St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Opens Pediatric Urgent Care Center in Jenkintown

After-hours facility is the first urgent care center focused on kids in region

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children today announced the opening of the first pediatric urgent care center in the Greater Philadelphia Region.  Staffed by a highly skilled health care team including a pediatrician, registered nurse and x-ray technician at all times, patients from birth to 18 years of age can now receive immediate medical attention for non-life threatening situations that occur after most pediatricians’ offices are closed for the day or weekend.

St. Christopher’s Pediatric Urgent Care Center is located at 500 Old York Road in Jenkintown and is open Monday through Friday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  The Urgent Care Center provides a convenient, high-quality alternative to hospital emergency departments for a full-range of childhood health concerns from common colds, viruses, skin irritations and ear infections to sutures, fractures, sprains and minor burns. 

While patients may wait several hours to see a doctor in a hospital emergency department, the St. Chris Pediatric Urgent Care Center is designed for convenient walk-in access and prompt expert medical attention in a child-friendly atmosphere.  For greater convenience and follow-up, the Center will provide a detailed report to the child’s general pediatrician or family doctor, within approximately 24 hours of their visit.

“Parents know that children don’t always get sick or hurt during their pediatrician’s regular office hours,” said Carolyn Jackson, CEO of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. “The new St. Chris Pediatric Urgent Care Center will give families a place to turn when they know their child needs immediate medical attention that cannot wait until morning but is not serious enough for the emergency department.”

Highly regarded pediatric emergency department physician, Richard Brodsky, MD, has been appointed the Medical Director for St. Chris Pediatric Urgent Care and leads the team of doctors, nurses and medical technicians who staff the Jenkintown facility. 

“The St. Chris Pediatric Urgent Care Center is on call when your pediatrician’s office is closed. Our Pediatric Urgent Care Center is not intended to replace a parent and child’s relationship with their pediatrician.   Rather, our goal is to provide immediate medical attention and treat illnesses and injuries that occur after hours.  Typically, we will be in touch with a child’s pediatrician the next day to communicate the condition and circumstances so the child receives any necessary follow-up care and has their medical records complete”, said Dr. Brodsky.

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is committed to providing high quality family- and patient-centered care to treat the whole child. Affiliated with both Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine, St. Chris is working to advance new pediatric treatments through research and innovation. For more than 130 years, the 189-bed hospital has served children and the community throughout the Philadelphia area and continues its commitment through several satellite care centers. St. Chris' highly acclaimed programs include a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center; Level IIIIC NICU; Heart Center, Oncology/Transplant; as well as the only dedicated pediatric burn center in the area. In 2009, St. Chris achieved Magnet status, one of the nation's highest forms of recognition for nursing excellence. Numerous St. Chris physicians are recognized as "Top Docs" in their field.  For more information please visit www.stchristophershospital.com.

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