Do I need an appointment for a sick visit?

Yes. Please call our office so we can schedule a same-day appointment and ensure the appropriate amount of time is set aside for your child's visit. Walk-ins may experience a longer wait.

Can I bring a sick sibling without an appointment?

To avoid delays, we recommend scheduling appointments for all children who need to be seen. If a second child needs evaluation, please let us know when you call so we can accommodate both.

Will my child see their regular pediatrician for a sick visit?

We do our best to schedule sick visits with your child's primary pediatrician. If they are unavailable, another doctor in our practice will see your child, and all of our physicians have access to your child's full medical history.

What if my child is too sick to come into the office?

For certain situations, a phone or video consultation with one of our doctors may be appropriate. Call our office to discuss whether a remote evaluation is suitable for your child's symptoms.

Do you handle emergencies?

We manage a wide range of urgent pediatric concerns in our office. For true medical emergencies, such as difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or serious injuries, please call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room. Our team will follow up and help coordinate ongoing care.

Sick Child Visits in New York City

When your child wakes up with a fever, a persistent cough, or an unexplained rash, waiting days for an appointment is not an option. At West End Pediatrics, we hold same-day appointments open every day specifically for sick children. Our goal is always to see your child as quickly as possible, and to make sure they are seen by a pediatrician who knows them.

With our office open 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays, your child can be evaluated by one of our own board-certified pediatricians when they need it most, not by a stranger at an urgent care clinic.

When Your Child Is Sick, We're Here

Childhood illnesses are inevitable, and they rarely arrive at convenient times. Ear infections flare up on Friday evenings. Stomach bugs hit the morning of a family trip. A rash appears overnight and a parent needs to know whether school is an option. These are the moments when having a trusted pediatric practice matters most.

We understand the urgency that comes with a sick child, and we structure our daily schedule to accommodate same-day sick visits at both our Upper West Side and Greenwich Village offices. If your child's primary pediatrician is available, we will do our best to schedule the visit with them. If not, another physician in our group will see your child promptly, and because all six of our doctors work closely together and have access to your child's complete medical history, the continuity of care is never compromised.

Common Reasons for a Sick Visit

Families visit us for a wide range of acute illnesses and symptoms. Some of the most common reasons for sick child appointments include fever, cough and cold symptoms, sore throat and strep throat, ear infections and ear pain, vomiting and diarrhea, skin rashes and allergic reactions, eye infections and conjunctivitis, wheezing and breathing concerns, minor injuries and sprains, and insect bites or stings.

If you're unsure whether your child's symptoms warrant a visit, we encourage you to call us. Our experienced pediatric nurses are available throughout the day to help you assess the situation, and a doctor is always available for more complex questions.

What to Expect During a Sick Child Appointment

During a sick visit, your pediatrician will conduct a focused examination based on your child's symptoms. This may include checking vital signs, examining the ears, throat, and lungs, palpating the abdomen, and evaluating any rashes or areas of concern. If needed, we can perform rapid in-office tests, such as strep tests or flu screens, to guide treatment decisions.

Your doctor will explain the diagnosis, discuss treatment options, and provide clear guidance on home care, medication dosing, and when to follow up. If your child's condition requires further evaluation, we will coordinate referrals to pediatric specialists through our affiliation with NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell and our network of subspecialists at leading hospitals across the city.

Same-Day, Weekend, and Holiday Availability

One of the things that sets West End Pediatrics apart is our commitment to being available when families need us. Our Upper West Side office is open every day of the year, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, with morning hours reserved for urgent and sick visits on weekends. Our Greenwich Village office is open Monday through Friday.

A doctor from our practice is also on call 24 hours a day for after-hours concerns. If your child becomes ill in the evening or overnight, you can call our office and speak directly with one of our own pediatricians for guidance.

When to Call vs. When to Come In

Not every illness requires an office visit. For mild symptoms, our pediatric nurses and on-call doctors can often help you manage your child's care over the phone. However, we recommend bringing your child in for a sick visit if they have a fever lasting more than two to three days, symptoms that are worsening rather than improving, difficulty breathing or persistent wheezing, signs of dehydration such as decreased urination or excessive lethargy, severe or spreading rashes, or ear pain that is keeping them awake at night.

When in doubt, call us. We would always rather hear from you and help you make the right decision than have you worry at home.