FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Answers to these frequently asked questions are intended to provide brief information relevant to your child's health. If you would like to speak with us regarding any of these topics, do not hesitate to call us.

Q: What days are you open?
Q: Are you accepting new patients?
Q: Do you accept my health insurance plan?
Q: I just gave birth. When should I schedule my baby's first doctor visit?
Q: Who can I talk to if I have a question about my child?
Q: How do we contact the doctor after hours?
Q: May I request a specific pediatrician or nurse practitioner for my visit?
Q: My child needs to see a specialist. What do I do?
Q: What immunizations will my child receive?
Q: When will I receive lab or test results?
Q: How do I obtain a prescription refill?
Q: Does your practice support breastfeeding mothers?

• Q: What days are you open?

  A: Our office is open Monday through Saturday. As our daily schedule is subject to change, please call to confirm office hours.

• Q: Are you accepting new patients?

  A: Yes, we welcome new patients.

• Q: Do you accept my health insurance plan?

  A: Please refer to Insurance Information to review Advocare's list of accepted insurance providers.

• Q: I just gave birth. When should I schedule my baby's first doctor visit?

  A: We recommend that your newborn be seen in our office the first week after discharge from the hospital. Our staff understands the importance of this first visit and will make every effort to schedule this visit promptly.

• Q: Who can I talk to if I have a question about my child?

  A: During our weekday morning telephone hour from 8:00 to 9:00 am, an advice nurse, nurse practitioner, or doctor will speak to you directly to answer your questions or, if needed, set up an appointment for your child. From 9:00 am until 1:30 pm, our advice nurse is available for general pediatric consultation: if she is unavailable, parents can leave a message and receive a return phone call. Advice nurses and nurse practitioners are also available during office hours to advise parents when a child is ill or has an urgent medical problem.

• Q: How do we contact the doctor after hours?

  A: After hours please call our regular office number and you will be directed to our professional triage nurses. These highly trained nurses answer calls after hours using nationally recognized medical protocols which have been reviewed and approved by our physicians. One of our physicians is always "on-call" and available at all times for back up and support of the triage team.

  THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

Q: May I request a specific pediatrician or nurse practitioner for my visit?

A: Every effort is made to arrange your child's well care and follow up visits with the practitioner of your choice. When your child is ill, he or she may see any one of our physicians or nurse practitioners.

• Q: My child needs to see a specialist. What do I do?

  A: For non-urgent referrals: when one of our doctors refers you to a specialist, please schedule your appointment with the specialist, then call our referral coordinator in our office within five business days of your appointment. Your referral will be available in 72 hours. Most referrals are completed electronically and submitted directly to the specialist's office. Please check with our office staff to determine if your insurance plan processes referrals electronically.

  For urgent referrals: when one of our doctors determines that you need an urgent referral, your referral will be initiated immediately. Please remain in our office while your referral is processed, then proceed to your specialist.

• Q: What immunizations will my child receive?

  A: To help protect your child from many serious infectious diseases, we follow the immunization schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Please discuss your immunization questions and concerns with any of our pediatricians.

• Q: When will I receive lab or test results?

  A: Routine blood test results are available within one to two business days. Please call the office to discuss them with your provider. You will receive a call right away with any lab results that require urgent attention. Normal screening test values are usually not reported, however, you are welcome to call our office for the results.

• Q: How do I obtain a prescription refill?

  A: Please call our main office number and leave a message with our advice nurse. Allow one business day for all routine prescription refills. For prescriptions that require prior authorization from your insurance company, please plan ahead to allow at least three to five days for refill approval.

• Q: Does your practice support breastfeeding mothers?

  A: Yes, we recommend breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics promotes exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life. Breastfeeding helps defend children against infections, prevents allergies, and protects against a number of chronic conditions. While experts believe that breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. Some women have specific medical considerations that impede breastfeeding; others choose to feed by formula because of discomfort, work schedule, or lifestyle choices. In these cases, infant formula is a good alternative. We will gladly discuss your diet and feeding concerns at your well care visit, or please call during office hours to speak with our experienced nursing staff.