FAQS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The answers to these frequently asked questions offer concise information about your child's health and the operations of our practice. If you wish to discuss any of these topics further, please feel free to send us a message on our "contact us" link.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, we are welcoming new patients to our practice! Please see the list of insurances that we accept under the Insurances section of our website.
Before scheduling an appointment with our pediatric office, please ensure all healthcare records are shared with us. This helps us facilitate a seamless transition and deliver the highest standard of care tailored to your child’s needs. Medical records give us valuable insight into your child's medical history, past treatments, and ongoing health needs.
What days are you open?
Our office is open Monday through Friday. Our hours are from 8:30am until 5:00 pm being closed for lunch from 12-1. As our schedule is subject to change, please call to confirm office hours.
How do I make an appointment?
To make an appointment, please call our office. We do offer same-day sick appointments. We will try to accomodate walk-in sick appointments to the best of our ability. However, having a scheduled appointment ensures your child a visit with the lowest wait time possible.
Do you accept my health insurance?
Please refer to our Insurance page to review a list of accepted insurance carriers. Call our office if you have insurance questions.
How do we contact the after hours doctor?
Our dedicated pediatric team is available 24/7 to provide pediatric after-hours advice. Keep in mind, this service is only for estabilshed patients. Call our office for urgent concerns.
We also encourage you to check our child health resources before calling for after-hours urgent care.
For non-urgent matters like mild illness, scheduling appointments, forms or refilling medications, please call during regular office hours. We do not refill medications, make appointments or complete any forms during non-business hours.
IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.
What is a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP)?
A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) specializes in providing health care to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
PNP's complete rigorous coursework as well as clinical hours with each clinical maintaining exclusively a pediatric focus. They have completed a bachelors, masters and/or doctoral degree.
A PNP is certified through national boards (such as the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, PNCB).
The scope of practice for a PNP includes:
- Performing well-child exams and routine checkups
- Ordering and administering immunizations
- Diagnosing and treating common childhood illnesses and injuries
- Managing chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, seizures , mental health conditions like anxiety/depression and more
- Prescribing medications
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests (labs, X-rays, etc.)
- Offering guidance on growth, nutrition, development, and parenting
- Coordinating care with a vast network of pediatric specialists to ensure the best outcomes for every child
Think of a PNP as a pediatric-focused provider who bridges nursing’s holistic approach with many of the diagnostic and treatment responsibilities traditionally associated with physicians.
How often does my child need to be seen in the office?
Our routine well-child visits schedule follows the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. This information can also be seen in the well check portion of our site.
Why does my child need to receive vaccinations?
Immunizations are vital shots given to children at various ages to protect them from serious and potentially fatal childhood diseases. Ensuring your child receives these immunizations on schedule is the best way to safeguard their health. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that vaccinations have decreased infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by over 90%.
Our office stands behind the importance of immunizations. While we do not promote or encourage altered schedules or delayed immunizations, we will do our best to accomodate a parent with alternative desires.
If you have any concerns about vaccinations, feel free to contact our office. We're here to help!
What immunizations will my child receive?
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 our providers.
My child needs to see a specialist. What do I do?
Most specialists require a referral to be seen. A referral can be made by making an appointment with our office to discuss concerns. Most insurance companies require this in-office visit prior to initiating a referral. Once the referral is completed, it is submitted directly to the specialist's office within 2 business days. Please schedule your appointment with the specialist after your referral has been submitted.
When will I receive lab or test results?
You will receive a call immediately with any lab results that require urgent attention. Other abnormal lab results will be addressed promptly by the clinician who ordered the labs or tests. Normal values are reviewed and addressed by the care provider who ordered them. Accessing your patient portal is the fastest and most efficient way to access lab and test results.
How do I obtain a prescription refill?
For medication refills, please ensure there are no refills available by calling your pharmacy. If there are no refills available, send a refill request message through the patient portal and our team can assist you. Maintaining scheduled wellness visits are a vital part of ensuring your child’s medications are available for refill when needed.
Does your practice support breastfeeding mothers?
Yes, we promote breastfeeding! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding babies for the first six to twelve months. Breastfeeding helps defend children against infections, prevents allergies, and protects against many 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 considerations that impede breastfeeding. In these cases, an iron-fortified, milk-based infant formula is a good alternative.
Whitney has completed rigorous coursework and counseled hundreds of breastfeeding mothers to become an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).
Can I meet my provider before my baby is born?
Yes, in fact we strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our providers. Visit our expecting parents page for more information.
I just gave birth. When should I schedule my baby's first doctor visit?
We recommend that your newborn be seen in our office 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. Our staff understands the importance of this first visit and will make every effort to schedule this visit promptly.
When should my baby start solid foods?
As all children are different, we advise following several appropriate steps to advance your child's diet based on age and developmental stage. Please discuss these steps with your child's provider at your child's well visit.