are not severe enough to require an ER visit. Our friendly, experienced medical professionals can provide care for:

• Ear infections
• Minor cuts or scrapes
• Mild asthma flare-ups
• Fevers without severe symptoms
• Sore throats
• Simple rashes
• Minor sprains or strains

By choosing urgent care for these conditions, you’ll often experience shorter wait times and a more comfortable, child-friendly environment compared to a hospital emergency department.

When the Emergency Room is the Best Choice

While urgent care can treat many urgent pediatric needs, there are times when a hospital emergency room is necessary. If your child experiences any of the following, seek immediate ER attention:

• Severe difficulty breathing
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Head injuries with loss of consciousness
• Major bone fractures
• Seizures
• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
• Suspected poisoning

Emergency rooms are open 24/7 and are equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment and specialized staff for life-threatening or complex emergencies.

Visiting SoCal Urgent Care is often quicker, more convenient, and more affordable than a trip to the emergency room, with a welcoming environment for children and their families.

When to Choose SoCal Urgent Care for Your Child:

Bring your child to SoCal Urgent Care for conditions such as:

• Mild to moderate fever
• Ear infections
• Sore throat or strep throat testing
• Minor cuts, scrapes, or burns
• Mild asthma or allergy symptoms (without severe breathing difficulty)
• Sprains, minor fractures, or sports injuries
• Vomiting or diarrhea (without signs of severe dehydration)
• Persistent cough, cold, or flu symptoms
• Rashes without severe symptoms
• Rapid testing for flu, COVID-19, or RSV

Our experienced providers are able to quickly diagnose and treat these common childhood illnesses and injuries, often with minimal wait times and personalized attention.

When to Go to the Emergency Room:

If your child is experiencing any of the following, head directly to the ER or call 911:

• Severe difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Chest pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Seizures
• Severe allergic reaction (swelling of lips/tongue, trouble breathing)
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe dehydration (no urination, listlessness, dry mouth)
• Symptoms of poisoning or ingestion of a dangerous substance
• Serious injuries or head trauma

If you’re ever unsure whether your child’s condition is an emergency, err on the side of caution and seek emergency care.

Why Choose SoCal Urgent Care?

When your pediatrician’s office is closed or you need same-day care for your child’s non-life-threatening illness or injury, SoCal Urgent Care is here for you. We offer extended evening and weekend hours, on-site diagnostics, and a caring team dedicated to children’s health.

Common conditions we treat at SoCal Urgent Care include mild to moderate asthma attacks, fevers without severe symptoms, ear infections, sore throats, minor allergic reactions (without difficulty breathing), and mild to moderate dehydration. Our experienced providers are also equipped to handle minor injuries such as sprains, strains, small cuts that may require stitches, minor burns, and simple fractures. We also care for children with pink eye, rashes, mild respiratory infections, vomiting and diarrhea (without severe dehydration), and urinary tract infections.

While urgent care is well-suited for a wide range of pediatric concerns, more serious symptoms or injuries—such as difficulty breathing, severe allergic reactions, uncontrolled bleeding, major fractures, head injuries with loss of consciousness, seizures, or any situation where a child appears very ill or unresponsive—should be treated at the emergency room.
Our team is specially trained to care for children and strives to provide quick, convenient, and affordable healthcare when your child’s regular doctor is unavailable.

When your child is sick or injured, knowing where to seek care can make a big difference—both for their health and your budget. We help families understand the costs and benefits of choosing urgent care over a hospital emergency room (ER) for non-life-threatening pediatric concerns.

Cost Savings at Urgent Care

Visiting SoCal Urgent Care for your child’s minor illnesses or injuries is typically much less expensive than a trip to the ER. Most urgent care visits at our facility range from $100 to $200 out-of-pocket, depending on the specific services needed. In contrast, ER visits—even for non-emergency conditions—can result in bills from $500 to $3,000 or more.

Insurance Coverage Makes a Difference

We accept most major insurance plans, and many insurers offer significantly lower copays for urgent care visits compared to ER visits. For example, your urgent care copay might range from $30 to $75, while an ER copay could be $150 or higher. Additionally, emergency rooms often charge separate facility fees and higher rates for services like lab tests or imaging, which can quickly add up.

Why Choose Urgent Care?

SoCal Urgent Care is equipped to handle most non-emergency pediatric illnesses and injuries—such as fevers, ear infections, minor cuts, sprains, and more—making it a convenient and cost-effective alternative to the ER. Our experienced team provides quality care with lower overhead costs, which means more affordable pricing for families.

When to Visit the ER

While urgent care is a great choice for minor issues, it’s important to remember that serious or life-threatening symptoms—such as difficulty breathing, severe allergic reactions, or major injuries—should always be evaluated in the emergency room, regardless of cost. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 710 S Brookhurst St. Suite A, Anaheim, CA 92804. We serve patients from Anaheim CA, Buena Park CA, La Palma CA, Cerritos CA, Placentia CA, Stanton CA, and surrounding areas.