After Hours

Holiday Hours 2023

Weds, November 22, 2023: Limited staff and hours - call ASAP to schedule - OPEN at 7am

Thurs, November 23, 2023: CLOSED - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Fri, November 24, 2023: Limited staff and hose - call ASAP to schedule - OPEN at 7am 

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat & Sun: CLOSED

If there is an urgent matter outside of our hours of operation that cannot wait, after hours calls are available.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM OUR PROVIDERS’ AFTER HOURS?

First, if you are concerned your child has a life threatening situation, you need to call 911 or go to ER.

For after hours telemedicine visits, we prefer to communicate by Facetime or Android Dou.  These are the most secure platform for quick visits. If needed, we can utilize zoom through our HIPAA compliant account, but that is not as efficient for after hours visits.

It is important to know, that these visits will be billed exactly the same as in office visits. The codes utilized in most cases will be the same as an office visit,  with the addition of a fee for after hours care. They will be processed by your insurance, and the amount you owe will be adjusted, in the same way that occurs in the office. You can expect your out of pocket expense will be similar to whatever you typically pay, plus an adjusted fee of $10-20 for after hours work, some plans will pass that fee on, but most will not.

Please know that when placing a call or text to our staff remember outside of our operating hours, this is time they are with their families. As you know, it can be easy to miss a phone call or text. If that happens, call back again.

Providers will be screening calls and texts, they will either immediately call you back and instigate a telemedicine visit, or they may respond with a time they will get back to you in non-urgent conditions.

FAQs

Q: What if I was in the office that day and something has gotten confused, such a script didn't make it to the pharmacy, or instructions were confusing?

A: If it is something that cannot wait till the next day, that will not generate a bill.

Q: What if a provider sends us to the ER?

A: Billing in medicine is related to the complexity of a provider's decision making. If it is clear in the first interaction that 911 is better, that will not generate a bill. However, most of the time, decisions regarding referral to an ER or urgent care will still require medical decision making, so like in the office, those will generate charges.  

Q: Will the provider sometimes ask to see us in person? What happens then?   

A: If during a telemedicine visit,  we feel the best medical advice is not possible without a physical exam, we may ask you to come in.  We do this during regular office hours as well. If that exam is within 24 hours, it is considered the same visit. If medical advice is given, and then a follow up visit is required some days later to monitor progression of the disease, those would be separate medical decision making visits and a new bill.

Q:  Would it be better to utilize urgent care or ER if we will have charges?

A:   In our opinion, it is always best to avoid the ER or Urgent care when possible. First, Insurance bills for those will be much higher than charges generated by our office, even with after hour bills. In the case of ERs the bills can be $500-1000 for just walking through the door.  In addition, Non-pediatric Urgent cares are well known for managing pediatrics different than a pediatrician would, ERs and Urgent cares can have a lot of germ exposure, and they do not know your child's history as well.