In my job as an emergency physician, one question I always ask my patients is this: "Why did you decide to come in today?"

As obvious as it may seem, for a doctor faced with a department overflowing with patients who have complaints that may seem minor (an ingrown toenail, perhaps) or concerns that have been going on for weeks or even months (an achy back), the timing factor is a key question. It helps me understand the context. Why now – at 2 a.m.? What happened today that made this an emergency?

Working in an Emergency Department where I see a lot of children, especially at 2 a.m., asking "why now?" has an added dimension. When your child is ill, everyone in the house is affected, especially in the middle of the night.

The frustration of tired parents roused to drag their cranky child to the ER is palpable. The ER is no place for a child: lots of noise, bright lights, unfamiliar faces, invasive and painful probing and procedures, exposure to a menagerie of germs and a total disruption of schedule. On the other hand, a child's unceasing crying can be enough to send anyone into a panic and seek urgent help. I know because, as a mother myself, I've been there.

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