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| Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the office hours?
A: The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
Q: What happens if my child is sick after hours?
A: One of the physicians has the pager on 24 hours a day, and is always available by pager to discuss your child's condition/symptoms. We do ask for a bit of discretion considering late-night calls, i.e. constipation for three weeks can wait until the office is open to call, whereas breathing difficulty should be discussed right away.
Q: What insurance plans are accepted?
A: We accept most major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, United Health, Secure Health, and TriCare (among others). We also accept Medicaid, WellCare, and PeachState. We do not currently accept Amerigroup or HMO plans.
Q: Can my child be seen today if they are sick?
A: If your child is sick, we can usually make accommodations for them to be seen the same day. Calling earlier in the day will allow us to better handle scheduling issues. If the office is extremely busy or overbooked we may discuss the issue(s) over the phone first. If necessary we will find a way to have your child evaluated. (Please note that same-day sick visits are for established patients ONLY. New patient appointments will not be for the same day).
Q: Are walk-ins accepted?
A: At one time we were able to accommodate the occasional walk-in patient. However, the number of walk-ins has recently seen a significant increase, to the point that our patients who had scheduled appointments were being displaced by the walk-in patients. Therefore, except in cases of true medical emergencies, walk-ins will often be asked to schedule an appointment for another day. The very best we will be able to do, if time allows, is to see walk-in patients AFTER all other scheduled appointments have been seen. For example, if you walk-in without calling and the next two hours are full of appointments, you might be seen after all scheduled appointments have already been seen, but you also may be asked to schedule for another day. As noted in the question above, if you simply call ahead for an appointment time, we will usually be able to find a time to see you the same day (unless the appointment schedule is already very full).
Q: Are immunizations given in the office? Will I receive a shot record?
A: We do give immunizations in the office at all well-child exams, and also give immunizations at "shot only" visits. For those patients whose insurance plans do not cover immunizations or who are on Medicaid, we offer immunizations through the Vaccines For Children program. You will receive an updated immunization record at no extra charge on the day shots are given. Additional copies, or copies to replace a lost shot record, will be $5.00 each.
Q: I'm worried about the flu/swine flu - where can I find more information?
A: You can find reliable information about influenza at the CDC website on flu here and on the AAP website here.
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