Q: Is there a doctor available 24 hours a day?
A: Yes, our telephones are answered 24 hours a day. After regular business hours, our phones are answered by the Call Service. A clinic physician is always on-call and available for consultation if needed.

Q: Do you take walk-ins?
A: We prefer a prior appointment but we will accommodate walk-ins as much as possible, specially for sick visits. Please call and talk to our staff before coming.

Q: What are your office hours?
A: Monday thru Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Q: How do I get my lab results?
A: Depending on the type of lab test ordered, the results may not be available for 5-7 days. Our physicians will always call with lab results that are considered abnormal or require further follow-up. Other lab results will be conveyed via mail or phone within one week.

Q: How do I get my prescription refilled?
A: You should begin by calling your pharmacy. The pharmacy will contact our office for the necessary authorization. You should allow 72 hours for prescription refill requests.

Q: Can I get an antibiotic prescribed over the phone without being seen first?
A: No. We do not believe it is in the best interest of either the patient or the clinic to prescribe medications over the telephone without first being examined by a clinic physician for the issue at hand.

Q: Will I be billed for phone care?
A: Your routine calls to the office, advice given by our support staff and routine calls handled by our physicians will NOT be billed. However, phone calls which replace an office visit may be billed. This generally means phone advice that involves prolonged discussions or complicated patient management. All billing will go through your insurance. Coverage for these services varies per insurance company. Some insurance companies are charging a co-pay for these calls. Again, only discussions or advice that are in place of an office visit will be billed and ONLY calls involving a physician. At Pediatric Physicians, we feel our availability is one of our strengths. It is very important to us to continue to be accessible by phone.

Q: How far in advance should I call to make an appointment for a physical exam?
A: We recommend that parents call at least 4-6 weeks in advance for arranging a complete physical exam to get their preferred date and time. For well-child visits that are often only months apart, we suggest that parents schedule their child’s future exams before leaving the office.

Q: Can I schedule a visit with a doctor before my baby is born?
A: Certainly. In fact, we encourage expectant parents to consult with us prior to the birth of their child. By doing so, you can begin establishing a relationship with your child’s pediatrician before their birth and get some initial questions answered. There is no fee to the parents for a consultation prior to delivery. Just give us a call!

Q: What do I need to bring for my first visit?
A: There are several items that we suggest people bring to their first visit. These include the following:

• old medical records (especially immunization records)
• list of medications
• insurance card
• any co-pay amounts due

Q: Do I have to pay my co-pay at the time of service?
A: Yes, co-pays are due at the time of service. In fact, we are obligated by our contractual relationship with the insurers to collect co-pays.

Q:What insurances do you accept?
A: Pediatric Physicians participate in most of the local and national health plans and all major managed care companies health plans. Please call our office to confirm our participation in your insurance plan. We file claims electronically to your primary insurance company.

Q: If I have a question about a bill, whom should I call?
A: Any questions you may have about your bill should be directed to our business office.

Q: You are my “primary clinic,” do I need to get a referral to go see a specialist?
A:As your primary care clinic we are responsible for delivering and coordinating all of your health care needs. Each insurance policy can be unique on their referral requirements. After a physician at Pediatric Physicians has referred you to a specialist, please check with our referral coordinator before going to see a specialist. We will refer you to a specialist in the network affiliated with your health plan.

Q: What should I do if my child gets sick when we’re out of town?
A: Call Pediatric Physicians. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day either by our clinic staff or by the Call service. If you are seen by an urgent care clinic or in an emergency room, please contact our referral coordinator the next business day.

Q: What do I do when my child reaches college age?
A: We continue to care for a number of college age adults when home from school, but as your child reaches adulthood we suggest that they begin seeking a physician that can meet their “adult” medical needs. The area of medicine that specializes in adult health care is called Internal Medicine. It is important to contact your insurance company to make sure that the physician you choose is a provider with your insurance company.