Kids Express is a pediatric health care center for minor conditions such as colds, mild fever, flu, pink eye, ear infections, sore throat and rashes. It combines the convenience of a retail clinic approach and online scheduling with the pediatric expertise of a specially trained nurse practitioner.
“This is really just another way for us to try to take care of the kids where they need to be seen so that it makes it convenient for families to not wait If they don’t need to.,” said Dr. Lisa Ziemnik, division chief of Dayton Children’s Kids Express and urgent care.
The 2,400-square-foot location will be the fifth Kids Express locations in the region, joining locations in Beavercreek, Springboro, Deerfield Twp. and West Chester Twp.
Dayton Children’s Hospital, which launched Kids Express in February 2019, touts it as “the only option in Ohio with care that is just right for kids and focused on their unique needs.”
No matter where a person’s primary care doctor is located, Dayton Children’s Hospital recommends trying there first “because we want to keep our kids with their primary care providers,” Ziemnik said.
Kids Express locations are meant to be “an extension of the primary care space,” she said.
“In response to a lot of children being seen by adult care providers at minute clinics and other retail-based clinics that were not being staffed by pediatric-trained providers, this was our response to keep those kids being seen by those that know how to take care of them best,” Ziemnik said.
Kids Express video visits are a complement to the walk-in aspect of kids express and a way to extend Kids Express to those that can’t physically get to the building, she said
“We can see them and, if it’s appropriate, we can take care of them right then and there,” Ziemnik said. “If we find that they need additional testing or some additional in-person work, then we can bring them into whatever location is closest to them, or to one of our urgent cares to get them the right care for what they need.”
Following a visit, Kids Express locations can send a summary of treatment to a child’s primary care provider, she said.
Ziemnik emphasized that Kids Express is not an urgent care or an emergency department, as it does not have X-ray capabilities or extensive lab work.
IF YOU GO: Kids Express
Current locations: Beavercreek, Springboro, West Chester Twp. and Mason
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Video visits: Available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to anyone in Ohio.
Conditions seen: Kids Express is available for minor conditions that would normally be seen by a pediatrician such as ear infections, colds, pink eye, rashes etc.
Ages seen: 6 weeks to 21 years
More information: www.childrensdayton.org/kids-express-info
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