Introduction

Pediatric urgent care encompasses a wide range of acute illness and injury topics, from minor conditions that solely require reassurance to the recognition and stabilization of potentially life-threatening conditions that require transfer to a higher level of care. A rotation in pediatric urgent care can take place in a variety of settings, including a pediatrician’s office, a freestanding private or hospital-affiliated urgent care center, or an emergency department. Practice may vary among these settings, based on available resources. Given its broad scope, many topics pertinent to pediatric urgent care are covered in other rotation guides and are cross-referenced below and throughout the text in this rotation guide. This rotation guide will focus on the approach to common presenting complaints and conditions seen in urgent care, as well as rare not-to-miss diagnoses. Common procedures provided by clinicians who practice pediatric urgent care are also covered.

The topics in this rotation guide are organized as follows:

Other related topics are covered in the following rotation guides:

Bronchiolitis (Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Pulmonology)
Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Acute Otitis Media, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, Septic Arthritis and Osteomyelitis (Pediatric Infectious Disease)
Asthma, Neonatal Fever, Aspirated Foreign Body, Head Injury, Laceration Repair, Retropharyngeal Abscess and Peritonsillar Abscess, Urinary Tract Infection, Emergencies in the Neonate and Young Infant, Physeal Fractures, Toddler Fractures, Abdominopelvic Emergencies (Pediatric Emergency Medicine)
Anaphylaxis (Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)
Rhinitis, Sinusitis, and Conjunctivitis; Urticaria and Angioedema (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)
Sexually Transmitted Infections (Adolescent Care)
Burns (Pediatric Critical Care)
Dermatitis, Newborn Rashes, Cutaneous Infections (Pediatric Dermatology)
Jaundice (Neonatal Care)
Seizures (N eonatal Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine)
Constipation, Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding (Pediatric Gastroenterology)
Child Abuse and Neglect

Amy Pattishall, MD, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Emory University. She is also the Program Director for the Pediatric Urgent Care Fellowship.

This rotation guide was developed by a collaborative team of contributors including:
Writer: Hannah Lee, MD
Peer Reviewers: Katherine Gartin, MD; Lauren Goldberg, MD; Shikha Nigam, MD; Walter Palmer III, MD
Editor: Amy Elizabeth Pattishall, MD
Senior Editor: Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD
Last updated: May 2024 by Hannah Lee, MD

Brief Case Presentations with Videos

Urgent Care Videos

Intranasal Naloxone Administration

Managing Procedural Anxiety in Children

Kraus BS et al. N Engl J Med 2016.

This video describes the signs of acute anxiety in children and demonstrates approaches to interacting with children that minimize anxiety and maximize cooperation.

Abscess Incision and Drainage

Basic Laceration Repair

Thomsen TW et al. N Engl J Med 2006.

Video demonstration of the use of simple interrupted sutures

Reduction of Pulled Elbow

Diagnosing Otitis Media — Otoscopy and Cerumen Removal

Shaikh N et al. N Engl J Med 2010.

Removal of Foreign Bodies from the Ear and Nose

Friedman EM. N Engl J Med 2016.

Video of foreign body removal from the ears and nares