Your child wakes up at 7 AM with a 102-degree fever and an earache. Your pediatrician cannot see them until Thursday. The emergency room means a 3-hour wait surrounded by seriously ill patients. What do you do?
Pediatric urgent care fills this exact gap — providing same-day, walk-in medical care for children and adolescents when their primary care doctor is unavailable. At TrufaMED Urgent Care in Surfside, we treat kids of all ages for the common illnesses and injuries that cannot wait for a scheduled appointment but do not require emergency room resources.
What Is Pediatric Urgent Care?
Pediatric urgent care is a category of medical service designed for non-life-threatening conditions that need attention the same day. Unlike the emergency room, which prioritizes patients by severity and can involve multi-hour waits for non-critical cases, urgent care operates on a walk-in basis with significantly shorter wait times. Unlike your pediatrician’s office, urgent care does not require an appointment and is available during extended hours including weekends.
The scope of pediatric urgent care covers the vast majority of conditions that prompt parents to seek same-day medical attention. From ear infections and strep throat to minor fractures and cuts needing stitches, urgent care providers diagnose and treat the conditions that make up roughly 70 percent of pediatric ER visits — often at a fraction of the cost and in a fraction of the time. For parents in the Surfside, Miami Beach, and Bal Harbour area, TrufaMED provides this essential bridge between your pediatrician and the hospital emergency department.
What Conditions We Treat in Kids
At TrufaMED Urgent Care, we treat the conditions children encounter most frequently. Our providers have experience with patients from infants through adolescents, and our clinic is equipped with the diagnostic tools needed to evaluate and treat pediatric patients on the spot.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are our most common pediatric visit. Children under age 5 are especially prone to middle ear infections because their Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than those of adults, making fluid drainage difficult. We diagnose ear infections with an otoscope examination and prescribe antibiotics when bacterial infection is confirmed. Most children feel better within 48 to 72 hours of starting treatment, and we provide clear instructions on pain management, follow-up care, and signs that warrant a return visit.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is the second most common reason parents bring children to our clinic. We perform a rapid strep test that delivers results in under 10 minutes, so you do not have to wait days for a lab culture. If the test is positive, we prescribe antibiotics on the spot. Early treatment reduces symptom duration, prevents complications like rheumatic fever, and allows your child to return to school sooner — most schools require 24 hours on antibiotics before readmission.
Fevers and Flu-Like Illness
A high fever in a child is understandably alarming for parents. We evaluate the cause of the fever, check for associated infections, and provide treatment recommendations. For influenza specifically, we offer rapid flu testing and can prescribe Tamiflu when appropriate — medication that is most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset. We also provide IV hydration for children who are significantly dehydrated from fever, vomiting, or refusal to drink fluids.
Coughs, Colds, and Bronchitis
Upper respiratory infections are the most common childhood illness overall, and while most resolve on their own, some cases warrant medical evaluation. We assess whether a cough is viral or bacterial, check for signs of pneumonia or bronchitis, and provide appropriate treatment. For wheezing or breathing difficulties that do not rise to the emergency level, we can administer nebulizer treatments in the clinic.
Pink Eye and Rashes
Conjunctivitis — pink eye — spreads rapidly in schools and daycare centers. We determine whether the infection is bacterial, viral, or allergic, and prescribe antibiotic eye drops when needed. Similarly, childhood rashes range from harmless viral exanthems to conditions requiring treatment such as impetigo or allergic reactions. We evaluate the rash, identify the cause, and prescribe medication when necessary.
Minor Cuts, Lacerations, and Stitches
Children are prone to cuts and lacerations from play, sports, and everyday adventures. We provide wound evaluation, cleaning, and repair including stitches, staples, and adhesive closure depending on the location and severity. Our providers are experienced with pediatric wound care and take extra time to keep young patients calm during the procedure. We also provide tetanus boosters when needed and clear wound care instructions for parents.
Sprains and Sports Injuries
Active kids sustain sprains, strains, and minor fractures regularly. We offer on-site digital X-ray to evaluate suspected fractures, provide splinting and immobilization for confirmed injuries, and refer to orthopedic specialists when necessary. For youth athletes, we also perform sports physicals required by schools and leagues.
School and Sports Physicals
Florida requires annual physicals for student athletes and many schools require updated health forms for enrollment. TrufaMED provides comprehensive school physicals and sports clearance exams on a walk-in basis — no appointment needed. We complete the required state forms during your visit so your child is cleared to participate without delay.
What to Bring to Your Child’s Visit
Arriving prepared helps your visit go smoothly and ensures we have the information needed to treat your child effectively. Bring your child’s insurance card and a photo ID for the parent or guardian. If your child takes any medications, bring a list or the medication bottles themselves. For school or sports physicals, bring the required forms from your child’s school or league — we will complete them during the visit.
If your child has relevant medical history such as allergies, chronic conditions like asthma, or previous surgeries, let our front desk know when you check in. This information helps our providers make safer, faster treatment decisions. If your pediatrician has sent you with specific instructions or a referral, bring that documentation as well.
For infants and toddlers, bringing a comfort item like a favorite toy or blanket can help reduce anxiety in an unfamiliar medical environment. We keep our waiting area and exam rooms as child-friendly as possible, but a familiar object makes a real difference for little ones.
Why Choose Urgent Care Over the ER for Kids
The decision between urgent care and the emergency room depends entirely on the severity of your child’s condition. For the conditions listed above — ear infections, strep throat, fevers, minor injuries — urgent care is almost always the better choice. Here is why:
Wait times: The average pediatric ER wait in Miami-Dade County exceeds 2 hours for non-critical cases. At TrufaMED, most patients are seen within 15 to 30 minutes of walking in. For a sick, uncomfortable child, that difference is enormous.
Cost: The average ER visit for a pediatric ear infection costs over $1,000 before insurance adjustments. An urgent care visit for the same condition is typically a fraction of that amount, even for self-pay patients. If you carry insurance, your urgent care copay is almost always lower than your ER copay.
Environment: Emergency rooms are designed for critical, high-acuity patients. The environment is loud, brightly lit, and can be frightening for children. Urgent care clinics offer a calmer, more comfortable setting that is less overwhelming for young patients and their parents.
Exposure risk: ERs serve patients with a wide range of conditions, including highly contagious infections. Bringing a child with an ear infection to a waiting room shared with patients who have more serious illnesses increases their exposure to additional pathogens. Urgent care waiting rooms generally have lower acuity patients and shorter dwell times, reducing cross-contamination risk.
Speed of treatment: Because urgent care providers are not triaging trauma, cardiac events, and other emergencies, they can focus entirely on your child’s condition from the moment the visit begins. Diagnosis, treatment, and discharge happen in a single streamlined visit that typically takes under an hour total.
When to Go to the ER Instead
Urgent care is not a substitute for emergency medicine when a child’s condition is truly critical. Take your child to the emergency room immediately if they are having difficulty breathing or turning blue around the lips, are unresponsive, extremely lethargic, or difficult to wake, have had a seizure, have a deep wound with uncontrollable bleeding, have a suspected head injury with vomiting or loss of consciousness, have ingested a toxic substance or medication overdose, have a bone that is visibly deformed suggesting a severe fracture, or are showing signs of a severe allergic reaction such as throat swelling or widespread hives with breathing difficulty.
If you are ever unsure whether your child needs the ER or urgent care, call us at (305) 537-6396 and our staff can help you determine the most appropriate level of care. When in doubt about a truly serious symptom, always err on the side of calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room.
Insurance, Self-Pay, and What Your Visit Costs
TrufaMED accepts most major insurance plans including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, and many others. Your copay for a pediatric urgent care visit is determined by your specific insurance plan but is typically in the range of $25 to $75 — significantly less than an ER copay which often starts at $150 to $500.
For families without insurance or with high-deductible plans, we offer transparent self-pay pricing. We believe that cost should not be a barrier to your child receiving timely medical care, and our self-pay rates reflect that philosophy. Payment is due at the time of service, and we accept all major credit cards.
We Coordinate With Your Pediatrician
Continuity of care is especially important for growing children. After your visit, we send detailed visit notes to your child’s primary care pediatrician so they stay fully informed about any diagnosis, treatment, or prescriptions we provided. This coordination ensures that your pediatrician can follow up appropriately at your child’s next scheduled visit and that our treatment aligns with any existing care plans.
If your child needs follow-up care beyond what urgent care provides — such as an orthopedic referral for a fracture, an ENT consultation for recurrent ear infections, or ongoing management of a newly identified condition — we provide the appropriate referral and communicate directly with the specialist to facilitate a smooth handoff.
Pediatric Urgent Care FAQs
What ages do you treat at TrufaMED?
We treat patients of all ages, from infants through adults. Our providers are experienced with pediatric patients and adjust their approach to make children of every age comfortable during their visit.
Do I need an appointment for my child?
No. TrufaMED is a walk-in clinic and appointments are not required. You can also book online to reserve your spot and reduce your wait time, but walk-ins are always welcome.
What are your hours?
TrufaMED Urgent Care is open 7 days a week. Check our website or call (305) 537-6396 for current hours. We offer extended hours beyond typical pediatrician office schedules, including weekends.
Can you prescribe antibiotics for my child?
Yes. When our providers diagnose a bacterial infection such as strep throat, an ear infection, or a urinary tract infection, we prescribe appropriate antibiotics during your visit. We send prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy of your choice so medication is ready for pickup by the time you arrive.
Do you have X-ray for kids?
Yes. TrufaMED has on-site digital X-ray capability. If your child has a suspected fracture, sprain, or other injury that requires imaging, we can perform the X-ray during your visit and provide results immediately. Digital X-ray uses lower radiation doses than traditional film X-ray, which is especially important for pediatric patients.
Can both parents be in the exam room?
Absolutely. We encourage parents and caregivers to be present during their child’s visit. Having familiar faces nearby reduces anxiety for children and allows us to communicate directly with the adults responsible for follow-up care at home.
Visit TrufaMED Urgent Care in Surfside
TrufaMED is located at 9445 Harding Ave in Surfside, Florida — centrally located for families from Miami Beach, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, Bay Harbor Islands, and the surrounding communities. We are Florida’s only Joint Commission-accredited urgent care, meaning our clinic meets the same safety and quality standards required of hospitals. When your child needs medical attention and your pediatrician is not available, walk in or book online for prompt, compassionate care.
