There for you when you need us
We know that kids get sick at all times, and whether it’s during our regular business hours or the middle of the night, we are here for you. We have several options for parents when your child is sick and you need help. We offer sick visits during regular office hours, and a 24/7 triage line with a doctor on call.
Common Reason for Sick Visits
It can be hard to determine if your child’s condition warrants a visit to the doctor, so we encourage you to trust your gut and when it doubt, call us.
Sick visits can be used to treat and evaluate a variety of symptoms, such as rashes, sore throats, ear infections, and more.
Some symptoms warrant immediate action, so please call our office if your child meets any of the conditions below:
Fevers in Infants:
- Under 3 Months old with a fever of 100.4°F or higher
- 3 to 6 months old with a fever of 101.0°F or higher
- Over 6 months old with a fever of 103.0°F or higher
Other Fever Symptoms:
- A fever in a child of any age that ranges between 104.0°F and 105.0°F
- Your child is lethargic and still has a fever even after taking fever-reducing medication
- Your child has a fever and compromised immunity
- A fever with severe pain
- A fever that lasts longer than 3 consecutive days with or without an obvious source of infection (such as a cold)
- Your child has a febrile seizure
- A fever following a trip overseas
- A fever accompanied by pain when urinating
- A fever with a headache, stiff neck, or red spots or purple-colored patches on the skin
- A fever and sore throat that lasts more than 24 to 48 hours
Other Symptoms:
- Your child is lethargic, has a rash, refuses to eat, or is having trouble breathing
- Your child has signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth and fewer wet diapers or urination frequency
What to Expect at Your Sick Visit
To prepare for your child’s sick visit, write down any questions you may have as well as any important details about your child’s symptoms that could be helpful to your physician.
During your visit, you may need to be seen by a physician other than your usual doctor, though we try to schedule you with a provider you are familiar with.
At your child’s sick visit, your provider will ask about your child’s symptoms, your family’s medical history, and any other questions that may help diagnosing your child’s illness. You can expect your child to have a physical examination, including taking the child’s temperature, checking their breathing and heartbeat, and checking for signs of infection.
If your doctor needs additional information, a lab test may be ordered.
Schedule a Sick Visit & Same Day Visit
When your child is sick, call our office to schedule a sick visit ahead of time so we can see you as quickly as possible and minimize the time that you spend waiting. We make every effort to schedule appointments for ill children on the day that you call us.
If you would like us to see more than one child, please schedule both of them when you make your appointment.
Without an appointment, we may not be able to see a sick sibling right away, and you may be asked to wait while the provider sees a scheduled patient who may be waiting. To schedule an appointment, please call either our Wheat Ridge or Littleton location.
Patients who walk in with a non-emergency condition will be fit into the existing schedule as best as possible, or they will be asked to return later in the day when the schedule allows.
Saturday Walk-in Clinic
We offer a Saturday Walk-In Clinic for current patients on most Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at our Wheat Ridge office. For holidays or flu clinics, we do not offer a Saturday clinic. Please check the top bar of our website for Saturday closures or call our office at (720) 284-3700.
After-Hours Triage Line
If you need help outside of our regular hours, just call our main line at (720) 284-3700, and our answering service will get you in touch with our on-call doctor or the after-hours nurse triage line through Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Please save routine questions (mild illness, appointments, prescription refills) for the morning. We encourage you to refer to our website first, when practical, before calling the office.
Doctor’s Blog: Your resource for answers and education
We know parents sometimes turn to the Internet for answers. We hope you’ll find our blog a helpful resource for every step of your child’s journey.
