Preparing for your primary care appointment
Routine checkups
We recommended children see their pediatricians for routine check-ups and vaccines. After 36 months, your child should be seen annually. Please try to schedule your routine appointments at least 2 weeks prior to the desired appointment date.
Sick visits
Sick visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. If your child is sick, we will do our best to have your child’s primary care providers (PCP) accommodate your child that same day, or as medically necessary.
Bring necessary documentation
If you are planning your first visit to a Children’s Health℠ pediatric primary care office, keep in mind these helpful tips to make your visit go smoothly:
- Bring a valid driver's license and your insurance card.
- Bring a list of medications your child is currently taking.
- Bring your immunization/vaccine record or an updated list of vaccines given to your child.
- Be ready to answer questions about your child’s medical history – allergies, past injuries or illness.
- Print out and complete the new patient forms and bring them with you to your first visit.
Arrive early
Arriving early to your appointment allows sufficient time for us to verify insurance coverage while you complete any necessary paperwork and update your child’s information.
- New patients are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to their appointment
- Existing patients are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment.
Please keep in mind that your insurance company requires that data be updated prior to each visit. If your insurance information is not updated, your claim may be denied, leaving you responsible for the payment.
Late arrivals
Please help us stay on time by arriving early to your child’s appointment. If you arrive late to your scheduled appointment, you may be asked to reschedule, as it causes other patients to wait beyond their scheduled appointment time. Late arrivals will only be seen with prior physician approval and may be asked to wait until the next available appointment time, or reschedule for another day.
Missed appointments
We understand that problems may arise that prevent you from making your appointment. However, we ask that you notify our office 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule the appointment. This allows us the opportunity to offer the appointment time to other individuals in need of medical care. Failure to cancel or reschedule in advance, or present at the time of the appointment, will result in a no-show.
After 3 no-shows, we may ask you to transfer your care to another provider.