Taking Your Child to Urgent Care: What We See, and When to Go to the ER

Yes, you can take your child to urgent care, and for most of the things that send kids to the doctor after school or on a weekend, it's the right place. At AfterOurs, all ages are welcome, from babies to teenagers, and our clinics are open until 11 PM. If you're searching for kids urgent care near you in metro Denver, here's what we see every day, what to bring, and the signs that mean go straight to the ER instead.

What can urgent care treat in kids?

Urgent care is a good fit for illnesses and injuries that need attention today but aren't life-threatening. Common reasons families come in:

• Fevers and colds that aren't improving, or a fever with other symptoms you want checked
• Ear pain, often an ear infection after a cold
• Sore throats, with a rapid strep test when it looks like strep
• Coughs, including the barking cough of croup
• Flu and COVID-19 symptoms, with rapid testing when it will help
• Eye and skin problems, like pink eye, rashes and skin infections
• Vomiting and diarrhea, as long as your child can keep some fluids down
• Urinary symptoms, like pain when peeing
• Cuts that may need stitches or skin glue, and scrapes and minor burns
• Sprains, twisted ankles and possible minor fractures from the playground or sports

We also do flat-fee sports physicals and school physicals for kids, $40 self-pay each.

When should you go to the ER instead?

Some symptoms in children need an emergency department, which has the equipment and specialists for serious illness and injury. Don't wait, and don't come to urgent care first, if you see any of the signs below.

Call 911 or go to the ER if your child is struggling to breathe or the skin pulls in around the ribs or neck, has blue or gray lips, is very sleepy, limp or hard to wake, has a seizure, has a fever and is under 3 months old, has a stiff neck with fever, may have swallowed a button battery, magnet, medicine or poison, has a head injury with vomiting, confusion or passing out, has a bone pushing through the skin or a limb that looks badly out of shape, has bleeding that won't stop with firm pressure, or shows signs of severe dehydration such as no urine in 8 hours.

If you're not sure, it's always OK to call 911 or go to the ER. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 any time for swallowed medicines or chemicals.

What should you bring?

• Your child's insurance card, or Colorado Medicaid card, and your photo ID
• A list of your child's medicines, allergies and any medical conditions
• Their vaccination record, if you have it handy, especially for injuries and physicals
• Any form that needs filling out for school, sports or daycare
• Something comforting for younger kids: a favorite toy, a snack (unless they're vomiting), a charged phone or tablet

It also helps to note when symptoms started, the highest temperature and what medicine you've given and when.

How to prepare your child for the visit

A little explanation goes a long way. For young children, keep it simple and honest: "A doctor is going to look in your ears and listen to your chest to help you feel better." Avoid promising nothing will hurt if a swab or a shot is possible. Older kids often do better when they know what's coming and can ask their own questions.

What does a visit cost?

Self-pay, an in-clinic sick or injury visit starts at $175, and the final tier depends on the care provided. The cost and insurance page explains the tiers. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. We can't guarantee a commercial plan has us in network, and if you're out of network or your benefits are denied, we bill you at our self-pay rates.

Where to find us

Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:

• Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM

Walk in, or book online.