Overcrowded hospital emergency rooms have been an ongoing problem in Ventura County. The most severely affected patients are children and their parents.

Imagine a 3-year-old child with an earache, high fever or laceration waiting in an emergency room with sick people surrounding him or her. It’s difficult enough for an adult to endure four to six hours of waiting, but for a sick child, it is next to impossible.

Until a month ago, there was no medical alternative for a parent who had a sick or injured child. But everything changed when After Hours Pediatrics, Inc. opened its doors to the public.

After Hours Pediatrics is an exclusively pediatric urgent care facility providing the following services to children:

•Treatment of all pediatric illnesses, including ear infections, lung infections, rashes and high fevers

•Treatment of pediatric injuries

•Splinting

•Sutures or alternative treatments for lacerations

•Dehydration treatment •Asthma treatment •Pain management

•Lab tests

After Hours Pediatrics is not a substitute for the emergency room. However, most children’s illnesses or injuries don’t require an ER.

The following are three reasons to choose After Hours Pediatrics as an alternative to the ER:

1. Your child will be seen in less than an hour. The average wait time in ERs for non-lifethreatening conditions is about four to six hours.

2. Your child will be seen by a board-certified pediatrician at After Hours Pediatrics. In an ER, your child will be seen by a physician who generally treats adults.

3. Because the ER is equipped to treat the most severe cases, the cost associated with standard pediatric care is extremely high. Oftentimes, the cost of an ER visit will be more than three times the cost of a visit to After Hours Pediatrics.

After Hours Pediatrics is at 2125 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite B-2, in Thousand Oaks,

lose to the Civic Arts Plaza and directly across from the Claim Jumper restaurant. Hours are weekdays from 6 to 11 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

Please call (805) 374-7874 for more information.