Are We a Good Fit for You?

It is crucial when choosing a pediatric practice for your children that you have given serious consideration to the fit between the practice philosophies and your own. Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family priorities and philosophies regarding medical care. Only then can shared decision-making be based on mutual respect.

Please read the following checklist carefully to be sure we are the appropriate medical home for your children. We look forward to meeting you and forming a mutually rewarding relationship.

We work hard to provide comprehensive medical care and serve as your medical home. To that end, we expect that you contact our office FIRST before seeking specialty care, or heading to another provider for urgent care. We want to be involved in either providing care in our office where appropriate, or referring you to the most appropriate specialist and helping to coordinate your care. Whenever you do see a specialist, we ask that you request a report be sent directly to our office so we may stay informed and have the most up-to-date information in your medical record.

We have a physician on call 24/7/365. When our office is closed and you have an urgent issue that cannot wait until morning, you can call our main number and be connected to our nurse triage service, who will give you advice regarding your child's problem, and determine if the physician should be contacted. There is a charge for this service. You may wish to check the "Is Your Child Sick?" section of our website for helpful information before using this service. Read more about After Hours care.

Make sure we participate with your insurance plan. Click here for a list of our participating insurances. It is your responsibility to know the limits and coverage of your particular health insurance policy, to show your cards to us at each visit, and be prepared to pay any copays at the time of service. Our billing staff will do their best to assist you with insurance questions; however, If you have questions about your coverage, it is best check with your specific insurance company. Our office does not want you to be surprised by a bill, but must always bill your health plan based on federal guidelines and the actual services provided. Please read our financial policy for more information regarding insurance.

For acute care, call the office to speak with triage staff, who will listen to your concerns and schedule an appointment for you. Sometimes an appointment may not be needed, and staff will advise you regarding your issue, or check with the physician and call you back.

For well visits, call our routine appointment line. If our scheduler is on with another caller, you will be asked to leave a message and you will receive a return call to schedule your appointment, usually the same day. Well visits may be scheduled up to 3 months in advance. You will receive an automated reminder 3 months ahead of when your child is due for their next well visit. Automated reminders are also sent for any vaccines for which your child is due.

Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable. As a courtesy, we will remind you of your upcoming appointments via phone/text message/email. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time (to allow time for parking, elevators, check-in, updating your insurance info, etc.). We understand sometimes things happen beyond your control that may cause you to be late. However, we reserve the right to ask you to reschedule if you arrive late for your appointment.

Missed Appointments: Broken appointments and late arrivals represent a cost to us, to you, and to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. We reserve the right to charge a fee for appointments cancelled less than 24 hours ahead of time, no-shows, and excessive late arrivals. A $50 fee may be charged for more than one occurrence of these, and if continued, may result in discharge from the practice. For new patients, a $50 fee will be charged if the FIRST appointment is missed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that current data show that hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest settings for birth in the United States. If you are planning a home birth and would like your newborn to be accepted into our practice, we require that your baby has received all AAP recommended screenings and newborn care, and that you intend to follow AAP guidelines. Please read our full policy regarding Home Births. We require that you reach out to our practice for pre-registration prior to giving birth.