Pediatric ER Recommendation
Hello, Our insurance changed recently and I am looking at where to take my son in the event of an emergency.
We have Aetna PPO and it looks like Alta Bates Summit Campus accepts children. However, when we had Kaiser, we took him to San Leandro and the docs their said only go to Oakland bc the ER in SL isn't entirely equipped for pediatrics. It looks like Alta Bates Hawthorne St. or Alta Bates Summit Ave are closest. Does anyone have any experience with either?
When I called the nurse mentioned they have a unit at Oakland Children's (Benioff) but that address isn't listed on my insurance options.
Aug 1, 2021
Parent Replies
we took our 2 yr old to alta bates with leg injury, and they will take them, but if they need xray or mri they send to Benioff, which is part of UCSF now. if insurance allows, i assume it'd be better to go directly there
I would start with establishing a local pediatrician first (there are some great pediatrics groups in the area) and talk to your pediatrician about which ER to go to. Legally any ER should take you if you walk in regardless of insurance.
Typically with non Kaiser insurance (or even with Kaiser insurance) you should be able to go to either UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland or Alta Bates however. Children’s hospital does have some facilities like a PICU in Summit but I don’t think their ER is there.
Children's Hospital Oakland (or even UCSF) would almost certainly accept that insurance is absolutely where I would take my kid before going to Alta Bates.
Oakland Children’s would definitely be the place to go for a pediatric emergency…I would say call the insurance they may just have it listed another way. I have an Aetna PPO and it’s in network for our plan.
Have you called Aetna? I’m a pediatric RN at Children’s, and with a quick google search just now I read on the Benioff Children’s Hospital website that Children’s Benioff Oakland and UCSF accept all Aetna plans. I hope that information is current and correct for your plan, too.
Hi, I'm a pediatrician and I would only recommend Oakland Children's ER for kids under 6 (and maybe even under 13, depending on the issue). Alta Bates is fine for teens. no ER can turn anyone away but Alta Bates tends to feel uncomfortable (and they often call us for advice) with many young-ish kids' issues. I've never heard of an insurance that didn't cover them (except Kaiser which has its own pedi ER).
Another pediatrician here -- I would not take my young child anywhere but Children's Hospital Oakland unless you were too far away to get there safely. And I followed my own advice when my kids were young. All the local ER's (except Kaiser which has its own pediatrics) will refer their youngest critically ill patients there.
Thank you for all the responses. I did get clear through a health navigator at Aetna that there is a pediatric after hours clinic in Berkeley (UCSF connected) called UBCP pediatrics-as well as getting him in the health care system to be seen at UCSF Children's in Oakland. Thanks again for the helpful advice.