Kitchener, ON – January14 – It’s tough for parents, caregivers and siblings when young ones are sick. Grand River’s team of pediatricians are here to help you get the right care, in the right place, and at the right time.
Dr. Carolyn Hutzal, Pediatrician and Chief and Medical Director of Pediatrics, shares when to come to an Emergency Department. “Any head injuries resulting in confusion, deep cuts or excessive bleeding, and potential broken bones are all reasons to come directly to the Hospital,” she says. When it comes to flu and cold viruses, it can be a little tougher to determine when to come in. “When children have difficulty breathing, have blue lips, or are unable to stay hydrated – come to the Emergency Department. We’re coming into gastro season where children may have vomiting and diarrhea. And fevers in infants under three months are always an emergency.”
If your child needs care, but it’s not an emergency, there are other avenues of care for you. If your family doctor is unavailable, or if you are still looking for a family doctor, consider an urgent care clinic. Pharmacists are also able to treat some common concerns. Alternative care options such as virtual primary care visits for minor issues like rashes or throat pain can help your little one feel better. Local walk-in clinics also provide your family access to pressing, though non-urgent, healthcare. To help families navigate local healthcare options, Grand River worked with other Regional hospitals and local Ontario Health Teams to launch KnowYourCareOptions.ca - a resource to help you determine where to access the right care in the right place at the right time.
To help keep children out of repeat emergency department visits, the Ontario government funded a Rapid Assessment Clinic (RAP) at Grand River. Through referrals from family physicians or the Emergency Room, children receive follow up care and treatment from pediatricians through this service. The clinic currently sees around 50 children weekly, helping keep children out of the ED.
Dr. Hutzal also emphasizes the importance of helping prevent illness. “I highly promote the flu shot for everyone. We're predicting that shortly there's going to be a spike in influenza in early 2025. This always brings children to the hospital with vomiting, diarrhea, or respiratory issues. Some people don't know that children can get muscle breakdown and can't walk after having influenza. There are a lot of side effects to flu that bring children to the ED.”
Knowing how to access the alternative care options offers parents several benefits: timely access to specialist care, reducing the need for repeated emergency visits; comprehensive education through programs like asthma clinics, allowing families to manage chronic conditions; and inclusive access to care, ensuring support for families without a family doctor or regular pediatric services.
See more for alternative care options: