Children’s National Hospital in D.C. is amongst hospitals nationwide which can be seeing a big increase in emergency department visits and admissions. The hospital is warning families with non-urgent issues that they could experience long waits before they’re seen.
Children’s National Hospital in D.C. is amongst hospitals nationwide which can be seeing a big increase in emergency department visits and admissions.
In consequence, the hospital is warning families with non-urgent issues that they could experience long waits before they’re seen.
The rise in emergency department visits and admissions is due, partially, to a spike in viral respiratory infections, including Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and the flu.
While measures have been implemented to accommodate the upper volumes to deliver protected care, hospital volumes are expected to stay near capability within the near future, the hospital said.
“When a baby in our hospital or emergency department is facing a life-threatening emergency, there is no such thing as a wait time,” Children’s National said in an announcement.
There are a lot of options and resources available for youngsters who’re sick but not in severe distress.
“We definitely aren’t invalidating you or saying your child isn’t sick or doesn’t need some medical attention. It just won’t should be emergent, or ‘without delay’ medical attention,” said Dr. Sarah Ash Combs, a pediatric emergency medicine attending physician and director of outreach for the emergency department at Children’s National Hospital.
Parents who’ve a daily pediatrician for his or her children can call the pediatrician’s office.
“Every pediatrician must have an after-hours call line. That may be a nurse who’s staffing that, they may give you the option to get back to you and offer you some over-the-phone triage advice,” that may include scheduling a next-day visit, Combs said.
Visiting an urgent care center may be an option for families outside the immediate D.C. area or who’re away from home.
“Symptoms which can be mild can stay at home,” she said. “In case your child is coughing, but continues to be in a position to speak in full sentences, play, not have trouble respiration, no matter whether that cough is COVID or RSV, you’re OK to administer that at home. You may give them loads of fluids, loads of rest.”
A toddler with a fever may be more comfortable if treated with an over-the-counter medicine.
“Keep in mind, it’s an indication your child’s immune system is definitely working to drive out the virus. So, it is an indication things are going right inside your child’s body. And, in case you can bring that fever down with an over-the-counter medication (resembling) acetaminophen or ibuprofen, then your child might feel higher just by having their temperature brought down a bit of bit at home.”
When is it time to hunt immediate skilled care?
Combs said it’s an emergency when a baby’s ailment includes signs of respiratory distress. She has advice for what to search for.
“It’s essential see what’s occurring with their belly and underneath their rib cage. In the event that they are sucking in air, meaning you will note their belly pushing out and in, you will note between their rib cage, the skin is folding in and collapsing with every breath — that may be a sign of what we’d call respiratory distress,” she said.
“Definitely, in case your child is changing colours, going bluish purple across the lips; in the event that they are at the purpose of trouble with respiration, such that they’re near fainting or really having trouble going about their usual activity, unable to even form a full sentence, in the event that they’re on the age where they normally do this — those are the red-flag signs.”
The hospital said that the present surge in illness is exacerbated by the national health care workforce shortages. As reported by The Latest York Times, some hospitals have responded by closing pediatric inpatient beds and even closing pediatric ICU beds.
“We are able to’t 100% prevent respiratory viral illness or flu, and we are able to’t 100% prevent the spread. But we do have ways to mitigate it,” Combs said. “We had really low numbers of respiratory viral illnesses at the height of the pandemic, after we were masking, hand-washing, social distancing. So, in case you can keep doing those things as much as possible, that will be helpful.”
Also, every child 6 months and older is eligible for a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine.
“And be certain your entire household is vaccinated, particularly if you will have a baby in that under-6-month age group because then, they can not get the vaccination themselves. So you want to protect their surroundings for them,” Combs said.