FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do i schedule an appointment?
Our appointment receptionists are available from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Monday through Friday.
You can also call the satellite offices directly during normal office hours.
You can also call the satellite offices directly during normal office hours.
my child is sick. Can they be seen today?
Our goal is to be accessible to our patients by making every effort to accommodate all of our sick patients.
All offices have appointments reserved for sick, same day appointments.
The Frederick office also offers appointments on Saturday mornings for acute illnesses.
If your child is ill and you need to make an appointment to be seen or if you are not sure if your child needs to be seen, please text or call our office as early in the day as possible. This will help us work in all emergencies in a timely fashion.
All offices have appointments reserved for sick, same day appointments.
The Frederick office also offers appointments on Saturday mornings for acute illnesses.
If your child is ill and you need to make an appointment to be seen or if you are not sure if your child needs to be seen, please text or call our office as early in the day as possible. This will help us work in all emergencies in a timely fashion.
Do you have walk-in hours?
YES. We have a walk-in hours currently at our Frederick (TJ), Urbana, and Mt Airy locations Monday thru Friday from 8 am to 8:30 am for established patients who have an acute, urgent illness such as: runny nose, cough, ear pain, rash, sore throat, pink eye, bug bite, bumps and scrapes, etc.
However, the walk-in clinic is not intended for issues or illnesses of one week or longer, rechecks, follow-ups, behavioral, chronic and/or wellness concerns. Instead please call and schedule an appointment.
If overcrowding occurs during walk-ins we may need to schedule an appointment for you for later in the day.
However, the walk-in clinic is not intended for issues or illnesses of one week or longer, rechecks, follow-ups, behavioral, chronic and/or wellness concerns. Instead please call and schedule an appointment.
If overcrowding occurs during walk-ins we may need to schedule an appointment for you for later in the day.
WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL QUESTION OR ARE UNSURE IF MY CHILD NEEDS TO BE SEEN?
Please text us or call the nurse advice line at the Frederick office during normal business hours. Our well trained nursing staff has many years of experience in pediatric telephone triage and can handle a variety of medical questions.
WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY AFTER OFFICE HOURS?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest Emergency Room.
For simple medical questions please use the help/advice line located on the back of your insurance card.
If you feel you need to speak with our nurse triage please call any of the office numbers to reach them.
Please be considerate of these after hour services and only utilize them for questions that you feel would be unsafe to wait until the following morning. By limiting the after hours phone calls, we more accessible to those parents with children who may have a true emergency.
For simple medical questions please use the help/advice line located on the back of your insurance card.
If you feel you need to speak with our nurse triage please call any of the office numbers to reach them.
Please be considerate of these after hour services and only utilize them for questions that you feel would be unsafe to wait until the following morning. By limiting the after hours phone calls, we more accessible to those parents with children who may have a true emergency.
What is your practice's policy on vaccinations?
We support the policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics that all children should be vaccinated. We are committed to providing for the health and safety of your child as well as to the other children in our practice and the community.
We require all patients to be immunized per our practice policy: (click here)
Please refer to www.healthychildren.org or www.cdc.gov for the most current and information on vaccines.
We require all patients to be immunized per our practice policy: (click here)
Please refer to www.healthychildren.org or www.cdc.gov for the most current and information on vaccines.
WHEN DOES MY CHILD NEED A CHECK-UP?
Children require routine physical exams and health maintenance at the following ages:
- 4-5 days old - 2 weeks - 1 month - 2 months - 4 months - 6 months
- 9 months - 12 months - 15 months - 18 months - 24 months - 30 months
- Annually starting at age 3
Please schedule these appointments as far in advance as possible to ensure availability that fits your schedule.
- 4-5 days old - 2 weeks - 1 month - 2 months - 4 months - 6 months
- 9 months - 12 months - 15 months - 18 months - 24 months - 30 months
- Annually starting at age 3
Please schedule these appointments as far in advance as possible to ensure availability that fits your schedule.
HOW DO I GET A MEDICATION REFILL?
The best way is to request a refill through the patient portal or to text us.
Please allow 48 hours for your prescription to be ready.
For the safety of our patients and to follow regulations:
Some medications, such as controlled substances and behavior health, require that you are seen every 3 months with medication checks in order to receive a refill. Most other medications require that you are up to date with well visit appointments.
Please allow 48 hours for your prescription to be ready.
For the safety of our patients and to follow regulations:
Some medications, such as controlled substances and behavior health, require that you are seen every 3 months with medication checks in order to receive a refill. Most other medications require that you are up to date with well visit appointments.
HOW DO I GET A REFERRAL?
Please leave a detailed message with the required information on our referral line when requesting a referral.
Please allow at least 3 days for the referral to be completed.
Please allow at least 3 days for the referral to be completed.
WHICH HEALTH INSURANCES DO YOU ACCEPT?
We are participating providers for Aetna Coventry, Cigna, United Healthcare, PHCS, MultiPlan, Tricare, Johns Hopkins EHP and US Family Health, Carefirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Maryland Medical Assistance, Maryland Physician’s Care, AmeriGroup, Aetna Better Health, United Healthcare Community Plan and many smaller insurance companies.
As a service, we submit your claim for you as long as we have a current copy of your insurance card on file. Without this information, it is impossible for us to file your claim. Co-pays and deductibles must be paid at the time of the visit.
We will do our best to assist you in understanding your insurance, but please realize there are many different insurance plans within each insurance company. It may be in your best interest to speak with your insurance company to understand the services and benefits that are covered by your plan. This is particularly true for newborns, patients new to our practice, or any new insurance plans.
Please direct any questions to our billing manager.
As a service, we submit your claim for you as long as we have a current copy of your insurance card on file. Without this information, it is impossible for us to file your claim. Co-pays and deductibles must be paid at the time of the visit.
We will do our best to assist you in understanding your insurance, but please realize there are many different insurance plans within each insurance company. It may be in your best interest to speak with your insurance company to understand the services and benefits that are covered by your plan. This is particularly true for newborns, patients new to our practice, or any new insurance plans.
Please direct any questions to our billing manager.
WHAT IS HIPAA?
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It was created to ensure that a patient's medical information does not fall into the hands of someone who could make an adverse determination about employment, insurability, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of that information.
What does that mean to you?
When visiting any healthcare professional, including the doctors in our practice, you will be asked to sign a form stating that you are aware that the office has a privacy policy in effect and that you have had an opportunity to review that policy. A copy of our office's policy sits on the sign-in counter in a binder and if you would like a copy, one can be prepared at your request.
What does that mean to you?
When visiting any healthcare professional, including the doctors in our practice, you will be asked to sign a form stating that you are aware that the office has a privacy policy in effect and that you have had an opportunity to review that policy. A copy of our office's policy sits on the sign-in counter in a binder and if you would like a copy, one can be prepared at your request.
