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 is on call 24 hours a day, and is always available in an emergency 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 have also recently added most HMO and Point of Service plans to our insurance contracts. We do not currently take Amerigroup.
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 may not be available 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, sometimes 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 may 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. If you have no insurance coverage, the administration fee for each vaccine is $14.82 (same charge as the health department).
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.
Q: I have several children - can I bring all of them at the same time?
A: Except in cases of severe illness, we do not routinely see more than two children at the same time, especially if their symptoms are similar. Seeing three or more at one time will usually cause the rest of the day's schedule to become backed up, causing all of the other patients to wait a much longer time during their appointment.
Q: What forms of payment are accepted?
A: We accept cash or check, in addition to debit cards. Credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
Q: How do I know if the office is in-network for my insurance?
A: The back of your insurance card should have a toll-free number and a website listed. Contact your insurance company before coming in to ask if we are in-network. If you are seen here and are out-of-network, you will be responsible for the remaining charges after your insurance has paid their out-of-network amount per your contract with them.
Q: How can I find out what services are covered under my insurance?
A: As with in-network vs. out-of-network (see above question), you should contact your insurance company before coming in to make sure that your coverage includes vaccines and other basic services.
Q: How much will it cost if my child needs labwork or x-rays?
A: As with other services, each insurance plan differs regarding what percentage of labwork and radiology services are covered. You should check with them to see what is covered. A few basic labs (including Hemoglobin, Lead, Rapid Strep tests, Rapid Flu tests, and Urinalysis) are performed here in the office. Most other labwork (and all radiology studies) ordered from our office is done via Oconee Regional Medical Center laboratory and radiology services. They will generate their own billing statements and will bill you directly after billing your insurance company.
Q: How long will it take for forms to be filled out? Refills completed?
A: We ask that you allow at least 24 hours for all refill requests for medications, and for all forms (sports physical forms, EED, shot records). We cannot guarantee that refill or form requests can be completed on the same day.