Which ER do you send your kids to?

[Anonymous]

We love in DC and go to Children's - three broken arms, developmental specialists, burn, urinary infection, borderline cholesterol. Top notch with skilled Drs and good systems.

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill. Have been to children's twice - both emergencies. We were seen literally right away and got great treatment both times.

[Anonymous]

Holy Cross. I'm told they have docs from Children's there.

[Anonymous]

When our ped sends us to the ER, they tell us which one to go to. For the rule out appendicitis, they sent us to Children's because the appropriate surgeons would have been on call or already there. (Wasn't appendicitis, thank goodness.) For fluids during a terrible stomach virus that dehydrated our 3 yo or stitches, they sent us to Suburban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are at the point of going to an Emergency Room shouldn't you be going to whichever one is the closest? honest question, not being snarky.

It depends what the emergency is. Traumatic head injury? Don't go to the closest hospital. Flu or fever? Sure.

+1

A lot of urgent care facilities won't see kids under 18 months, so we once had to go to the ER for pink eye because DS got it on a Saturday.

Flu, pink eye and fever... I would not go to the ER, I would go to the minute clinic, or call my pediatrician or wait until Monday.

For a traumatic brain injury... Like a concussion there is nothing the ER can do, call the pediatrician and plan to go to Children's Hospital the following week. If there is a physical injury to the outside of the head that needs stitches,I would still just go to the nearest hospital.

Aak! This is not true. If the brain is swelling, emergency surgery to relieve the pressure can make a difference between life and death. Same if there is a skull fracture that is pushing into the brain. For a run of the mill concussion, sure, skip the ER. When our kid had a TBI and skull fracture and was not conscious for five hours, we went straight to the ER.

I said a skull fracture go to ER, bump on the head call your pediatrician.

You act like nobody ever overreacts and goes to the ER when they don't need to do so. This is a Hugh problem with the ER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are at the point of going to an Emergency Room shouldn't you be going to whichever one is the closest? honest question, not being snarky.

It depends what the emergency is. Traumatic head injury? Don't go to the closest hospital. Flu or fever? Sure.

+1

A lot of urgent care facilities won't see kids under 18 months, so we once had to go to the ER for pink eye because DS got it on a Saturday.

Flu, pink eye and fever... I would not go to the ER, I would go to the minute clinic, or call my pediatrician or wait until Monday.

For a traumatic brain injury... Like a concussion there is nothing the ER can do, call the pediatrician and plan to go to Children's Hospital the following week. If there is a physical injury to the outside of the head that needs stitches,I would still just go to the nearest hospital.

Aak! This is not true. If the brain is swelling, emergency surgery to relieve the pressure can make a difference between life and death. Same if there is a skull fracture that is pushing into the brain. For a run of the mill concussion, sure, skip the ER. When our kid had a TBI and skull fracture and was not conscious for five hours, we went straight to the ER.

I said a skull fracture go to ER, bump on the head call your pediatrician.

You act like nobody ever overreacts and goes to the ER when they don't need to do so. This is a Hugh problem with the ER.

I would rather someone overreact than under react and keep a child home that later dies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are at the point of going to an Emergency Room shouldn't you be going to whichever one is the closest? honest question, not being snarky.

It depends what the emergency is. Traumatic head injury? Don't go to the closest hospital. Flu or fever? Sure.

+1

A lot of urgent care facilities won't see kids under 18 months, so we once had to go to the ER for pink eye because DS got it on a Saturday.

Flu, pink eye and fever... I would not go to the ER, I would go to the minute clinic, or call my pediatrician or wait until Monday.

For a traumatic brain injury... Like a concussion there is nothing the ER can do, call the pediatrician and plan to go to Children's Hospital the following week. If there is a physical injury to the outside of the head that needs stitches,I would still just go to the nearest hospital.

That had to be scary as hell. Hope he's made a complete recovery!

Aak! This is not true. If the brain is swelling, emergency surgery to relieve the pressure can make a difference between life and death. Same if there is a skull fracture that is pushing into the brain. For a run of the mill concussion, sure, skip the ER. When our kid had a TBI and skull fracture and was not conscious for five hours, we went straight to the ER.

[Anonymous]

We live in VA, and are military. DC's pediatrician is at Walter Reed, but we were told by another WR doc a couple of years ago not to go to the WR ER due to disagreements between Pediatrics and the ER over how pediatric patients are treated (I don't know the details). We live far enough away that we weren't going to try to get to WR in an emergency anyway. We go to Inova Fairfax, which is closest to our house. We've had to go a few times, unfortunately, but we've had a very good experience each time. We've also experienced Children's, which was also good, but involved a really long wait (and crazy parking).

[Anonymous]

Minneapolis MN and we go to Abbott Northwestern

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are at the point of going to an Emergency Room shouldn't you be going to whichever one is the closest? honest question, not being snarky.

It depends what the emergency is. Traumatic head injury? Don't go to the closest hospital. Flu or fever? Sure.

+1

A lot of urgent care facilities won't see kids under 18 months, so we once had to go to the ER for pink eye because DS got it on a Saturday.

Flu, pink eye and fever... I would not go to the ER, I would go to the minute clinic, or call my pediatrician or wait until Monday.

For a traumatic brain injury... Like a concussion there is nothing the ER can do, call the pediatrician and plan to go to Children's Hospital the following week. If there is a physical injury to the outside of the head that needs stitches,I would still just go to the nearest hospital.

Aak! This is not true. If the brain is swelling, emergency surgery to relieve the pressure can make a difference between life and death. Same if there is a skull fracture that is pushing into the brain. For a run of the mill concussion, sure, skip the ER. When our kid had a TBI and skull fracture and was not conscious for five hours, we went straight to the ER.

I said a skull fracture go to ER, bump on the head call your pediatrician.

You act like nobody ever overreacts and goes to the ER when they don't need to do so. This is a Hugh problem with the ER.

Are you suggesting that parents try to diagnose fractured skulls themselves? That's absurd. Of course it's best to call your pediatrician to get the signs to look for, but better to overreact than under react. That's what triage is for, anyway.

We go to children's hospital and have been impressed by the care there. Once for an ear infection (son was screaming bloody murder) and once for hfm with a fever of 105.

[Anonymous]

We currently live near Olney and previously lived in Gaithersburg. My preference would be Shady Grove Hospital. Next choice would be MedStar Montgomery.

We made the mistake once of going to the Adventist Emergency/Urgent Care center in Germantown. We have done the Urgent Care facility in Olney (Rightime) for stitches and it was fine.

[Anonymous]

We live in Alexandria very close to INOVA Alexandria but would only go there if our pediatrician told us to. Every time we've gone the ER (in consultation with our pediatrician), it's been to Fairfax INOVA. They are pretty good and the wait is usually short even during the winter. I was a little annoyed at one of the more "experienced" nurses downplaying and belittling my concerns about fever, vomiting and lethargy, and I actually think she's one of the reasons we didn't get treatment quickly when my son had RSV. Also had a pediatrician there do what I thought was an unnecessary catheterization because my son wasn't circumcised (no evidence of a bladder infection, and I'm still mad at myself for letting them do that), but overall I think it's the best one close-ish to us. I wouldn't go to Alexandria because they do not have pediatricians in the ER. Children's would probably take too long from where we live, and even though it's supposedly the best for trauma, I think we'd go to the nearest one first and be transferred if necessary. I would call the ambulance in that case, and fortunately the paramedic response is great where we live (ask me how I know).

[Anonymous]

Depends on how much of an emergency and how hard to get there.

We live in NW DC. For lacerations that stopped bleeding but needed stitches/cleaning, we went to Georgetown ER. (An example for PP who didn't understand why you may need an emergency room, but not a medical emergency. Real medical emergency - call ambulance). When we called our ped for the lacerations, they said NOT to go to Sibley b/c no ped staff. One time, our ped said to go to Children's. Other time they said whatever, Georgetown fine. During rush hour it would have been so hard to get to Children's and non emergency. Georgetown was an easier drive than trying to get across to Children's. And closer than Suburban (our other option). Our doctor had previously said Suburban was good too. So, it just depends on the situation and where you are. (we keep a first aid kit in the car)

We were happy with Georgetown ER. One ped nurse did a terrific job of preparing DD for the procedure and then distracting DD. I was so very impressed and learned from it (nurse first "cleaned" DD's doll just like what nurse would be doing and explained). So helps to have ER that works with kids.

Georgetown patient advocate came by to offer DVD player. Good distraction. (we thought our iphone had her movies but we couldn't view (can't remember why our tech issue, but they have wifi there you have to ask for password.)

Once we went around 8pm on a weeknight and were there for 4 hrs just for stitches. But other time, we were there at 6pm on a weeknight and done within 2 hrs for stitches. When we walked out, it was packed!

Something to keep in mind: be prepared for an ER trip. Since there were 2 of us getting DD out the door to ER, I had time to think about what we may need so I packed a bag for her with pouches/snacks/drink and her favorite books/toys for distraction. Also, our first trip to ER was gross. Waiting room was pretty full so DH stayed in waiting room to hear us get called. DD and I stayed outside which was interesting with the ambulances and stuff. Person next to DH threw up. Easier to keep DD entertained outside and as it turns out less gross.

[Anonymous]

I guess I am the oddball. We live in the Olney area and we go to Montgomery General. They have a pediatric ER with 7 or 8 beds there. We have never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes to get seen. It is wonderful!

[Anonymous]

We've been to Holy Cross twice with kids - once early on a saturday - no wait, and once in an ambulance mid week-day because of a seizure. Good experiences both times, but both turned out to be nothing major.