Frequently Asked Questions

All office visits are by appointment only, as daily hours may vary. We ask all patients to please call in advance to schedule an appointment. We are open Monday through Saturday, with occasional emergency hours on Sunday mornings. In order to accommodate our patients, we do not close for lunch. Please click here to view our office hours.

Yes, we welcome new patients.

We participate in many insurance plans, so it is important that you know the full details of your personal policy in order take advantage of the benefits available to you. Please note that it is your responsibility to inform us of any insurance changes at the time of the visit. If we do not receive your updated information, you may be responsible to pay in full for all services rendered.

All co-pays are due at the time of service. Please be aware that you may be charged an additional $10 for co-pays not paid on the same day as your child's visit.

AFTER HOURS COVERAGE: 

Call Us First!
 
After-Hours Telephone Care Service.

“Advocare Access”
856-873-2222

If you reach our after-hours voicemail before 12 midnight please call, Advocare Access at 856-873-2222 to speak directly to a healthcare professional.
 
If it is after 12 midnight, please call 973-792-8322 to page an on call physician for emergent health problems that cannot wait until the next business day.


IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

Every effort is made to arrange your child's well care and follow up visits with the physician of your choice. When your child is ill, he or she may see any one of our physicians.

Our routine health maintenance visit schedule follows the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine guideline for children.

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 any of our pediatricians. You may refer to the American Academy of Pediatrics for more details.

For non-urgent referrals: when one of our doctors refers you to a specialist, please schedule your appointment with the specialist, then call our office within five business days of your appointment. Your referral will be available within 72 hours. Most referrals are completed electronically and submitted directly to the specialist's office. Please check with our office staff to determine if your insurance plan processes referrals electronically.

For urgent referrals: when one of our doctors determines that you need an urgent referral, your referral will be initiated immediately. Please remain in our office while your referral is processed, then proceed to your specialist.

You will receive a call quickly with any lab results that require urgent attention. Other abnormal lab results will be addressed promptly by the provider that ordered the labs or tests. Normal values are usually not reported, however, you are welcome to call our office to request a copy of your results.

Yes, we promote breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding babies for the first year of life. We recommend continued breastfeeding for the entire first year. Breastfeeding helps defend children against infections, prevents allergies, and protects against later obesity and a number of 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 medical considerations that impede breastfeeding; others choose to feed by formula because of discomfort, work schedule, or lifestyle choices. In these cases, an iron-fortified infant formula is a good alternative. We will gladly discuss your diet and feeding concerns at your child's well care visit, or please call during office hours to speak with our experienced nursing staff.

We recommend that your newborn be seen in our office two 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.

As all children are different, we advise following several appropriate steps to advance your child's diet based on age and development. Please discuss these steps with our providers at your well care visit.

High risk patients are children ages 6 months to under five years old and anyone with a chronic illness such as reactive airway disease, diabetes, heart conditions (not including murmurs), etc.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe form, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency requiring hospitalization.

The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown, but it is often preceded by an infectious illness such as a respiratory infection or the stomach flu. Luckily, Guillain-Barre syndrome is uncommon, affecting only 1 or 2 people per 100,000.*

Thiomersal (INN) and commonly known in the US as thimerosal, is an organomercury compound. This compound is a well-established antiseptic and antifungal agent. The pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company gave thiomersal the trade name Merthiolate and it has been used as a preservative in vaccines, immunoglobulin preparations, skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and nasal products, and tattoo inks. Although the use of thimerosal is controversial in some circles, there is extensive experience demonstrating its safety.

Most of our vaccine supply is thimerosal-free, but we cannot guarantee its availability at any given time.

No.

Yes, patients 18 years and older do not need to be accompanied by an adult.

Yes, however, the accompanying adult must be over the age of 18. The vaccine will not be administered without a completed and signed Vaccine Permission form. If the patient is accompanied by parent or legal guardian, you do not need this form.

Any child over the age of 2 who has no chronic illness. Flumist appointments can be scheduled as a nurse appointment. Please dial extension 202 to set up an appointment.

Like prescription medicines, OTC pain medicine such as Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen can be dangerous if not taken the right way. Talk with your child's doctor before giving your child any medicine, especially the first time. All OTC medicines have the same label format, which gives important information about the medicine. It says what it is for, how to use it, what is in it, and what to watch out for. Check the chart on the label to see how much medicine to give. If you know your child's weight, use that first. If not, go by age. Check the label to make sure it is safe for infants and toddlers younger than 2 years. If you are not sure, ask your child's doctor. Before you give your child any medicines, be sure you know how to use them. Please consult these dosing charts for additional reference.

* Source: Mayo Clinic