Water Safety and Drowning
-Pediatric Drowning Explained With school out for the summer and the Texas heat already upon us, making trips to lakes, rivers or the community pool are commonplace for many families. While water activities may be enjoyable and provide much needed cooling, we must not forget that water safety is incredibly important. In the United States, drowning continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and is the number 1 and 2 causes of unintentional deaths in children 1-4 years of age and 5-14 years of age, respectively1. “Dry Drowning” We have all heard stories on the news or…
All About Sports Physicals
-Sports Physicals: What you should know Participating in a sport provides many benefits for children and adolescents. Not only do sports give athletes the opportunity to improve their balance, coordination, and build muscle strength, but it also provides the opportunity to build friendships and learn how to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. The purpose of the pre-participation sport physical is to address the health and safety of the athlete prior to training or competition. The evaluation begins with a review of the athlete’s medical background, which includes questions regarding any chronic medical issues as well…
Sore Throat vs. Strep
-Sore Throat vs Strep A sore throat is a common complaint seen in toddlers, children and adolescents. Often, sore throat and strep throat are thought to be interchangeable, but in actuality, sore throats in pediatrics are often caused by viruses. Only 20% of sore throat visits to the pediatrician’s office are caused by a bacteria called group A strep. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of strep throat in order to determine when a visit to your child’s pediatrician is indicated. What is strep and how does this differ from a sore throat? Strep throat (or strep…
All About RSV
-Flu season is in full swing in the state of Texas, and RSV is making its rounds. RSV can have similar symptoms to the flu, but it is actually a very common respiratory virus that infects the airways of the lungs. This virus is most severe in the elderly and in infants. This week we caught up with Dr. Adolfo Flores, the North Texas Medical Director for Urgent Care for Kids. He shared all of the things you need to know about the illness and more. Read on to learn more about RSV. What is RSV? RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial…
Ask the Mediatrician
-In this day and age, it’s important to instill healthy media habits in children. Encouraging kids at an early age to exercise online responsibility is something easy parents alike can do in subtle yet impactful ways. Check out these tips courtesy of Common Sense Media: Parent-Approved Content: Do some research on the content your kids are downloading or watching. Most games, videos and other media come with a rating like movie showings in theaters. If you’re not comfortable with the level of maturity, filter this media and explain to your child why that is. In the Background: Powering down the…
September Duck of the Month
-Our mascot, Dr. Duck, and his friends love comforting patients when they visit Urgent Care for Kids. Since Urgent Care for Kids opened, we use rubber ducks as a way to reward and show our appreciation for our “little ducklings.” When they leave our clinics, our patients get to hold onto these ducks to remind them Dr. Duck is always here to ensure a healthy future for them and their family. Each month, our patients and their families vote via social media for our next Duck of the Month. We are thrilled to present our Cowboy Ducks as our September…
OPEN for Labor Day
-It’s our mission to offer affordable and convenient pediatric services to your family when it matters most. That’s why we are open every day of the year, including weekends and holidays. All Urgent Care for Kids locations will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. this Labor Day, September 3, 2018. Should your child require urgent care attention, stop by or speak with one of our friendly, pediatric providers via VirtualPediatrics. Have a healthy and happy Labor Day weekend! Urgent Care for Kids is the largest pediatric urgent care chain in Texas, serving families in the greater Austin, DFW,…
A Doctor’s Back to School Tips for Parents
-Back to school is often an anxiety provoking experience for both parents and kids. As summer slowly winds down and September rolls around the corner, it can be difficult to break those summer habits. Thankfully, we have five doctor-approved tips to help you get through the new year prep. Setting aside a few special moments to bond with the kids before they face a day at school is a great investment in cooperation and happiness for everyone. Because kids have spent all night in their own rooms without parental interaction, they may feel that they are missing out on spending time…
Staff Spotlight: Office Manager Amanda
-At Urgent Care for Kids, we’re all about kids! Meet Amanda, our Houston office manager who is passionate about pediatrics. Each of our staff members are accredited, pediatric-trained physicians and have a special way of making your family feel welcomed and comfortable whether your visit is planned or unexpected. Check out our staff spotlight on Amanda and what she has to say about the Urgent Care for Kids level of care and customer service: About you! What’s your official title at Urgent Care for Kids? How long have…
5 Ways Telemedicine is Making Life Easier for the Working Parent
-Telemedicine is helping patients and their families receive the care they need when it matters the most. It’s true! Integrating technology into everyday healthcare bring a new level of convenience to both parents and physicians. Let’s consider some of the ways VirtualPediatrics can ease the challenges that come with caring for a sick child as a working parent. What working parent has not started the day with a sick child to tend to? We’ve all…
Making the Most of Summer
-The fall season is right around the corner, so don’t waste another minute to make fun family memories this summer! Engaging in summertime activities with your children are always great ways to share some laughs and smiles and stay healthy. Let’s get to it: Get Your Summer On Go camping indoors: Clear out some furniture and set up (or make your own!) tents inside. Treat it the same way you would if you were at a campground away from home. Use flashlights after dark, sleep in sleeping bags, tell ghost stories, avoid screen time, and make some great memories. The…
August Duck of the Month
-Our mascot, Dr. Duck, and his friends love comforting patients when they visit Urgent Care for Kids. Since Urgent Care for Kids opened, we use rubber ducks as a way to reward and show our appreciation for our “little ducklings.” When they leave our clinics, our patients get to hold onto these ducks to remind them Dr. Duck is always here to ensure a healthy future for them and their family. Each month, our patients and their families vote via social media for our next Duck of the Month. We are thrilled to present our Pirate Ducks as our August…
The Future of Pediatric Telemedicine
-Technology now enables us to speak with you and your child from afar for minor, urgent care needs. I can vividly recall the day I received my first personal computer. This computer was a beautiful, beige construction of plastic and metal composed of three separate parts; a large boxed monitor, an even larger computer base, and a keyboard. All together it took up more space than today’s high capacity microwave, and it weighed a ton. I remember hitting that switch in the back and patiently waiting for it to…
VirtualPediatrics Now Live
-In the 7 years that Urgent Care for Kids has been in business, we have been an industry leader in bringing pediatric specialized care to our patients at locations and times where few other suitable options existed. Our clinics have kept tens of thousands of children out of emergency rooms and adult clinics when they didn’t need to be there. While we have been very successful with our model, we have always been limited by the geography surrounding our clinics and have been unable to assist pediatric patients in the many parts of Texas where we don’t have a clinic.…
Sun Exposure Awareness with Dr. Kristi Whitenton
-Here in Texas, we have a love-hate relationship with the summer sun. It’s our best friend when we are enjoying family time outside, but it’s also a burden when temperatures climb higher and higher. It’s no secret sun damage can impact health in a number of ways. Most of the sun damage that has consequences later in life is actually due to childhood exposure, so it’s important to protect children from the sun and establish healthy sun habits early in life. Get ready to bust out that sunblock and baseball…
Importance of Telemedicine in Pediatrics – Dr. Linda Halbrook
-Telemedicine is rapidly evolving in today’s world. Never before have families been able to connect with a doctor for minor illnesses with just a push of a button. This notion, however, is now a reality. Urgent Care for Kids is proud to announce the arrival of VirtualPediatrics, the first on-demand, pediatric telemedicine service in Texas, on July 20 2018. This efficient and convenient form of medicine enables you and your little one to speak with the same friendly physicians you’d see in our locations over video at a moments notice. Especially for families who live in rural areas of our…
July Duck of the Month
-Our mascot, Dr. Duck, and his friends love comforting patients when they visit Urgent Care for Kids. Since Urgent Care for Kids opened, we use rubber ducks as a way to reward and show our appreciation for our “little ducklings.” When they leave our clinics, our patients get to hold onto these ducks to remind them Dr. Duck is always here to ensure a healthy future for them and their family. Each month, our patients and their families vote via social media for our next Duck of the Month. We are thrilled to present our Monster Ducks as our July…
Pediatrician’s Guide to Summer Water Safety
-At Urgent Care for Kids, our medical team truly strives to offer the best pediatric expertise when the unexpected happens and insightful advice to hopefully avoid overwhelming and worrisome trips to the doctor. The topic of “dry drowning” has made a splash in today’s media, and one of our leading pediatricians sat down with us to unpack this popular concern. Urgent Care for Kids’ Dallas-Fort Worth Medical Director Dr. Adolfo Flores is a patient favorite in our north Texas locations. Here’s what he wants your family to know before taking to the water this summer: With school out for the…
Be Prepared – Family Emergency Response Plan
-At Urgent Care for Kids, we understand it can be inconvenient or overwhelming when your little one becomes sick and a trip to the doctor is in order. That’s why we foster an at-ease and secure environment every day of the year for our families because we believe in offering quality, pediatric care when you need it the most. While we can’t always avoid illnesses, it pays off to take preventative steps for your child’s health and safety. The same logic applies in disasters. What’s your plan? The Department of Homeland Security encourages you and families everywhere to be informed, plan ahead…
June Duck of the Month
-Our mascot, Dr. Duck, and his friends love comforting patients when they visit Urgent Care for Kids. Since Urgent Care for Kids opened, we use rubber ducks as a way to reward and show our appreciation for our “little ducklings.” When they leave our clinics, our patients get to hold onto these ducks to remind them Dr. Duck is always here to ensure a healthy future for them and their family. Each month, our patients and their families vote via social media for our next Duck of the Month. We are thrilled to present our Surfer Ducks as our June…
