Living in Los Angeles comes with a lot of perks. We have beautiful weather, incredible food, and access to some of the best entertainment in the world. But if you are a parent, you know that living here also comes with unique challenges. The traffic on the 405 can ruin your day, and finding a parking spot can feel like winning the lottery. But nothingāand I mean nothingāis more stressful than when your child gets sick in the middle of the night.
As a pediatrician and a mother, I have been there. It is 10:00 PM on a Tuesday. The pediatricianās office is closed. Your child suddenly wakes up crying with a high fever or a painful earache. Your heart starts racing. You start doing the mental math. Should you wait until morning? Should you rush to the Emergency Room?
For many families, the thought of sitting in a crowded ER waiting room for hours is a nightmare. You worry about exposing your sick child to other germs. You worry about the long wait times. This is where the landscape of medical care is changing for the better. I want to talk to you about a solution that is saving parents sleep and sanity: after-hours concierge pediatrics.
The Challenge of Late-Night Illness in LA
Letās be honest about the current situation. Los Angeles is a sprawling city. Even if you live near a great hospital, getting there and being seen is a process. Emergency rooms are designed for life-threatening situations. They prioritize patients based on severity. This means if your child has an ear infection or the flu, you might be waiting behind someone with a broken leg or chest pains.
I have spoken to so many parents who spent six hours in a plastic chair, holding a miserable toddler, only to get five minutes with a doctor and a prescription for antibiotics. It is exhausting for the parent and traumatic for the child. Furthermore, urgent care centers often close by 8:00 or 9:00 PM, leaving a massive gap in care during the night.
This gap is where after-hours concierge pediatrics steps in to save the day. It bridges the divide between standard office visits and the emergency room.
What Exactly is After-Hours Concierge Pediatrics?
If you are new to this term, let me break it down. Concierge medicine is a model where the relationship between the patient and the doctor is direct and personal. When we add “after-hours” to the mix, it means having access to that high-quality care when most other doors are locked.
Think of it as the modern version of the old-school house call. Instead of packing up a sick child, fighting traffic, and sitting in a waiting room, the doctor comes to you. As Dr. Anita Sabeti, my goal is to make healthcare seamless. When you utilize after-hours concierge pediatrics, you are essentially bringing the clinic into your living room.
This service usually involves:
- Direct Access: You can text or call me directly, not an answering service.
- Home Visits: I arrive at your home equipped to test and treat common illnesses.
- Telehealth: Sometimes, a video call is all that is needed to reassure a parent or prescribe medication.
- Continuity: I follow up the next day to ensure your child is improving.
Why LA Families Are Switching to Home Visits
In a city as busy as ours, time is our most valuable currency. But it goes beyond just saving time. There is a comfort factor that you cannot put a price tag on.
1. Keeping Your Child Comfortable
When a child feels terrible, they want their own bed. They want their favorite stuffed animal and their familiar blanket. Dragging them out into the cold night air and into a bright, noisy hospital can make their symptoms feel worse due to stress. With a home visit, your child can stay in their pajamas. I have examined many patients while they lay on their own couch watching cartoons. This keeps them calm, which actually makes my exam easier and more accurate.
2. Avoiding Germ Exposure
This is a big one. Hospitals and urgent cares are where sick people go. If your child has a weakened immune system, or if they just have a minor injury, the last thing you want is for them to catch the flu or RSV from a stranger in the waiting room. By keeping your child at home, you are creating a bubble of safety.
3. Personalized Attention
In a busy clinic, doctors are often forced to rush. They have quotas to meet. In my concierge practice, I don’t watch the clock. If you have twenty questions, I will answer all twenty. I take the time to look at the whole picture of your childās health. We build a relationship. I know your childās history, their allergies, and even their fear of tongue depressors.
Comparing Your Options: Where Should You Go?
It can be confusing to know which level of care is right for a specific situation. To help you visualize this, I have put together a chart comparing the standard options available to Los Angeles families.
| Feature | Hospital ER | Standard Urgent Care | Concierge Home Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wait Time | High (2-6+ hours) | Medium (30 min – 2 hours) | Zero (Doctor comes to you) |
| Exposure to Germs | High risk | Medium risk | Low/None (Your home) |
| After-Hours Availability | 24/7 | Usually closes by 9 PM | Available evenings/weekends |
| Comfort Level | Low (Noisy, bright) | Medium (Clinical setting) | High (Own bed/couch) |
| Doctor Continuity | Random doctor on shift | Random doctor on shift | Your personal doctor |
| Best For | Life-threatening emergencies | Minor issues during the day | Urgent, non-life-threatening care |
What Can We Treat at Home?
You might be wondering if a home visit is enough. Do I have the right equipment in my medical bag? The answer is almost always yes. Technology has made portable medicine incredibly advanced. I can perform a wide variety of tests and treatments right on your kitchen table.
Here are some of the common conditions I treat through after-hours concierge pediatrics:
Fevers and Infections
This is the most common reason parents call me. I can swab for Strep throat, test for Flu A and B, check for RSV, and even test for COVID-19. I get results instantly in most cases. If your child has an ear infection, I have my otoscope to look inside the ear. If antibiotics are needed, I can often provide the first dose right there or call it into a 24-hour pharmacy.
Respiratory Issues
Croup, asthma flares, and bronchitis are scary for parents because hearing your child struggle to breathe is terrifying. I carry a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter to check oxygen levels. I can listen to their lungs in a quiet room, which is much better than a noisy ER. I can prescribe nebulizer treatments or steroids if necessary to open up their airways.
Cuts and Injuries
Kids are active. They fall off beds, trip on rugs, and bump into tables. If your child has a cut, you might think you need the ER for stitches. However, many cuts can be treated at home with medical-grade skin glue or staples. It is quick, much less painful than traditional stitches, and we avoid the trauma of the hospital.
Dehydration
Stomach bugs are messy and stressful. If a child cannot keep fluids down, they can get dehydrated. I can assess their hydration levels physically. I can prescribe anti-nausea medication that stops the vomiting, allowing them to start drinking fluids again safely.
The Geography of Care: Serving Los Angeles
One thing I love about this city is its diversity of neighborhoods. However, traffic patterns dictate everything. When looking for after-hours concierge pediatrics, it is important to find a provider who covers your specific area.
My practice focuses on providing timely responses. Whether you are in Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, or the surrounding areas, the goal is to get to you quickly. When you call, we discuss your location and give you a realistic arrival time. Because I am mobile, I am not tied to a building. I am tied to my patients.
It is important to note that while I handle urgent medical needs, true life-threatening emergencies still require the ER. If a child is unconscious, having a seizure that won’t stop, or has severe trouble breathing, calling 911 is the correct step. For guidance on when an ER visit is absolutely necessary, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers excellent advice on when to utilize the emergency department.
The Peace of Mind Factor
I want to speak to you mom-to-mom for a moment. We all know that parenting anxiety is real. When your child is sick, your mind goes to the worst-case scenario. Google is not your friend at 2 AM. Searching symptoms online usually leads to terrifying and incorrect conclusions.
Accessing after-hours concierge pediatrics is about purchasing peace of mind. It is knowing that you have an expert in your corner. You are not alone. When you call me, you get a calm, experienced voice on the other end of the line. I can tell you, “This is normal, don’t worry,” or “I’m on my way.”
That reassurance allows you to sleep. It allows you to be a calm presence for your child. Children pick up on our stress. If we are frantic, they are frantic. If we are calm because we know help is coming, they relax, which actually helps their immune system fight off the illness.
How to Access This Care
So, how do you actually get this service? It is easier than you might think. You do not need a referral from another doctor.
Step 1: Membership vs. One-Time Visits
Many concierge practices, including mine, work on a membership model. This involves a monthly fee that retains my services. It guarantees that I am available to you when you need me. It usually includes priority scheduling and unlimited text/email access. However, some practices also offer one-time urgent visits for non-members, though availability might be more limited.
Step 2: Save the Number Now
Do not wait until the crisis hits to find a doctor. The worst time to look for a flashlight is when the power goes out. The same applies here. Research after-hours concierge pediatrics in Los Angeles now. Save the number in your phone under “Dr. Anita” or “Emergency Doc.” Put it on the fridge for the babysitter.
Step 3: Make the Call
When sickness strikes, you simply call or text. I will triage the situation over the phone. We will discuss the symptoms. If a home visit is needed, I will pack my bag and head your way. If it can be handled via telemedicine, we will hop on a video call immediately.
Is It Worth the Investment?
I often get asked about the cost. It is true that concierge medicine is an investment. Insurance often covers the lab tests or prescriptions, but the home visit fee is usually out-of-pocket. However, when you weigh the cost against the alternatives, the value becomes clear.
Think about the cost of an ER visitāthe copay, the parking, and potentially the deductible. Then add the “cost” of your time, the missed work the next day because you were up all night, and the stress. For many LA families, the convenience and quality of care provided by a home visit are well worth the price. You are paying for a premium service that prioritizes your family’s well-being above all else.
Building a Medical Home
Using after-hours concierge pediatrics isn’t just about fixing a one-time fever. It is about building a comprehensive medical home for your child. When I see a child in their home environment, I learn so much more about them. I see how they interact with their siblings, I see their pets, I see their diet.
This holistic view helps me be a better doctor for your child. It allows me to provide preventative advice that fits your lifestyle. It turns healthcare from a reactive experience (fixing things when they break) into a proactive partnership.
Empowering Parents
My goal as Dr. Anita Sabeti is to empower you. I want you to feel confident in your decisions regarding your child’s health. You should never feel helpless when your child is sick. By understanding that you have options beyond the crowded ER, you take control of the situation.
Los Angeles is a big, busy place, but your healthcare doesn’t have to feel impersonal. You can have the best of both worlds: the advanced medical resources of a major city and the warm, personal care of a neighborhood doctor who makes house calls. Whether it is a late-night fever, a nasty cough, or just a worried parent needing reassurance, after-hours concierge pediatrics is the bridge to better health and sweeter dreams for your whole family.
