It is crucial when choosing a pediatric practice for your children that you have given serious consideration to the fit between the practice philosophies and your own. Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family priorities and philosophies regarding medical care. Only then can shared decision-making be based on mutual respect.
Please read the following checklist carefully to be sure Beaumont Pediatric Center is the appropriate medical home for your children. We look forward to meeting you and forming a mutually rewarding relationship.
| TOPIC | PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY | Agree! |
|---|---|---|
Vaccines | Our Vaccine Policy follows the schedule outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). | |
Antibiotics | We work hard to not overuse antibiotics. We educate families on appropriate use of antibiotics and follow evidence-based guidelines. We don’t automatically treat ear pain or a green snotty nose with antibiotics, as most infections are caused by a virus that antibiotics won't help with. We also do not routinely prescribe antibiotics over the phone as we do not believe that is good medicine. We will prescribe an antibiotic when we believe it is an appropriate treatment after completing a thorough evaluation of your child. | |
Medical Home | We work hard to provide comprehensive medical care and serve as your medical home. To that end, we prefer you contact our office FIRST before seeking specialty care, or before heading to another clinic for urgent care. We want to be involved in either providing care in our office when appropriate or referring you to the most appropriate specialist. Whenever you do see a specialist, we ask that you request a report be sent directly to our office so we may stay informed and have the most up-to-date information in your medical record. | |
Office Visits | We make every effort to meet the needs of our patients, offering both routine well visit and sick visit appointments. We also offer walk-in appointments from 7:30-9 am for established patients. | |
After Hours | We have a physician on call 24/7/365. When our office is closed overnight and you have an urgent issue that cannot wait until morning, you can call our answering service number 409-839-0850 and the provider on-call will give you advice regarding your child's problem. You may wish to check the "AAP Library" section of our website for helpful information before using this service. Read more about After Hours care. | |
Insurance | Make sure we participate with your insurance plan. Click here to go to our Insurance page. It is your responsibility to know the limits and coverage of your particular health insurance policy, to show your cards to us at each visit, and to be prepared to pay any copays at the time of service. Our billing staff will do their best to assist you with insurance questions; however, if you have questions about your coverage, it is best to check with your specific insurance company. Our office must always bill your health plan based on federal guidelines and the actual services provided. Please read our Financial Policy for more information regarding insurance. | |
Billing and Fees | Insurance copays are expected to be paid at the time of service. If you are unable to comply, you must speak with the billing department prior to the visit to set up a payment plan. | |
Scheduling Appointments | For well visits, call our routine appointment line. Well visits may be scheduled up to 6 months in advance. For acute care, call the office to schedule a same day sick appointment. You may also ask to speak with our nurse triage staff, who will listen to your concerns and give advice or schedule an appointment for you. Sometimes an appointment may not be needed, and staff will advise you regarding your issue, or check with the physician and call you back. If our triage nurse is busy with another caller, you will be asked to leave a message and you will receive a return call. | |
Timeliness & Missed Appointments | Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable. Missed Appointments: Broken appointments represent a cost to us, to you, and are detrimental to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. We reserve the right to charge a fee for canceled or missed appointments. We request 24-hour notice for cancellation of appointments. |