The cornerstone of pediatrics is well child care. It provides us with an opportunity to evaluate your child's growth and development -- from the earliest smiles and words to their concerns about sex and drug use when teenagers. Patients from birth through age 21 are required to have a complete physical examination to participate in our practice. New patients will receive record release forms to be sent to your previous doctors so we may receive past records. It is ideal if we receive such records prior to a check-up so we can determine if any further immunizations or laboratory tests should be done.
A complete physical exam at our office includes height, weight, head circumference (for infants), evaluation of vision and hearing (in older children), and an estimate of development. Ample time should be allowed for discussions of problems relating to your child's home, school and peer relationships. Yearly hemoglobin and urinalysis will be performed, as well as necessary immunizations. Since most camps and schools require physical exam forms to be current, it is important that physical exams be performed yearly. Such regular exams set the tone for anticipatory guidance and good preventative health care. While recalls for yearly check-ups are sent out periodically, please try to call well in advance for your child's exam. You can print a form from this website to be used at the exam or we will provide you with one.
Sick Visits
Children are prone to many illnesses. Often they have disturbing symptoms or discomfort. Since most of us are parents ourselves, we can relate to and have empathy for sick children. Having regular office hours seven days a week, four nights till 9 p.m., as well as holidays and weekends, allows no child to be ill too long without having the opportunity to be seen and evaluated. If you have spoken to one of us late at night, we will provide you with appropriate therapeutic information to be carried out through the night. We will then have you come in as our first patient of the morning at 8:45 a.m.
Our offices are designed with two waiting areas - for well children and a smaller area for ill children. These areas are clearly marked. Please respect these areas, as it allows for more efficient and courteous patient care. The sick waiting area has no play area since it is generally true that sick children are not well enough to play.
In addition, we have a completely separate entrance for children with particularly contagious illnesses (i.e. chicken pox). If such an illness is suspected by our phone conversation, we will direct you to enter our side entrance and tell us when you have arrived.
When possible, please call early in the day if you wish your child to be seen for a sick visit. We can usually see a patient within a few hours of their phone call.
Information Needed
When you call for consultation with our triage nurses, an appointment, or after hours in almost all cases, we will want to know:
- Your child's name and age.
- Symptoms (example - vomiting, diarrhea, cough, etc.) and their duration.
- Current temperature.
- What change, if any, has occurred in your child's condition.
- What treatment has been tried.
- If you have spoken to any staff members or physicians about the problem in the past few days.
Immunization Schedules
The following schedules indicate the recommended ages for routine administration of currently licensed vaccines, as of February 1, 2011, for children. Any dose not administered at the recommended age should be administered at a subsequent visit, when indicated and feasible. Click here.
