FAQs
Please take a moment to read our most commonly asked questions. We're always available to answer your questions and encourage you to contact our office if you have a question that is not answered below.
Q. What are your hours?
Monday - Friday: Walk-in sick visits 7 am - 8:30 am
Scheduled appts (sick or well care) 7 am - 4 pm
Evening sick appointments 6 pm - 8 pm
Weekends Scheduled sick appointments 9 am- 12:30 pm (clinic end time is flexible)
For pick-up of forms or prescriptions, our doors are open from 7 am until 7 pm weekdays.
Q. I have a medical question for the phone nurse or the doctor. How does this work?
Our dedicated "phone nurses" answer all the messages left during regular business hours. Please give your name, your child's name, a return phone number, and a very brief summary of the problem. Generally, all morning calls are answered by 1:30 pm, and all afternoon calls are returned before 6 pm. If the nurse is unable to immediately answer your questions, she will discuss them with the physician and get back to you. Because the physician is seeing patients during clinic hours, he/she may not be able to answer the concerns until the end of the day.
Q. It's the weekend/ after hours and my child is sick. How do I contact the office for help?
After 5 pm on weekdays, and on the weekends, your call will go first to our nurse triage telephone service.
From 5-8 pm on weekdays, and from 8am-8pm on weekends, the answering service will contact the Oberlin Road Pediatrics phone nurse, who will return your call. She will discuss the needs of your child, and she can schedule an appointment in our weekend clinic if that seems necessary.
From 8pm until 8am, the nurse triage telephone service will handle your questions, using standardized medical protocols to help you care for your child overnight. If needed, the telephone service can contact the doctor on call for urgent medical needs. Please restrict After Hours calls to urgent matters. These nurses cannot do medication refills or schedule or cancel appointments.
Q. My child is so sick that I feel we need to go to the Emergency Room. Where should we go?
A. In Raleigh, we recommend WakeMed Raleigh (3000 New Bern Avenue, phone 919-350-2883). There is a 24/7 Children's Emergency Room that is dedicated to emergency care only for children. There are ER physicians and staff who are specially trained to deal with the unique health care needs of a sick or injured child. Should your child need to be admitted to the hospital, WakeMed Children's hospital provides the highest quality, comprehensive care in Wake County, and has the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Wake County.
Q. I have forms (sports forms, daycare physicals, etc.) to be completed. Is there a charge? What is the turn-around time?
Forms brought in at the time of the child’s well child check/physical exam and those forms not needed in less than 5 business days will be FREE of charge.
As of January 1st, 2013, a “RUSH” fee of $30 will be assessed for any form requiring completion in less than 5 business days. This fee will be paid at the time the form is dropped off.
Q. Sorry I no-showed my appointment. Is there a charge? Is my no-show/ last minute cancellation a problem for the office?
As of January 1st, 2013, there is a $35 No-show fee for missed appointments. IN ADDITION, cancellations under 24 hours for Well child Checks / Complete Physicial Exams OR under 4 hours from the appointment time for all other office visit will incur a $35 fee.
It is the policy of Oberlin Road Pediatrics to dismiss families due to repeated missed appointments. If a family is dismissed, we will provide care for another 30 days for emergency sick visits only. This allows the family time to choose a new pediatrician and get insurance cards changed to indicate a new primary care doctor. We will also copy records and send them to the new pediatrician upon request. There is a fee for copying medical records.
WHY? In 2011, we had enough visits that were no-shows to fill one full time physician's schedule for a MONTH.
Q. Can I got to my local Urgent Care for a sick or well visit?
A. We encourage our families to establish our practice as their medical home. This means all visits should be done at our office. This is the best way for us to be completely aware of all medical issues related to your child's health and help you to navigate the health care system most efficiently. It also gives the physician the opportunity to discuss issues of importance such as medical, academic, social, developmental and behavioral concerns. The patient and families also have time to discuss issues that are important to them during these visits.
In today's fast-paced world, patients are often rushed through the medical system. We strive to take a little more time with our patients, not only to provice the best medical care and answer questions but also to build a relationship with the family as a whole.
Q. Can I pick my Primary Care Physician?
A. Yes! An important part of having a good Medical Home is identifying a Primary Care Physician, who will be the physician that can provide you with the most continuity of care. Not only do you get to know and get comfortable with your doctor, but it allows him or her to know your family better. We will prioritize that physician when scheduling appointments for your child. Please share with us your preferences when we are making appointments
Q: Is your office accepting new patients?
A: Yes, we always welcome new patients. Call our office for additional information or to request an appointment.
Q: Why does my child need to receive vaccinations?
A: 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 an important way to help protect your child from disease. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. For more information, click Immunizations.
Q: Why do I need to come in frequently to check my asthma, ADHD or weight issues?
A: Often there is so much information to discuss at a well visit that the physician must bring patients back for a separate appointment to explore in further detail chronic medical issues. Some of these visits may occur monthly as we start a patient on ADHD medications and need to track blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and height or manage a patient's uncontrolled asthma. As the patient's medical condition changes, we may be able to space appointments out further. Additionally, if there is a patient who is overweight, we want to follow this person closely as we try to prevent the patient from heading down a path towards adult health problems like heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.