FAQ

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.

  1. What is a Pediatrician?
    A pediatrician is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of children. Pediatricians have undergone special training in the health and illnesses of infants, teens and young adults, and the majority of pediatricians are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics after passing a comprehensive exam.

    Pediatricians provide preventive health care for children in good health and medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill. They also provide parents with support and advice with issues such as growth and development, safety and prevention, nutrition, and emotional wellness to foster a lifetime of good health

  2. Why do the physicians not communicate through email?

    We prefer to talk directly with parents/patients because we find a lot of critical information can be lost in email exchanges, and direct verbal dialogue is more efficient for us in obtaining the needed information. Additionally, regular email is not a secure form of communication, which means diagnosis or treatment questions cannot be assured of privacy.

  3. Under what circumstances is it advisable to call after hours to get advice from a doctor?

    If your child is displaying symptoms that concern you and you feel it is urgent enough that it cannot wait until office hours, feel free to let our answering service direct you to the health professional on call.  Generally, any breathing difficulties, extreme pain, or very high fevers should get immediate attention, and if it is a serious concern, you may need to visit a hospital emergency room.

  4. How often should my child see the pediatrician?
    Your child should not only see the pediatrician for an illness. It is also important to schedule well-child-care exams regularly, beginning in infancy. Also called well-care visits or checkups, these routine examinations provide the best opportunity for the doctor to observe the progress of your child's physical and mental growth and development; to counsel and teach parents; to detect problems through screening tests; to provide immunizations, and to get to know one another. Well-care visits are strongly recommended as part of preventive pediatric care.

    Well-child visits are also a good time for parents to raise questions and concerns about a child's development, behavior, nutrition, safety and overall well-being.

    The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this schedule for routine well-care visits: 2-4 weeks
    1 month
    2 months
    4 months
    6 months
    9 months
    12 months
    15 months
    18 months
    24 months
    30 months
    3 years
    4 years
    And once every year thereafter for an annual health supervision visit that includes a physical exam as well as a developmental, behavioral, and learning assessment

  5. Why does my child need to receive vaccinations?
    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 the best way to help protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. If you're apprehensive about vaccinations, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

  6. Is your office accepting new patients?
    Yes, we always welcome new patients. Contact our office for additional information or request an appointment.

  7. Can I meet my pediatrician before my baby is born?
    Yes, in fact we strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our doctors. During this visit, we will answer any questions that you have about our practice or your new child. Visit our expectant parent's page for more information.

  8. Do you offer same day sick appointments?
    We offer same day sick appointments and are open late four nights and Saturday mornings to accommodate our patients' busy schedules.

  9. We plan to travel overseas and want to know if we should get vaccinated prior to leaving. How should we proceed?
    You can learn of the recommended vaccines to take by visiting the Centers for Disease Control website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/ .  Just contact us to let us know which vaccines you would like us to administer and we will order the required vaccines in time for your visit. It is a good idea to take care of this at least three weeks prior to your trip so the vaccines are working in your system before you arrive at your overseas destination.

  10. I have a question about my bill. Who do I contact?

    Please contact our Billing Office at 410-946-9171 or 410-296-2300 if you have questions regarding your bill.

  11. Which insurance plans do you accept?
    Click the link to view the list of insurance plans we accept. Participating Insurance Plans

  12. Can I pay my bill on-line ?
    To make a secure payment on-line,  you can log on to our patient payment portal at :  https://pay.instamed.com/bucci... or click on the following link: Patient Payment Portal