Sick Visits Specialist

What types of concerns do sick visits address?

Consider scheduling a sick visit when your child has an immediate health concern. This might be due to a sudden onset of symptoms, a minor injury, or problems with a chronic condition. 

It’s especially important to come in for a sick visit if your child’s symptoms seem to be getting worse, rather than better. 

Dr. Nie encourages you to schedule a sick visit for your child or teen if they have:

• Fever and chills
• Cold or flu symptoms  
• Earache
• Sore throat
• Allergic reaction
• Asthma attack
• Unusual rash
• Persistent nausea and diarrhea
• A urinary tract infection

Exposure to COVID-19 or symptoms of the virus, like trouble breathing or loss of taste and smell, deserves a sick visit too.

If you’re not sure your child’s symptoms warrant a sick visit, give the office a call. The friendly staff can answer questions and help you determine if it makes sense to come in. They work to get you a same-day visit whenever possible.

Even if your child or teen has a serious injury or is displaying concerning signs, like a seizure or a visible broken bone, call the office immediately and we will help you to decide whether to come to the office, specialist, or the nearest emergency room. 

What happens during sick visits?

During sick visits, Dr. Nie addresses your child’s immediate symptoms or injuries. These visits are not designed for comprehensive physicals, vaccinations, or other more routine health issues. 

To confirm a diagnosis of your child’s symptoms, they may undergo diagnostic tests, including blood work, urine test, or strep throat tests at the in-office lab. Once Dr. Nie understands the root cause and severity of your child’s symptoms, she sends you home with a treatment plan so that your child finds relief from symptoms and fully heals.

What are the available in-office lab tests?

Dr. Nie might recommend lab testing if she identifies a potential health issue during your child’s comprehensive physical exam or at a sick visit. She may also order lab tests to make sure your child is healthy as some conditions don’t have noticeable symptoms until an advanced stage. 

Some lab testing requires a blood draw, which can be scary or uncomfortable for kids. Nie Lina MD PC uses an AccuVein® vein finder to make the process less stressful. The vein finder makes it easy to find your child’s vein and visualize it in real-time, which reduces the need for multiple needle pricks.

Lab testing is also a critical step in many diagnostic procedures. Many health care practices don’t have onsite lab capabilities, which means patients sometimes have to wait days or weeks to get their lab results back.

Nie Lina MD PC does a range of lab tests at its in-office CLIA-certified lab, making care convenient for families. The staff runs rapid tests for common illnesses that include influenza A, influenza B, and strep throat, and bloody stool. She can use the hemoglobin kit to screen anemia and complete your WIC form on the day of your visit.

If your child needs lab work, get rapid, efficient care at Nie Lina MD PC. Schedule an appointment online or call the office to learn more today.

What treatments are available at sick visits?

Your child receives the highest level of pediatric and adolescent medicine care at Nie Lina MD PC, so they can get back to feeling their best and participating in school, play, and sports. 

Dr. Nie may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medicines to treat cold and flu symptoms, persistent diarrhea, and fevers. For infections in the ear, urinary tract, or pneumonia, she may prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear the infection. The office sends these prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice.

Your child may also receive on-site treatment of open wounds with topical skin adhesives or scalp stapler, suture removal, minor burn lesion care, stuffy nose, impacted earwax, and asthma attacks. If your child or teen suffers an orthopedic injury, such as a fracture, Dr. Nie may refer them to see an orthopedic specialist.

Pulmonary function test

Dr. Nie uses a spirometer to evaluate your child’s pulmonary function. A common use of this test is to diagnose asthma. We also provide nebulizer treatment in the office for asthma flare.

Wart removal

If your child has a wart, Dr. Nie can treat it in the office with Henry Schein® H Kit Cryotherapy. 

Earwax removal

Dr. Nie can help remove earwax with a wireless otoscope or the gentle Elephant Ear Washer® system.

Fluoride treatment

All children are screened for dental health; We provide fluoride varnish to the primary teeth of all infants and children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption and continuing through age 5. 

Fluoride varnish treatment effectively inhibits demineralization of teeth, resulting in highly significant dental caries reductions.

The office of Nie Lina MD PC offers sick visits when your child needs same-day care. Call to get them on the schedule so they can start feeling better soon. Online booking is also an option.