After-Hours Care

Do fevers, sprained ankles and stomach aches ever happen at the right time? Probably not! That’s why Children’s Primary Care Medical Group provides medical advice and after-hours pediatric care for unexpected illnesses 24/7.

NURSE TRIAGE SERVICES (Telephone Health Care Advice)
The after-hours triage line is for urgent calls only. When you call a CPCMG office after closing, each office will instruct you on how to obtain medical care for your child. Please follow these simple rules so that you will receive advice in a timely manner.

• If you think you have a life- or limb-threatening emergency call 911.
• If you need to call the after-hours phone number, please make only one phone call and wait for a response. Please do not make multiple phone calls. Calls are screened and the most urgent ones are returned first. Please do not call from a blocked phone number or provide a blocked phone number for the return call. If you have a blocked phone number, please provide an alternate number.
• Routine calls should wait for regular office hours. Examples of routine calls include minor feeding problems, behavioral questions, and mild diaper rashes as well as questions regarding appointments.
• Medication refills should only be done in the office during business hours when the staff has access to your child’s records. The after-hours staff may not be able to refill the medication because they may not know your child or have his chart available.

Be Prepared:

• Give your child’s name, birth date, phone number where you can be reached, and your child’s doctor’s name.
• If your child has a fever, take the temperature before you call.
• If you have a question about medication, keep the medication container close by so you can tell the nurse exactly what it is.
• Be ready to discuss your child’s symptoms. You will be asked several questions about your child’s illness.
• Have pencil and paper available to write down instructions.

Triage Nurses:

• The nurses from the triage team are all registered nurses.
• The nurses have a standard list of questions that will help guide their advice. Your answers will help to decide the best way to aid your child.
• The nurses cannot give you a diagnosis or prescribe medications. The main purpose of triage is to direct you to the appropriate level of care.
• The calls are returned in order of urgency. The most urgent call will be returned first.

CHILDREN'S PRIMARY EXTENDED CARE (CPEC)

Get the same great pediatric care you know and trust from CPCMG after hours with Children’s Primary Extended Care (CPEC). Scheduling an after-hours appointment is quick and easy:

In San Diego County, call 858-302-2265:
Phone lines will be open Monday through Thursday, 5pm – 8:30pm and Sunday, 8am – 12pm.

In Riverside County, call 858-302-2266:
Phone lines will be open Monday through Thursday, 5pm – 8:30pm and Sunday, 8am – 12 noon.

If you call your CPCMG office after hours, please follow the prompts to transfer to the CPEC scheduling team. Soon you will be able to use your MyChart account to schedule after-hours appointments. If you do not have a MyChart account, please ask your CPCMG office for an authorization code to get started.

After-hours pediatric care is available at select locations throughout San Diego and Southwest Riverside counties. Remember, CPEC is for the care of acutely ill patients (cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, earache, etc.).

CPEC Hours in SAN DIEGO COUNTY:
Monday through Thursday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm and Sunday, 8am to 12pm.

CPEC Hours in SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY:
Monday through Thursday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm and Sunday, 8:30am to noon.

Please note that some insurance policies do not cover extended care services.

RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL URGENT CARE

RADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO
If your child needs emergency or specialty care, it is important that they be treated in a facility that is 100 percent dedicated to children. The physicians, nurses and staff at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego are specifically trained to treat children with age appropriate medical equipment, diagnostics and medications. Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is located at 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego, California 92123. For more information, visit www.RCHSD.org or call (858) 576-1700.