Are We a Good Fit For You?
Bay Area Pediatrics New Patient Checklist
It is crucial when choosing a pediatric practice for your children that you have given serious consideration to the fit between the practice philosophies and your own. Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family priorities and philosophies regarding medical care. Only then can shared decision making be based on mutual respect. Please read the following checklist carefully to be sure Bay Area Pediatrics is the appropriate medical home for your child(ren). We look forward to meeting you and forming a mutually rewarding relationship.
North River Pediatrics New Patient Checklist
| TOPIC |
PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY |
Agree! |
| Vaccines |
Our office allows the schedule outlined by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We vaccinate our own children on schedule and expect the same of our patients. |
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| Antibiotics |
We work hard to not overuse antibiotics. We educate families on appropriate use of antibiotics, but follow evidence-based guidelines and don’t automatically treat ear pain or a green snotty nose with antibiotics. We do not routinely call in antibiotics over the phone as we do not believe that is good medicine. When we believe antibiotics are appropriate treatment, we will be happy to answer your questions. |
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| Medical Home |
We work hard to provide comprehensive medical care and serve as your medical home. To that end, we expect that you contact our office FIRST before seeking specialty care or heading to Urgent Care. |
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| Technology
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Our practice prides itself on efficiency through use of technology. You will be expected to contact us through our patient portal and effectively use automated reminders. |
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| Office Hours |
We make every effort to meet the needs of our patients. Please familiarize yourself with our office hours to see if they work for your family. |
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| After Hours |
We have a provider on call 24/7/365. After hours, they can be reached by contacting the Anne Arundel Medical Center. We expect that unless it is a true medical emergency and requires 911, that you will call the on-call provider to discuss recommendations prior to heading to the Emergency Department or Urgent Care. |
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| Specialist Care |
As your medical home, we expect that you will contact our office to discuss care plans before scheduling an appointment with a specialist. We want to be involved in either providing care in our office where appropriate or referring you to the most appropriate specialist and helping coordinate your care. Whenever you do see a specialist, we ask that you request a report be sent directly to our office so we can coordinate all of your care. |
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| Insurance |
Please make sure we take your specific insurance plan. If there are any questions, call our office and/or check with your specific insurance company. |
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| Billing and Fees |
It is up to you to understand how your insurance works including deductibles and co-insurance and to provide up-to-date insurance information at every visit. Please click here to read our billing and payment policies. |
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| Appointments
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Please call our office to make an appointment and tell the medical staff all of your concerns so that they can allow the appropriate length of time. |
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| Timeliness |
Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable. We ask that you make every effort to present to the office at your scheduled appointment time and call us if you are running behind. You may be asked to reschedule if you are late or have missed your appointment time. |
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