My pediatrician's office doesn't have the ability to do x-rays on site nor is there another office in the building that does them. I'll obviously call them but they won't be open until later this morning and I'm trying to plan my day. One of my kids injured her foot in karate/kickboxing last night. The trainer who runs the class thought it looked like something that just needs rest and ice but a friend who is an ER doc looked at it and recommended an x-ray just to make sure there isn't a fracture. We've done basic first aid for this kind of injury and it definitely seems better today but nowhere near 100% (she is in school this morning but hobbling on the outside of the foot) and I would like an x-ray just to make sure there isn't anything broken.
If I drag her to the pedi, she'll say the same thing the ER doc said and will order an x-ray somewhere else and we'll have to make an appointment, drive wherever and have it done. Would it be ridiculous to call the pedi office, explain the situation and ask that they just call in an x-ray wherever they do that? I should also note that my insurance DOES NOT require a referral to see a specialist, so should I just skip the pedi and call the local orthopedist and see if they can see her today? We have great insurance and all I'll owe is minor co-pays either way so it's not that I can't afford to go to the pedi first, but I try to not waste anyone's resources and that step just seems a waste of time (for everyone) and money (for my insurance company and me). Has anyone navigated this situation before? The only time I've dealt with a broken limb it was severe enough that I had to go to the ER so I have no idea how x-rays work in a non-emergency situation.
Thanks everyone. I called a local orthopedist and they are checking insurance, etc. and will hopefully see her today. The responses were interesting..."Urgent Care" doesn't really exist where I live (out in the suburbs...there were hospital walk-in clinics when I lived in Boston proper but insurance would charge a higher co-pay for that). You generally either see your primary care during office hours or go to the ER and there is no in-between. I wonder why that is?
If you can get her in to an orthopedist today, do it. If not, you could try an urgent care. Call first to make sure they do x-rays onsite -- some in my area do, and some do not.
Foot bones are very small and can break easily. I walked around on a broken foot for three days before going in because I just thought it was bruised! Go with your gut and take her.
call the orthopaedic office and make an appointment, usually they will do an x-ray right there in the office. My son fell and hurt his arm, I did not take him to the MD right away because he said it didn't hurt that bad. The next day I sent him to school and by the time he got home he was really uncomfortable so I took him the the ED and it turned out the poor kid had a broken arm. So you never know, better to err on the side of caution.
Immediate care or urgent care (they're called PrimaCare in TX). We also have an after hours pediatrics that has Xray capabilities. Google may help you. Good luck!
Go to your local urgent care clinic.
We have an immediate care near us that has x-ray, ct scan, can do blood work, etc. The docs look at the X-ray, but then they have a radiologist re-read them to make sure. If you have this near you, I'd do either do this or just go straight to an Ortho doc.
urgent care, but since you've waited til morning.....your insurance may not cover the added cost to the basic fee.
My best answer would be: call your ins company & have them refer you somewhere.
It's my experience that you can't get an x-ray without a physician's orders for one. ESPECIALLY for insurance purposes, it has to be deemed medically necessary.
Take your daughter to the pediatrician and if they think an x-ray is needed, they can give you an order, and in most cases, you can have them done at a nearby hospital. My local hospital does x-rays without appointment from 8am-6pm during the week and they also have Saturday hours.
I hope your daughter is okay.
I have broken many arms/fingers and gone to the emergency clinic for them, they give you a location, you walk in they take your xray and send you back to your doc xrays in hand the doc analyzes and you are good to go. You do not make an appointment for these places they take walk in referrals with proper paperwork from your doc. You may have to wait for an hour or so depending on the injury or the line - they do it first come first serve unless it is something like a chest xray. Care Now facilities often have xrays on site (just so you know).
