we attempted to estimate the perceived degree of urgency of the visit and to identify reasons for seeking non - urgent care in the ped by patients and parents . a prospective survey was completed by parents ( for children 17 and younger ) and patients ( 18 - 21 ) presenting to a suburban academic ped that sees approximately 15,000 patients per year . three hundred and five of 334 surveys were completed ( 91% response rate ) over a 3-month period . twenty - four percent of the chief complaints were perceived by those surveyed as emergent or possibly life - threatening , 23% were felt to be very urgent , and 52% were deemed somewhat urgent or minor . twenty - five percent of those with minor or somewhat urgent complaints arrived by ambulance . overall , 79% of those surveyed identified a primary care provider ( pcp ) for themselves or their child . of those , 54% had attempted to contact the pcp prior to coming to the ped . six percent of those who attempted to reach their primary care providers were able to contact them and 52% were told to come to the ped . more than half of patients and parents presenting to the ped believed they had minor or somewhat urgent complaints . while the majority of patients have a regular provider , limited access to timely primary care and convenience may make the ped a more attractive care option than primary care for many parents and patients .