Are you accepting new patients?
Yes! We welcome new patients to our practice!
Please see the list of insurances that we accept under the "Office Info-Insurances" Menu Tab.
Please note that we need all prior records sent to our office before making your appointment. This gives our doctors adequate time to prepare prior to your appointment.
How do we contact the after hours doctor?
Our doctors take emergency calls from their homes after hours and during the weekends when the office is closed. Call the main office number (508-880-7858), to be directed to our answering service. Please remove any blocks that are on your lines so we can return your call. Kindly save routine questions (mild illness, appointments, referrals, prescription refills) for the morning or next business day. Please refer to our website "Is Your Child Sick?" where you may find helpful information about managing common illnesses.
After-hours, we utilize a nursing triage service to answer any urgent concerns. Please know that many insurance companies also have night time nurse call lines available for advice.
IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911.
What are Pediatricians and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners?
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, children, teens and young adults,
The pediatricians at Pediatric Associates at Northwoods are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. They have passed a comprehensive exam and participate in ongoing continuing medical education.
What is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?
Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are certified, licensed advanced practice nurses who have obtained a master’s degree or clinical practice doctorate from an accredited academic program. They have completed advanced course work in physical/health assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology.
First and foremost, members of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) are experts in pediatrics and advocates for children.
Pediatricians and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners understand that children are not just small adults. They are experienced in the unique physical, emotional, and social development of children. They 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 on issues such as growth and development, behavior, safety and injury prevention, nutrition, and emotional wellness to foster a lifetime of good health.
Our team are all fellows (members) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP.)
May I request a specific Pediatrician for my visit?
Every effort is made to arrange your child's well care and follow up visits with your child's PCP.
When your child is ill, he or she may see any one of our providers if your PCP is not available or for your scheduling convenience.
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%.
To see what vaccines your child will receive at each visit, please review our "Well Child Care Visits Schedule". You can look up more information about each vaccine in our Immunizations Resource page. Lastly, please review our Immunization Policy.
Do not hesitate to speak with your primary care physician, PCP, about any questions or concerns you have regarding this important issue.
My child needs to see a specialist. What do I do?
As primary care physicians, we can manage most of your child's health care at our office. For medical issues that require further specialty care, you should always contact our office to discuss referral requests prior to making an appointment with a specialist. We refer to specialists in whom we have confidence and who communicate with us regularly about our patients’ needs. We are affiliated with the world renowned Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC).
In addition to their location in Boston, they have many satellites, making it much more convenient for those residing in and around Bristol County. MGHfC specialists are able to access your records, growth chart and laboratory results allowing them to coordinate care more efficiently with your primary care physician. Staying within the MGHfC system allows your primary care physician to become your advocate in securing appointments.
If your insurance plan is a PPO, you do not need a referral from your primary care physician. If you have an HMO plan, you are required to have a referral from your primary care physician in order for your insurance company to pay for the visit.
Once your pediatrician has recommended that your child see a specialist, you may call the specialist and make an appointment. If you require a referral, we suggest that you call us as soon as you make your appointment with the specialist. Please allow up to seven business days to process your referral. Requests made less than seven business days prior to the appointment or after the appointment has already taken place may not be able to be processed.
To have an insurance referral processed, please call us during regular office hours. We will ask you for the following information:
- Your child’s name
- Date of birth
- Name of your primary care physician
- Name of your insurance carrier
- Insurance carrier/ID number
- Name of the specialist
- Specialist’s phone
- Fax numbers
- Appointment date
- Location
- Reason for the referral
- Your name and phone number in the event that there are questions regarding your referral
When will I receive lab or test results?
Our Patient Gateway portal allows you to view results of tests done in the office or tests that we ordered. You also can get lab results through MyQuest at Quest Diagnostics.
Please be aware that in some cases, you may receive results before your provider. Some results may be flagged as abnormal but are not clinically relevant or worrisome. We will always call promptly with any lab results that require urgent attention. Otherwise, we will send your results via the portal or by mail.
For urgent results or questions about your labs, please call the provider who ordered the test. If you see a specialist, make sure that you understand the plan for following up on any labs that they order.
How do I obtain a prescription refill?
You need a refill on your medication and your visits are current and up-to-date?
It's easy! Just send us a message through the Gateway Patient Portal or give us a call.
Please make sure to include:
- Medication Name
- Medication dose
- How medication is taken
- Pharmacy name and location
Please allow us 1-2 business days to complete routine medication refills so we have time to review the chart and ensure everything is up-to-date. Unfortunately, some medications may require pre-authorization with your insurance company, which can delay prescription turnaround times. Plan ahead by setting an alert on your phone to remind you to refill your child's chronic medications.
Please note that some medications, especially those for mental health and ADHD, require regular scheduled visits. We will not fill these medications without seeing your child for their "med check" visits. These medications need to be refilled during regularly scheduled hours and can not be called in by the "on-call" doctor.
Does your practice support breastfeeding mothers?
Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. However, mastering this skill may take time for both mom and baby to establish a comfortable routine. Each day brings new challenges as both mother and baby undergo changes. Our aim is to support your breastfeeding journey by ensuring a proper latch to prevent nipple soreness and closely monitoring your baby’s growth and well-being. If you need extra assistance, we're fortunate to have good local resources available and can help you get connected. For mothers who choose bottle feeding or encounter breastfeeding challenges, rest assured, we're here to offer unwavering support. Our ultimate goal remains the nurturing of healthy babies, acknowledging that there are various paths to achieve this.
See our Breastfeeding section in Resources.