What is the difference between an urgent care center and an emergency department?
Our urgent care centers complement your child's doctor by offering care when the doctor's office typically is closed. They also offer some services that usually are not available in a doctor's office, such as X-ray and wound management.
Examples of conditions treated at our urgent care centers include:
- Allergic reactions
- Asthma (mild to moderate wheezing)
- Broken bones
- Burns (minor)
- Cuts (minor)
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Ear aches and infections
- Fever (except infants less than 8 weeks of age; they should be taken directly to the emergency department at our main campus.)
- Rashes and bumps
- Sprains
- Sore throats
- Vomiting
If you bring your child to one of our urgent care centers and our physician feels your child needs to go to the Emergency Department, a transport team will be called so medically trained professionals can accompany you and your child to our main hospital. The Emergency Department at our Main Campus treats life-threatening conditions, severely broken bones or major illnesses that may lead to surgery or hospitalization.
If you live in the northern Cincinnati suburbs, you also have the option of taking your child directly to the Emergency Department at our Liberty Campus. Consult your child's primary care physician to determine which option would be best for your situation.
Cincinnati Children's Emergency Department
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45229
513-636-4293
Map and Directions
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Cincinnati Children's Liberty Campus Emergency Department
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Cincinnati Children's Liberty Campus
7777 Yankee Road
Liberty Township, OH 45044
513-636-4293
Map and Directions
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When should I call my child's doctor?
Whenever your child has an urgent medical problem, you should try to call your child's primary care physician first. Staff at our urgent care centers cannot answer medical questions or advise you about your child's health over the phone. You and your child's doctor know your child best and together can decide on the most appropriate care for your child.
If you do not have a primary care physician, you can call the Pediatrician Referral Service at 513-636-4724 for help finding a physician in your area.
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Should we go to the urgent care center or the emergency room?
As a parent with a sick or injured child, it may be difficult to decide if you need to take your child to the emergency room or if your child could be treated at a nearby urgent care center. To help make the decision, you should call your child's doctor who will be able to assist you in determining the best place to take your child.
These problems cannot be adequately addressed at urgent care:
- Migraine headaches
- Head injuries involving loss of consciousness
- Suspected child abuse
- Reproductive problems (for example, suspected pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases)
Children with serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses should be taken immediately to the Emergency Department at Cincinnati Children's Main Campus (the entrance to the Emergency Department is located on Erkenbrecher Avenue) or to the Emergency Department at Cincinnati Children's Liberty Campus.
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