How Dr. Sabeti Handles Pediatric Emergencies

The Reality of Childhood Emergencies

Every parent knows that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach. It usually happens at the worst possible times—late on a Friday night, during a holiday weekend, or right before a big family trip. Your child wakes up screaming with a high fever, takes a nasty fall off the monkey bars, or suddenly breaks out in a mysterious rash that seems to be spreading by the minute.

In the traditional medical model, your options are limited and often stressful. You can wait until Monday morning to call the office, hoping for a squeezed-in appointment. Alternatively, you can drive to an urgent care center or the Emergency Room. If you have ever spent six hours in a crowded ER waiting room with a sick, crying child, you know exactly why parents dread this choice. The exposure to other germs, the exhausted staff, and the feeling of being just another number on a chart is overwhelming.

As a pediatrician, I saw this struggle constantly. I knew there had to be a better way to support families during these frightening moments. This is why I structured my practice differently. I want to walk you through exactly how I handle concierge pediatric emergencies and why having a direct line to your doctor changes everything about urgent care.

What Does “Concierge” Really Mean in an Emergency?

The word “concierge” often sounds fancy, but in my practice, it simply means “accessible” and “personal.” When you are part of my practice, you are not navigating a phone tree or leaving a message with an answering service that might page a doctor you have never met. You are dealing with me, Dr. Anita Sabeti.

When an emergency strikes, the most valuable thing you can have is information and reassurance. In a standard practice, there is a barrier between the doctor and the patient. In my concierge model, that barrier is removed. Handling concierge pediatric emergencies means that I am available to triage the situation immediately, often before you even step foot out of your house.

Step 1: Immediate Triage and Access

The first step in my emergency protocol is direct communication. Because I limit the number of families I work with, I can provide my personal cell phone number to my patients. When your child gets hurt or sick, you text or call me directly.

This immediate connection serves a vital purpose: Triage. Triage is the medical process of determining how serious a condition is. In many cases, what looks scary to a parent is something I can manage calmly.

For example, if your child cuts their chin, you can send me a high-resolution photo or we can jump on a FaceTime call immediately. Instead of rushing to the ER and sitting next to someone with the flu, I can look at the wound virtually. I can tell you, “Apply pressure here,” or “This needs stitches, meet me at the office in 20 minutes.” This saves you time, reduces panic, and keeps your child away from hospital germs.

Step 2: avoiding the Waiting Room

One of the biggest advantages of how I handle emergencies is the environment. If we decide that your child needs to be seen, you don’t come to a crowded waiting room. We schedule a time—usually immediately—where you walk right in.

Hospitals can be scary places for children. The lights are bright, it smells like antiseptic, and there are strangers everywhere. My office is a familiar, safe space. Because I know your child and they know me, the anxiety level drops significantly. A calm child is easier to examine and treat.

For concierge pediatric emergencies, the goal is to make the medical treatment feel as safe and comfortable as possible. Whether it is listening to wheezing lungs or checking a painful ear, doing it in a quiet, private setting allows me to focus 100% on your child without the distractions of a chaotic emergency department.

Step 3: Treatments I Perform in the Office

Many parents are surprised by how much we can handle outside of a hospital. Because I am board-certified and experienced, my office is equipped to handle many urgent situations that would otherwise require an ER visit.

Here are some common emergencies I handle directly:

• Laceration Repair: Kids fall. It is a fact of life. Whether it requires medical glue (dermabond) or sutures (stitches), I can repair cuts right in my office. I take my time to ensure the best cosmetic result, minimizing scarring, which is something rushed ER doctors might not always have time to prioritize.
• Respiratory Distress: For children with asthma or croup, breathing issues are terrifying. I can administer nebulizer treatments and monitor oxygen levels in the office, often stabilizing the child so they can go home to sleep in their own bed.
• Dehydration and Fluids: Stomach viruses can hit kids hard. If a child is dehydrated, I can assess if they need oral rehydration protocols or more advanced care.
• Foreign Object Removal: Kids love to put things where they don’t belong—beads in noses or corn kernels in ears. I have the tools and patience to remove these gently.
• Acute Infections: From raging strep throat to painful ear infections, I can run rapid tests in the office and dispense the first dose of antibiotics if needed, saving you a trip to the pharmacy late at night.
• Sprains and Simple Fractures: I can assess injuries, splint sprains, and order stat X-rays at nearby facilities if a break is suspected, bypassing the ER triage line.

The Emotional Side of Emergencies

Medicine is not just about fixing the body; it is about calming the mind. When a child is hurt, the parents are often just as traumatized as the patient. A major part of how I handle concierge pediatric emergencies involves treating the whole family’s anxiety.

In a hospital, the staff is trained to be efficient. They are excellent at saving lives, but they may not have time to hold a hand or explain every step to a worried mother. I do.

I explain everything I am doing to the child in age-appropriate language. I let them see the instruments. I promise them I will be gentle. This builds trust. When a child trusts me, they don’t fight the treatment. This makes procedures like stitches or swabs go much faster and with far less pain.

For the parents, I provide a calm roadmap. I will tell you exactly what to watch for over the next 12 to 24 hours. I will text you later that night to check-in. You aren’t sent home with a stack of discharge papers and a “good luck.” You go home knowing I am still just a phone call away if things change.

Comparison: My Approach vs. Traditional ER

To give you a clearer picture of the difference, I’ve put together a chart comparing the experience of a standard emergency room visit versus how I handle urgent needs in my concierge practice.

When the Hospital IS Necessary

I want to be completely honest and transparent. I am a pediatrician, not a trauma surgeon. There are times when the emergency room is the only safe place for a child. If a child has a compound fracture, requires emergency surgery (like for appendicitis), has suffered significant head trauma with loss of consciousness, or is in severe anaphylactic shock, the hospital is required.

However, even in these scenarios, being a concierge patient changes the experience.

If you call me and I determine that you need to go to the ER, I don’t just hang up. I can call ahead to the Emergency Department. I can speak to the attending physician to give them your child’s medical history and explain exactly why you are coming in. This professional-to-professional handoff is incredibly powerful. It ensures the ER team is ready for you and understands the context of the medical issue immediately.

Furthermore, I can help you decide which hospital to go to. Not all ERs are created equal when it comes to pediatrics. I can direct you to the facility with the best pediatric specialists for your specific emergency.

For more information on recognizing when an injury requires hospital care versus office care, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers excellent guidelines on emergency medicine.

The Value of Peace of Mind

Ultimately, the way I handle emergencies is rooted in a philosophy of care. I believe that medical care should be continuous, not episodic. When I treat a child for an emergency, I am looking at it in the context of their whole life—their growth, their previous illnesses, and their family dynamic.

I remember one specific evening when a patient of mine, a young boy, had a severe allergic reaction to a new food. His mother called me, panic in her voice. Because I knew his history and we had discussed this possibility, I was able to guide her through using the Epipen over the phone while she waited for the ambulance. I met them at the hospital to advocate for his care.

That level of involvement is what defines my practice. It isn’t just about prescribing medicine; it is about being a partner in parenting. Knowing that you have a doctor who will pick up the phone at 10 PM allows you to sleep a little better at night.

Why Continuity Matters in Urgent Care

Another aspect of concierge pediatric emergencies that is often overlooked is the follow-up. In a standard urgent care setting, once you walk out the door, the transaction is over. If the fever spikes again two days later, you often have to go back and start the process all over again with a new doctor.

In my practice, the emergency visit is just one point on a timeline. Because I see my patients for their well-visits and check-ups, I know what is “normal” for them. If a child who is usually high-energy is suddenly lethargic, I notice it immediately. If a child who usually heals quickly is struggling with a wound, I can spot the early signs of infection.

This continuity improves safety. It prevents things from falling through the cracks. It ensures that if we start a medication, we are monitoring its effectiveness closely. You are never left guessing if your child is actually getting better.

Your Partner in Health

Navigating childhood illnesses and injuries is one of the hardest parts of being a parent. It is exhausting and frightening. My goal is to shoulder some of that burden for you. By offering accessible, high-quality, and personal care during emergencies, I ensure that your child gets the best possible treatment while you get the support you need.

I am here to be the calm in the storm. Whether it is a broken bone or a high fever, you do not have to face it alone. I am Dr. Anita Sabeti, and I am committed to being there when you need me most.