Sick Care
Sometimes, kids get sick. Ear infections, stomach aches, sore throats, and minor injuries are all normal parts of childhood. If your child gets sick, you can schedule an appointment for a same-day or next-day sick visits by calling your pediatrician's office. You will be asked to speak to a nurse before scheduling an appointment. A nurse will ask you questions about your concerns to help decide how to meet your child's needs best. The nurse can tell you what to do to take care of your sick child at home, help you schedule a sick visit with a Cook Children's Neighborhood Clinic, and tell you when to take your child to an urgent care center or emergency room.
We always do our best to schedule you with the doctor of your choice; however, your child's doctor may not be here every day of the week. For sick visits, we may ask you to be flexible in seeing another doctor or advanced practice provider if necessary. At Cook Children's, caring for your child is our first priority.
After hours care
Sick appointments are also available in the evenings, after normal clinic business hours at some of our Neighborhood Clinic locations: Northside, Renaissance, and Morris! This option is open to any child with a Cook Children's pediatrician. These clinics provide sick-care access from 6-10 p.m., Monday-Friday, so that unnecessary visits to emergency can be avoided. To schedule an after hours sick visit for your child, call your pediatrician's office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. After hours sick visits are available by appointment only.
Know where to go
Sometimes it can be difficult to know when you should call your child's doctor, or go to urgent care or the emergency department. Download this handy chart to help you decide if your child needs primary, urgent or emergency care.