Office Policies
Learn how we operate to better help us serve you
Monday – Friday
8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Saturday
8:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
(Saturday appointments available for sick visits only)
Patients are seen by appointment only. We realize that children sometimes need immediate attention, but we ask that you call our office prior to arrival. Occasionally emergencies will arise which will disrupt the normal appointment schedule. We ask you to please be patient with us when this occurs. We apologize and appreciate your understanding.
Because well visits take more time in our schedule than sick visits, they must be scheduled separately. If your child is scheduled for a sick appointment, please do not ask us to perform a well check-up during the same visit, as we will not be able to do so.
We also ask that no more than two siblings be scheduled consecutively for well check-ups, as our appointment schedule will not allow for more; however, we will make exceptions for triplets.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time, in order to complete the check-in process.
You will quickly learn that the first thing in the morning is a very busy time to call. Please try to call between 10:00 A.M. and 12:15 P.M. for less urgent concerns. Our office is closed for lunch from 12:20 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. All calls during this time will be answered by our answering service. The answering service will be able to reach the physician on-call in case there is an emergency.
Please call for prescription refills during office hours so that your child’s chart may be reviewed. Please have your pharmacy address and telephone number available when you call so we may assist you more efficiently.
All non-emergency calls are handled during regular office hours. If you have an emergency or serious problem after hours, please call our office at 770-442-1050 and discuss the problem with one of our physicians. We are on call 24 hours for emergencies.
The physician on call will counsel you over the phone. If he or she recommends you be seen after hours, the physician will guide you to the facility that will be best able to care for your child’s problem with the most convenience for you.
Often, parents decide to take their child to an “Urgent Care” facility without calling us first. Urgent Care facilities vary in their ability to handle the variety of pediatric problems. Choosing the wrong facility may mean that your child will need to be referred to another center for further testing or care. This will increase your costs and delay the proper treatment of your child. Also, if you are part of a managed care plan and do not receive authorization from us for your visit, your insurance may not pay for this treatment.
When it is necessary for you to obtain an emergency referral from our physician, your insurance company will require that our office provide them with certain information. Our staff will need to ask you questions such as the time, place, and date of the emergency visit as well as the reason for the visit, etc.