Which ER do you send your kids to?

[Anonymous]

If I have to get to the ER I am going to go to the closest one. But I'm in Arlington so I know that I would freak out trying to sit in traffic even for 10-20 extra minutes to get to Fairfax or somewhere else. Closest to my home and daycare is VHC. Have only been to the ER once, but not for a child, for an adult and was pleased enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Children's hospital at Washington hospital center.

I don't think its part of Washington Hospital Center?

http://childrensnational.org

It's not, just on the same campus (which is large and hard to navigate if you're unfamiliar with it)

[Anonymous]

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.

Ah, but when you have daycare on Monday, two working parents, and need the drops to kick in Saturday, and no one will see your 17 month old EXCEPT the ER, we're not left with many choices.

[Anonymous]

Children's, hands down. We're lucky enough to live nearby.

[Anonymous]

My DD has been to the ER once, at about 9 months old. That was Fairfax ER. It is also the closest to our house. For the run of the mill issues, such as injured limbs, cuts, etc, urgent care in Vienna is fine.

For me (adult with real issues), I am in the INOVA Fairfax frequent visitor program....

[Anonymous]

So I just had my first kid visit to the ER (thought DD swallowed a bettery). We went to the nearest hospital, VHC, because it seemed like anyone could do an X-ray. It was fine, but reading this thread makes me wonder if it would have been easier on DD (who is 22 months and can't sit still) if we'd taken the time to go to Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax. Our ped near VHC recommends them. The staff at Fairfax was wonderful.

[Anonymous]

I work at Children's and if it was something major, I would want to be there. But I've taken my son to Kindermender (peds urgent care - not run by Children's) several times for simple things (ear infections/strep/stiches/staples.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes. Because kids die all the time from pink eye.

[Anonymous]

Live in NE DC and have always gone to Children's. DD's pediatrican is at Howard though, but would not go there for emergency on our own.

[Anonymous]

Had a great experience at Holy Cross Silver Spring (peds ER) on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago. We were in and out in under an hour, which has to be a record! Lovely doctor and nurses, no complaints at all.