When Melissa Barnes needed after-hours care for her toddler son, she knew exactly where to turn: Atrium Health Levine Children’s Pediatric Extended Care.
Fordham’s complex medical history
Melissa’s son, Fordham, was born in August 2024 and has needed frequent medical support since day one.
“He’s had physical therapy, feeding therapy, urology care and asthma and allergy care,” Melissa says. “Unfortunately, he’s been sick a number of times, requiring emergency care at Levine Children’s Hospital too. And for a while, we were seeing our pediatrician once a week.”
Like many parents, Melissa has felt that familiar tug-of-war: you don’t want to overreact, but you also don’t want to wait too long, especially when symptoms flare outside the traditional 9-to-5 window. The Barnes family has used Levine Children’s pediatric urgent care video visits for both of their children and they’ve also brought Fordham to Pediatric Extended Care in person when he needed hands-on evaluation.
Levine Children’s Pediatric Extended Care is here for the everyday moments that don’t wait for a weekday — like a fever that pops up at dinnertime, an ear infection over the weekend or a last-minute need for a school or sports physical.
“Pediatric Extended Care is a great way to ensure you see a pediatric-trained provider,” says Melissa. “It is easy to schedule and allows continuity within the Levine Children’s network.”
For Melissa, that continuity matters. Fordham has a complex medical history and sees multiple specialists, so she appreciates care that doesn’t feel disconnected.
“I’m a nurse and I’m good at managing him,” she says. “But it’s nice to have someone who listens and helps us avoid the ER. We went to the ER every month for the first year of his life.”
That first year included a major scare: Fordham was hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in March 2025 with RSV and has had respiratory struggles since.
Keeping care within the Levine Children’s network
The Barnes family’s first experience with Pediatric Extended Care started while they were away from home. During a beach vacation in South Carolina, Fordham developed an ear infection and then had a reaction to the medication he was prescribed at a local clinic.
While still out of town, Melissa scheduled a virtual urgent care visit with Levine Children’s to get some peace of mind and an initial understanding on how to help care for Fordham’s reaction. Then, the day after they returned home — on a Saturday — she booked an in-person appointment at Pediatric Extended Care.
“This way, he could be assessed in person so we could come up with a game plan for his medication since he has so many allergies,” she says.
For parents of children with complex histories, familiarity can be more than a comfort — it can make care faster and more precise.
“It was nice to be somewhere familiar and in a Levine Children’s facility,” says Melissa. “Fordham has an extensive history and is followed by a lot of providers.”
At that visit, Fordham was treated for an ear infection and an adverse drug reaction by pediatric nurse practitioner Kristin Rice. Melissa was pleased with the care he received and Rice’s communication with Fordham’s pediatrician.
Fordham’s second visit to Pediatric Extended Care
A few months later, Fordham needed care again outside of traditional office hours, this time for respiratory symptoms. Melissa brought him back to Pediatric Extended Care and was relieved to see a familiar face: Rice.
Fordham was coughing heavily and not acting like himself.
“Kristin assessed him, noticed his breathing was rapid, administered steroids and monitored him for an hour,” Melissa says. “She told us that if we couldn’t get his symptoms under control there, he would have to go to the emergency department.”
Melissa says Rice’s thoroughness stood out.
“Kristin has the best bedside manner,” says Melissa. “She is great at educating and communicating the plan of care. She was extremely thorough and observed Fordham to ensure we had a great discharge plan.”
Rice also helped remove barriers that can slow families down when they’re already dealing with a sick child.
“She even asked for our flavor preference for Fordham’s medication to ensure he would successfully take it,” says Melissa. “She was also able to put in a referral to avoid delays for the specialist she advised us to see.”
Today, Fordham is doing well.
“We have a great plan to manage his respiratory challenges, and he now has tubes in his ears, which seem to help,” says Melissa.
And perhaps most importantly, the family feels like they have care options that fit real life.
“I’m a busy professional and it’s so helpful to have the option to be seen after hours or on weekends, within the Levine Children’s network,” says Melissa.
When to choose Levine Children’s Pediatric Extended Care
Levine Children’s Pediatric Extended Care is open weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for both sick and well visits — designed for those moments when your child needs care, but your primary care office is closed or you can’t wait days for an appointment.
“We provide treatment for most acute illnesses, from ear infections to viral illnesses, as well as preventative wellness exams and sports physicals for patients that are newborns to teens,” says Rice.
With board-certified pediatric providers offering evening and weekend visits for things like minor illnesses, injuries and well-child checkups, Pediatric Extended Care helps families get the right care without the stress of rearranging life.
Services include:
- Newborn care and well-child visits
- Sick visits for minor illnesses
- 24-hour nurse phone line
- Vaccines, including COVID-19 and flu
- Developmental, hearing and vision screenings
- Chronic condition management and treatment
- School, sports and camp physicals
- Minor injury treatment
- Diet and nutrition guidance
- Laboratory services
- Breastfeeding advice and expertise
Rice says the goal is simple: to help families feel supported and safe, especially when symptoms pop up at the worst times.
“Whether we are rechecking a newborn's weight and bilirubin over the weekend or seeing a more urgent issue that occurred during the off hours of their pediatrician, we are available to help support families until they can return to their pediatrician,” she says.
“We love being an extension of your primary care provider and helping to bridge the gap when care may be needed outside of traditional office hours,” Rice adds. “Extended care helps provide a little more flexibility for care that could be difficult due to work and life schedules.”
Learn more about Atrium Health Levine Children’s Extended Care and find a location near you.
