We have found it helpful to acquaint new patients with our office routine. We hope the following information will assist you in obtaining the services available in our office when you need them.

Office Hours

How to Telephone the Office

1. Call (304) 766-4400 during regular office hours.

2. Make the call yourself if at all possible. Relaying the message through a third party may result in misleading information.

3. Identify yourself and give your child's full name and age.  Describe the condition in specific terms and be sure to state if the child was seen recently for the condition.

4. Have a pencil and paper ready when you call. Do not rely on remembering instructions - especially when you may be upset.

5. If the staff is unable to solve a problem which is not urgent, your phone number will be taken and we will call you back between office patients.

6. Call us, if at all possible, before rushing to the emergency room, so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Hospital Affiliations

Our providers are able to see children at both Thomas Memorial and Women's and Children's Hospitals.

Appointments

We realize that your time is important, and it is inconvenient and irritating to wait for long periods in the doctor’s office. We have implemented a schedule which allows us to see patients with minimal delay. Everyone in our office is alert and committed to this goal. There are several things you can do to help us in this effort:

When you call for an appointment, briefly inform the receptionist of the problems you wish to discuss with the doctor. This helps her schedule an appropriate amount of time for your child. Most problems can be handled in a routine appointment. Others such as family, school, and behavior problems require much more time.

If you decide to bring a sister or brother along to be seen also, please let us know so the chart can be prepared in advance and more time can be allowed for your visit.

If a conflict arises and you cannot make your appointment on time, let us know and we will give you an appointment later in the day.

Upon arrival in the office, check in at the front desk. If you have not been called within 15 minutes of your appointment time, please check with the receptionist.

Please do not “walk-in” to be seen without an appointment unless the circumstance is unavoidable.

Telephone Advice

Many problems can be handled by phone without the necessity of an office visit. You should expect your call to be returned within an hour. If you have an emergency, please alert the operator and someone will be paged immediately. We have a nurse on duty during “regular office hours” to answer parents’ questions. When necessary, the nurse will consult with one of the doctors. When the office is closed, calls should be limited to urgent problems that cannot reasonably await “regular office hours.”

Payment for Services/Insurance

At the end of your child’s examination, the doctor will give you an encounter form. He or she will note the type of examination, procedures, tests or medications for which you will be charged. Take the form to the "check-out” window at the front desk. Our office is a “fee-for-service” practice and, as such, payment in full is required at the conclusion of your visit.

We accept Visa and MasterCard. If it is not possible to pay in full, you will be given a return envelope and asked to send payment at your earliest convenience. We expect payments for services from the parent accompanying the child. If an absent parent has financial responsibility, we must ask for payment from you and allow you to make arrangements with the responsible party.

We currently have contracts with several insurance companies in the form of HMOs, PPOs, etc. for which we will accept your co-payment and file for your services. Please contact our office at (304) 766-4400 for a listing of these plans.

You must present your card at each visit. Occasionally a double co-payment is required for evening and weekend hours.

Please check with your carrier regarding any benefit or co-payment question.

We hope this information will help make your relationship with our office a pleasant one. Please tell us if you are experiencing a problem. We look forward to a warm and rewarding relationship with you and your family.