Getting Care for Your Child in an Emergency

How to get care for your child in an emergency

An emergency is when your child must be seen immediately.

Call 911 for an ambulance or take your child directly to the nearest emergency room (ER).

• If your child needs care but you are not sure if it is an emergency, call your child’s PCP first. Your child’s PCP will help you decide if you should take your child to the ER, the office, or an urgent care center.
• Call your child’s PCP the day after your child’s ER or urgent care center visit to make a follow-up appointment. Your child’s PCP needs to know when your child receives medical care from another health care provider.
• Do not take your child back to the ER or urgent care center for follow-up care unless your child’s PCP tells you to. It may not be covered, and you may get a bill.

You do not need approval from Keystone First – CHIP for your child to get care in an emergency. The hospital cannot turn you away. It is the law. Your child has the right to get the care they need. You have the right to say no to treatment for your child. You also have the right to ask for or say no to a transfer of your child to another hospital.

How to know if it is an emergency?

An emergency medical condition is an injury or illness that is so severe that a reasonable person with no medical training would believe there is an immediate risk to a person's life or long-term health.

Your child’s doctor knows your child best and knows your child’s medical history. The doctor knows which tests and medicine make the most sense for your child. This is a good thing for your child’s health.

Work with your child’s PCP to find the best time to call the office and how to reach the doctor when the office is closed. Your child’s PCP’s office is the best place to ask health-related questions. You may not get your answer until later in the day or the next day, but that is better than spending a day waiting in the emergency room. Keystone First – CHIP also works with urgent care centers in your area. See our urgent care center list to find a location near you.

If your child’s PCP is not available, you can call our Nurse Call Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-877-625-2447 (TTY 711). They can answer your health-related questions or concerns about your child. But remember, the Nurse Call Line does not take the place of your child’s doctor.