FAQS

Upper respiratory infections (URI's) or colds are caused by viruses. They typically last between 7 to 10 days and often are accompanied by fever initially. The temperature usually ranges anywhere from 100.4 to 102 F. The child should be brought to the office if there is any difficulty breathing, high fever (>102), the fever lasts more than 2 to 3 days, the fever appears at the end of a cold, if the child appears physically ill or if there is any earache or sinus pressure.

Fever, in and of itself, is not dangerous to a child. However, what is causing the fever may be dangerous. Most fevers in children are caused by viruses and, in fact, it is the way the body kills the viruses that are causing infection. There are occasions when there is a more serious cause of a fever in a child. In these situations, the child usually appears quite ill. If the child is playful and active, there is no absolute number above which one must panic. In fact, one must treat the child, not the thermometer. Many children with fevers of 103 to 104 F are quite energetic and active. However, if the child has a temperature of 101 and is listless and lethargic, there is certainly a cause for concern.

No. Initially, most colds go through a phase when the nasal secretions appear thick and green, usually at the beginning or end of the cold. It may also occur in the morning when the secretions tend to be drier. Sinus infections tend to have sinus pressure or headache. If the green or yellow color of the discharge persists more than 3 to 4 days, an office visit would be advised.

The most accurate temperature will be obtained using a rectal thermometer, especially in infants under 2 months old. Oral thermometer readings are acceptable in older children. Tympanic thermometers may produce erratic results and are only acceptable in older children. Temporal artery thermometers, which we use in both our offices, have been shown to be as accurate as rectal thermometers in infants above 6 months.

There is no cure for the common cold as of yet. Treatment is, therefore, supportive. The goal is to make the child comfortable while the body fights the virus on its own. Hot steam baths, nasal saline drops, elevating the head, a humidifier, rest and lots of fluids may help alleviate the symptoms and promote recovery of a cold. Using over the counter cold remedies may sometimes help the symptoms of a cold but should never be used in children unless directed by your doctor.

This can be done after the 2nd tetanus shot which is given at 4 months of age.You may inquire about having this procedure done in our office.

The recommendation to start cereal, fruits or vegetables is between the ages of 4 to 6 months. Starting before 4 months can increase the risk of allergies later in life.

The baby should be introduced to a cup when water is introduced, usually at around 6 months. When the baby is transitioned to whole milk, the milk should be gradually transitioned to a cup as well over the next few months, with the nighttime bottle being the last to be given up. Some parents wait too long to stop the bottle with the result being the refusal of milk altogether once the bottle is stopped at an older age.

Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are used only for bacterial infections. Occasionally a cold can develop into a bacterial infection, such as an ear or sinus infection. In that case, antibiotics may be used. Antibiotics have potentially serious side effects, such as severe diarrhea or an allergic reaction. There is also the development of resistant bacteria when antibiotics are overused or used inappropriately. Therefore, the use of antibiotics should be reserved for bacterial infections and should never be prescribed until the child is physically examined by the doctor.

Training an infant to sleep through the night needs to start as early as 8 weeks of age. It may take some infants longer but, regardless, it may not happen unless you train your baby to put themselves to sleep at an early age. This may mean allowing your baby to cry for a few minutes until they have fallen asleep. There is no amount of time that is too long to allow your baby to cry. We do not believe there is any physical or emotional harm incurred either. Once bad habits are created however, such as a dependency on being rocked to sleep or sleeping in the parent's bed, the only recourse is to place the baby/toddler in the crib at night and allow them to cry. This process is much easier to implement as a young infant than as a determined toddler so the earlier this is addressed, the better.

Yes, we always welcome new patients to our practice! Please see the list of insurances that we accept under the "Office Info-Insurances" Menu Tab. If your child is new to the practice and needs a well visit, please note that we need all prior records sent to our office before making your appointment. This gives our doctors adequate time to prepare prior to your appointment and that means less wait time. It also allows for us to give an appropriate amount of time for the appointment in case there are additional issues to discuss. Please make sure that the last well visit has been at least one year prior for insurance purposes. If the entire chart is unavailable in time, we ask that you please have your prior doctors office fax the vaccine records and last well summary to our office in the meantime. Thank you and welcome aboard!

Our office is open Monday through  Saturday. As our daily schedule is subject to change, please call to confirm office hours.

To make an appointment please call our office. To ensure the best use of time, for both our physicians and patients, all of our office visits are by appointment only. We ask that you arrive at our office 10 - 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you to complete any necessary paperwork and to update any demographic and insurance changes. If you must cancel an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer that time to someone else.

Emergencies arise. We will advise you if there is going to be a delay in seeing you. If your schedule won't allow you to wait, we will be happy to reschedule your appointment. We do appreciate your patience and cooperation during our busy times and we will make every effort to keep your wait time to a minimum.

Please refer to our insurance page to review a list of accepted insurance providers.

We have a physician on call 24 hours a day for emergency purposes only. We are unable to refill medications or handle referrals after hours.

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

A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of children. Pediatricians have undergone special training in the health and illnesses of infants, teens and young adults. All of our pediatricians are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and have passed a comprehensive exam.

Pediatricians provide preventive health care for children in good health and medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill. They also provide parents with support and advice with issues such as growth and development, safety and prevention, nutrition, and emotional wellness to foster a lifetime of good health.

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, we do make every effort for them to see their regular doctor.

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

Immunizations are a series of shots given to children at different ages to help ward off serious, and potentially fatal, childhood diseases. Making sure your child receives immunizations when scheduled is the best way to help protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. 

If you're apprehensive about vaccinations, please do not hesitate to contact our office and speak to our providers.

To help protect your child from many serious infectious diseases, we follow the immunization schedule recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please discuss your immunization questions and concerns with any of our pediatricians.

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 reviewed and addressed by the physician that ordered them.

Please call our office if you need a prescripton refilled. Allow one business day for all routine prescription refills. For prescriptions that require prior authorization from your insurance company, please plan ahead to allow at least three to five days for refill approval. 

Yes, we promote breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding babies for the first six to twelve months. Breastfeeding helps defend children against infections, prevents allergies, and protects against 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, milk-based 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 providers.

Yes, in fact we strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our doctors. During this visit, we will answer any questions that you have about our practice or your new child.

We recommend that your newborn be seen in our office 1-2 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.