Emergency & Urgent Care
In an ideal world, kids would only need medical attention when it came time for an annual checkup. But as children grow and develop, medical care is needed along the way.
When your child experiences an injury or illness, you can take comfort in knowing that specialized pediatric services are nearby. At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, we offer a full spectrum of pediatric services, including primary care, urgent care and emergency care when it’s needed.
Because the last thing you need when your child is hurt or sick is to wonder “Is there a pediatric emergency room near me?”
Pediatric Emergency Services at Kentucky Children’s Hospital
No matter how well-prepared we are or what precautions we take to protect our kids, emergencies happen. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 30 million children visit an emergency room each year.
When your child experiences an emergency medical issue, seeking care at a pediatric emergency room is important. Medical providers at the Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center have specialized training in both handling emergency situations and in addressing the unique needs of children. You will find specialized pediatric nursing staff, a friendly environment, pediatric emergency doctors and specialists, and state-of the art facilities at the Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center.
Their entire focus is on quickly and effectively caring for your child’s injury or illness and getting him or her on the path to healing.
In some cases, patients may be transported from another hospital to Kentucky Children’s Hospital by the Kentucky Kids Crew, a specialty crew of providers dedicated to transporting infants and children.
The Makenna David Pediatric Emergency Center is one of the only dedicated children’s emergency centers in the state, and it has been designated as a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
Pediatric Urgent Care at Kentucky Children’s Hospital
When your child needs care outside of normal hours for your pediatrician, what happens when you can’t get an appointment to be seen or when the health issue isn’t quite an emergency but still needs attention? Kentucky Children’s Hospital offers pediatric urgent care services to help in these situations.
If you’re uncertain where to turn outside of normal business hours, our Pediatric Triage After-Hours Program is a good place to begin. The Triage After-Hours Program operates from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and provides 24-hour coverage on the weekends and holidays, offering parents professional healthcare advice.
We also offer after-hours pediatric care through our Twilight Children’s Clinic, which provides treatment for acute symptoms such as a sore throat, earache, fever or nausea. Urgent injuries and illnesses can also be seen through the UK HealthCare Urgent Care Clinic.
Plan Now for Pediatric Emergency Care
No one ever wants to think of the worst-case scenario, but emergencies happen. Your best strategy is to prepare ahead of time and know what to do when an accident or severe illness occurs — and how to access the specialized pediatric emergency care clinic and treatment at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
We offer resources to help you plan ahead, including a downloadable Emergency Plan Template that you can keep on hand and distribute to others caring for your child. Plan now to give you peace of mind later.
