Commonly Asked Questions

Common Questions About Our Offices

Where are your offices located?
We have two offices: one at the intersection of 92nd and Shea (Scottsdale Healthcare campus) and the other at the intersection of Scottsdale Rd. and Deer Valley Rd.

What are your office hours?
We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays (sick only) from 8:00 a.m. until we’re through with the last patient.

How many providers are there?
10 doctors and 2 nurse practitioners.

Does each provider see patients at both offices?
No—most providers have a 'home' office and do not rotate between locations.

What type of providers make up this practice? MD’s? DO’s? Nurse Practitioners?
All of our doctors are MDs, board certified, and fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Their long list of credentials include a President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AZ), Vice-president, Pediatric Committee at Scottsdale Shea, Member, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, multiple-time awardees of Phoenix Magazin's "Top Docs," and a rock band singer! We are also proud to have 2 excellent nurse practitioners. They are always supervised by an MD, and both have been practicing for many years.

Will my child see the same doctor each visit?
Continuity of care is very important to us and parents will select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) for each child. It is our goal to have your child see their PCP as often as possible. However, one of the benefits of being in a larger group is that even when your PCP is not available (due to vacation schedules, days off, etc.), we have other providers who can see your child and become a familiar resource to them.

To which hospital(s) do you admit?
We use Scottsdale Shea for most of our admissions, and when children need more specialized care, several of our doctors have admitting privileges at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Does the office have any testing or diagnostic facilities, such as a lab to process blood work or X-ray machines?
We use outside facilities that are conveniently located near our offices for lab work and x-rays. We do have a small lab on site for strep and flu swabs, testing of urine samples, checking hemoglobin's, and newborn screens.

Do you have times set aside for walk-ins?
Walk-ins are accepted throughout the day for urgent needs, but we encourage patients to schedule an appointment so that we can offer more timely service.

Does your office utilize an Electronic Health Record?
Yes. This allows your chart to be with you at both locations and 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, so your provider can always have the most up-to-date information about your child's health history. Additionally we offer the convenience of having prescriptions directly faxed to the pharmacy of your choice.

Do you offer different waiting areas for sick children?
Yes.

Philosophy of Care

Do all of the providers at North Scottsdale Pediatrics have the same care philosophy?
One of the unique characteristics of our physicians is how much we all agree with each other. We have monthly meetings as providers to discuss how to best treat common illnesses, as well as sharing specialized knowledge from conferences and other continuing medical education.

Does the pediatrician focus on disease prevention and in what major ways?
Pediatrics is all about disease prevention. By focusing on nutrition, growth, development, sleep habits, safety, and vaccination, we try to avoid major illnesses and injuries.

What are their standard procedures for healthy child checkups?
We have well checks at 3-5 days, 1-2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, and then yearly after that. Children are weighed and measured, blood pressure is checked in older patients, vision is checked in children 3 and up ,and hearing is checked at 5 years. An assessment of the child’s health, preventive health care information, and a full physical exam is performed.

What is your practice’s position on vaccines?
We support the vaccination guidelines and schedule approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics and Center for Disease Control. We do not endorse 'patient-directed vaccine schedules.'

Do they do a series of tests on the child's developmental status or just rely on what the parents say?
We do standardized testing for developmental issues at selected visits, as well as an assessment of development at each well visit based on observation in the room and parental interview.

Do you manage psychological issues such as ADHD or depression?
Our providers feel comfortable managing and prescribing medication for uncomplicated behavioral and psychological issues, including ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Sometimes, we will recommend involvement of other professionals, including a counselor or psychiatrist.

What kinds of educational materials on safety and injury prevention are available?
Handouts on safety and common pediatric issues are given at all well visits and your pediatrician will discuss age-appropriate safety concerns at every visit.

What is your approach to discipline?
Our providers believe that discipline changes depending on the age of the child, but the basic principles are consistency, firm limits, positive feedback, and no corporal punishment.

Are your providers comfortable answering parents' questions, even if there are a lot?
Our providers excel at answering parents' questions and most first-time parents have a lot of questions. We will make sure you have had a chance to have your questions answered at each visit. One of the great advantages to following a child from birth through the teen years is the relationship that you develop with the patient. This gives us an opportunity to help them through the difficult teen years. We continue to see children in our office through the age of 21.

Transitioning from an OB to Pediatrician's Care

What happens at the hospital?
A doctor from our office will come to see your baby everyday they are in the hospital. If you have a baby boy and desire a circumcision, one of our doctors will perform that in the hospital. When being discharged, the doctor will let you know when to make an appointment to be seen in our office. This is typically between 3 and 5 days of life.

How much time do they schedule for a well-baby checkup?
15 minutes of doctor’s time, with extra time for checking in, standard procedures, and vaccinations.

What is the pediatrician's philosophy about breastfeeding?
We strongly support breastfeeding as the best nutrition for babies and one of the best ways to prevent illness in the early months. We also understand that not everyone can breastfeed and will help you choose the nutrition that works best for your family.

Do you offer any breastfeeding support?
Pediatricians are your partners in promoting the health of your child. And when breast milk is your child’s primary nutrition source, we have a vested interest in making sure you are supported and successful. We are the best place to schedule a consultation because we can evaluate breastfeeding in the context of baby’s total health.

What are your thoughts about co-sleeping?
Babies are safest when they sleep on their backs on a firm surface with no pillows or blankets. Co-sleeping can still be accomplished in a safe way as long as those principles are upheld and adults do not drink or smoke prior to going to bed. Sleep is something we discuss with families at every visit to help find a sleeping situation that best fits your family and helps develop healthy sleep habits.

Scheduling Appointments and Calls

How do parents reach the office or doctor in an after hours/weekend emergency?
Call our main number. During the day, our phones are answered by a friendly front-office staff. Clinical questions are directed to our in-house nurse triage. They are perfect for answering many questions that first-time parents have, and they can get quick answers from the physicians on more complicated issues and call the parents back if needed. After hours, we use either our own nursing staff or a nurse triage service. There is always a doctor from our office available for extra assistance when needed.

Will the doctor and/or nurse practitioner provide consultation over the phone or via email?
Currently we offer phone consultation after hours or over lunch breaks as needed. Our in-house phone nurses are always available. We are working on providing a secure way to communicate by e-mail, but it is not yet available.

Does the doctor expect parents to be knowledgeable consumers or just accept anything she/he says?
All of our patients come in with knowledge from other sources. It could be internet, books, family members, or even the parent being a health professional themselves. Taking care of a child is a group effort, and we welcome your input and cooperation in management of health issues.

Insurance

Will your office take care of billing insurance?
Yes. We have a fully-staffed billing department and financial counselors who can assist you with your insurance questions.

What happens if I lose my healthcare insurance or don’t have insurance?
We have a self-pay program that offers 20% or more discounts to individuals without insurance.

Do I have to pay for any portion of my bill while at the office?
You are responsible for paying any co-pays or co-insurance at the time of your visit. Once we receive an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) from your insurance company, we will accept their payment. Any amount indicated as 'patient responsibility' will be billed to you. You can pay it on-line or my mail – either way it is due within 30 days of receipt.

The Bottom Line...

As a parent, it is ultimately your responsibility to care for and guide your children to help them reach their optimal potential. However, you should leave your meeting with a pediatrician reassured that this doctor is going to take good care of your child and be a strong support for you in your child's growth and development. Use common sense and trust your instincts.