The practice of pediatrics by telephone is a convenience for parents regarding the care of their child and when there is a definite illness. It is better to call during regular office hours, if you can because it gives us a chance to look over the child's medical record and recall the child and their history. You should always feel free to call us about your child, either during office hours for routine questions or at any time for an emergency.

As with most busy pediatric offices, such as ours, the phones are extremely busy, especially on Mondays and first thing in the morning. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. Please know we are doing our best to be accessible to you by telephone.

The office staff is trained to answer some of your questions. Others will be discussed with your doctor and the office staff will notify you of your pediatrician’s recommendations. If you are worried about your child, always call and get proper medical advice during regular office hours. It is reasonable to expect basic information and reassurance.

For more complicated problems, the doctors will call you back, not at the very moment you call, perhaps, but later, when the office is not quite so busy (which can be after 8 PM on some days). Usually, the doctor will return your call during lunch or at the end of the day, after all scheduled patients have been seen. Emergency problems will be referred to the doctor right away. Please be assured that every effort will be made to get back to you as soon as possible, but your understanding will be appreciated.

Realize, though, that sometimes your pediatrician may not be able to answer your questions without seeing your child first. Take the symptoms of spots (rash); no matter how well you describe them, the doctor must see them, up close and personal, to make a diagnosis. There are many potentially dangerous illnesses that we can’t diagnose over the phone and we will need to examine your child to make a diagnosis.

It is also inappropriate to expect your doctor to prescribe antibiotics over the phone unless he or she has already been involved in the current episode of that illness. It is unreasonable to expect medical advice on a condition the doctor has never seen, or if the patient hasn't been seen in the office for awhile. Likewise, we will need to see your child for a current illness before a school EXCUSE FORM can be completed.