Would Urgent Care call Child Protection Services on us?

[ecomommy]

Help! I am feeling very worried right now. Our son, who is 6 1/2 hurt himself enough to need stitches at 11 am this morning (Tuesday) in a neighbor's yard with his older sister. DH took him to Urgent Care where he had been only 5 weeks before with a gash on his lip. I stayed home with the other kiddos. Apparently the doctor asked LOTS of questions about school and my son didn't answer them very well. Would they call Child Protection Services or the school district or anything? Should I worry? They had only been taking a break from school and the neighbor boy (preschooler) invited them over to play for a few minutes. He is a very active child and doesn't like to sit still and doesn't read.

[Shellie]

What sorts of questions did the doctor ask about school? Are you worried about having two injuries close together or the school issue?

And kids do get hurt unfortunately--accidents when playing outside are not uncommon. As a young child in school I was apparently accident prone....concussions, lacerations, bloody noses, sprained ankles, etc. 90% of my accidents seemed to occur at school. They seemed to come in streaks too--like I'd have to go to the ER 3 times in a few month period and then I'd not significantly injure myself for a year and then it'd start all over.

Unless there's more to the story, I can't imagine the doctor would do what you've said.

[ecomommy]

I am probably overreacting? They asked if he went to school, what his favorite subjects, what he was doing when he was hurt (older sister bumped into him on a swing), how old the older sister was. I;m not sure if I am more worried about the school issue or the two injuries close together. Thanks!

[elizawill]

i wouldn't worry about it. the doctor was just doing his job, ykwim? his job involves feeling out injuries & the child's well being. *if* CPS did come out for any reason (which i doubt), i imagine it wouldn't be a big deal. you aren't breaking the law. you aren't doing anything wrong. your son isn't in any danger. no worries. hugs.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

I've worked in urgent care, and IMO, you don't have anything to worry about.

Of course they're going to ask him how it happened/what he was doing when it happened--for a few reasons. #1 Would be the seemingly obvious, to see if his story matches Dad's and to assess for possible abuse, but #2 being more clinically important to the doctor--to see if there may have been other injuries the doctor needs to worry about. For example, if he was on a swing, and fell off, then the doctor should possibly check for a concussion.

We also ask lots of questions to distract the kids, questions about school, siblings, favorite colors/sports/tv shows, etc.

In the (few) times we've suspected or known about abuse, we called the police and/or CPS right away, never later on. Sometimes we told the parent before hand, like the mother who brougt her 8 year old son in after the father hit him.

As for the school issue, i can almost certainly asssure you, that unless this is a very busy-body or seriously bored office, the doctor/nurse isn't going to care much about where or even if he goes to school. Even when we had to call the police or CPS, the docs were always at least slightly annoyed at the extra work and paperwork, sometimes to the point of being reluctant to report the incident.

So, again, I dont think you have anything to worry about. And even if CPS is called, they'll check out the situation and all should be well. As much of a PITA they can be, they're generally not the monsters people perceive them to be.

[ecomommy]

Thank you all for your answers! It's just been one of those days...stitches, car needs new brakes...and I'm totally frazzled and tired and upset over my son's fall and thus not thinking clearly. I feel much better now. Thanks!