FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to these frequently asked questions are intended to provide brief information relevant to your child's health. If you would like to speak with us regarding any of these topics, do not hesitate to call us.

  • 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.

  • Are you accepting new patients?

    Yes, we always welcome new patients to our practice! Please see the list of insurances that we accept under the "Office Info-Insurances" Menu Tab. If your child is new to the practice and needs a well visit, please note that we need all prior records sent to our office before making your appointment. This allows for us to give an appropriate amount of time for the appointment in case there are additional issues to discuss and make sure that the last well visit has been at least one year prior for insurance purposes. If the entire chart is unavailable in time, we ask that you please have your prior doctors office fax the vaccine records and last well summary to our office in the meantime. Thank you and welcome aboard!

  • Can I meet my pediatrician before my baby is born?

    Yes, this is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our staff. During this visit, we will answer any questions that you have about our practice.  You will get to meet with one of our pediatric providers and ask any questions you have about your baby. Visit our expectant parent's page for more information.

  • Does your practice support breastfeeding mothers?

    Yes, we promote breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding babies for the first six to twelve months. Breastfeeding helps defend children against infections, prevents allergies, and protects against a number of chronic conditions. While experts believe that breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women.


    Some women have specific medical considerations that impede breastfeeding; others choose to feed by formula because of discomfort, work schedule, or lifestyle choices. In these cases, an iron-fortified, milk-based infant formula is a good alternative. Our pediatric providers will help you with the challenges some encounter with breastfeeding and we will support you if can not or choose not to breastfeed your baby.  We will gladly discuss your diet and feeding concerns at your child's well care visit, or you can request a follow up or sick appointment if you need your concerns addressed before the next scheduled well care visit.

  • 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 the pedicatric doctor or nurse practitioner of your choice. When your child is ill, he or she may see any one of our pediatric providers.

  • Do you accept my health insurance?

    Please refer to our Insurance page to review a list of accepted insurance providers.  If your insurance is not listed and you can not locate us on the participating provider list from your insurance, please reach out to the office. 


  • How do we contact the after hours doctor?
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    We have a pediatric doctor or nurse practioner on call 24 hours a day. This is for emergency purposes only. Refill of medications and referrals will not get handled after hours.  To reach the on-call provider, please use the Remedy Messenger Page.


    IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

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  • How do I obtain a prescription refill?

    For most prescriptions, please ask your pharmacy to send an electronic refill request (this is the fastest and easiest way for us to refill prescriptions).  If the refill is not appropriate or you need a follow up appointment we will send a denial to the pharmacy with a reason.  


    For ADHD medication refills, you can request a refill via our Portal (see portal access information at....) or you can call our office and follow the prompts for our prescription refill line. Allow one business day for all routine prescription refills.


    For prescriptions that require prior authorization from your insurance company, please plan ahead to allow at least three to five days for refill approval. 

  • How do I make an appointment?

    To ensure the best use of time, for both our physicians and patients, all of our office visits are by appointment only.  There are a few options to reach out to us regarding an appointment. 


    For well care (annual exams, sports physicals): you can request an appointment via the Portal or you can call the office and leave a message on the non-urgent line. 


    For same-day sick appointments, please call our office during office hours.  There are limited same-day sick appointments but we will do our best to get you an appointment.


    For all appointments, we ask that you arrive at our office 10 - 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you to complete any necessary pre-visit surveys and to update any demographic and insurance changes. If you must cancel an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible so we can offer that time to someone else.


    Complicated issues and emergencies arise. We will advise you if there is going to be a delay in seeing you. If your schedule won't allow you to wait, we will be happy to reschedule your appointment. We do appreciate your patience and cooperation during our busy times and we will make every effort to keep your wait time to a minimum.

  • I just gave birth. When should I schedule my baby's first doctor visit?

    The hospital should let you know your baby needs to be seen but it is typically 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. We reserve space on our schedule specifically for newborn appointments.  

    • To schedule your newborn's appointment: Once the hospital has discharged the baby, you can call our office at (410)284-1133 to register the baby into our system. Make sure you have your insurance card on hand and know who the “guarantor” will be. The “guarantor” will be the person responsible for all financial aspects of the account, and can be different than the “insurance holder (subscriber)” on the account. Just keep in mind that the guarantor will NEED to be present at your first appointment to sign the New Patient Paperwork as well as present their Driver’s license to be scanned into our system.
    • New Baby Appointments:  Please try to arrive at least 15 minutes early as there will be some paperwork that we need you to fill out.
    • Adding your baby to your health insurance: Make sure you contact your insurance company and/or employer to let them know you want to add the baby to your insurance; they may have an enrollment form that you can complete to help make the addition of a dependent to your policy smoother.
  • What days are you open?

    Our office is open 6 days per week excluding major holidays. The following is our typical schedule:


    Monday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Tuesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Wednesday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm 

  • What is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

    Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are certified, licensed advanced practice nurses who have obtained a master’s degree, postgraduate certificate and/or clinical practice doctorate from an accredited academic program. They have completed advanced course work in physical/health assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology.


    Primary care pediatric-focused advanced practice nurse curriculum content includes health promotion, disease prevention, and differential diagnosis and disease management with a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours. These advanced course and practice requirements are in addition to an initial nursing degree (typically RN baccalaureate) and licensure requirements. Beyond educational requirements, nurse practitioners have passed a national certification exam with a specific population focus (family, adult-gerontology, neonatal, pediatric primary care, pediatric acute care, women’s health, psychiatric-mental health) and maintain their certification through ongoing continuing education.

  • My child needs to see a specialist. What do I do?
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    If you think your child needs to see a specialist, we encourage you to first schedule an appointment with your primary provider at our office.  This is recommended so that we can ensure your child receives the right care from the right health care specialist at the right time.  In addition, there are often times when the concern is something we are able to manage avoiding the extra cost and wait time to see a specialist.


    When one of our pediatric providers refers your child to a specialist, please schedule the appointment with the specialist, then call our office to request the referral is sent to the specialist.  Please let us know about the appointment at least five business days before your appointment. When requesting a referral, please have the name and specialty of the doctor, your insurance information, and appointment date. Most referrals are completed electronically and submitted directly to the specialist's office. Please let us know if you need a copy of the referral.  


    For urgent referrals such as needing to see a orthopedic surgeon post an injury, we need the documentation from the urgent care center or emergency room so we can process the referral with correct information.  


    Please remember that it is your responsibility to know your insurance company’s rules regarding referrals for medical specialists, labs, or x-ray requests.

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  • When will I receive lab or test results?

    Most common lab test results are available within 72 hours.  Labs are reviewed and addressed by the provider that ordered them.  Providers will determine if any follow up is needed for any other abnormal lab results when they are reveiwed.  We will reach out right away for any lab results that require urgent attention. 

  • 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 have questions or concerns about vaccinations, please discuss your concerns with your provider at your child's well visit. We do have a vaccine policy that can be found HERE

  • When does my child need immediate medical care?

    While all the conditions often treated during a sick visit have the potential to need immediate care, some symptoms are red flags that your child needs quick medical attention.


    If your child is experiencing any of the following severe symptoms we recommend that you take them to the nearest emergency room or call 911:

    • Difficulty breathing (not just congestion)
    • Difficulty staying awake, extreme lethargy, or change in level of alertness
    • Extreme irritability or uncontrollable crying
    • Poor feeding with dehydration (resulting in a significant decrease in urination)
    • Significant injury (including concussions with loss of consciousness or visible bone deformities)
    • Severe pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter medication
    • A temperature >100.4 (rectally) in an infant less than 3 months of age

    We recommend you take your child to a pediatric emergency room such as Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, St. Agnes, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Sinai, University of Maryland, Mercy.  Please note that Franklin Square Hospital does NOT have a pediatric emergency room.  We recommend PM Pediatrics if you need an Urgent Care Center.

  • What children's conditions can a sick visit treat?

    Sick visits treat many types of injuries and illnesses that need same-day or next-day medical care. Children’s symptoms can change quickly, so don’t hesitate to call if your child’s symptoms get worse.


    Generally, children with the following symptoms should be seen in our office:

    • Fever in an infant less than 6 months
    • Fever for > 3 days (any age)
    • Persistent vomiting or diarrhea
    • Rashes
    • Persistent pain (stomach pain, headache, ear pain, or sore throat)
    • Minor injuries
  • When can I schedule a sick visit?

    You can schedule same-day sick visits any time the office is open, which includes every weekday, Saturday morning, and evening hours by appointment.


    Please call the office so we can schedule a same day sick appointment. Telemedicine is available for some types of illness or other extenuating circumstances.

  • What happens during a sick child visit?

    The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly diagnose the problem and determine if treatment is needed. In addition to reviewing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a sick visit may include a throat swab, nasal swab, blood tests, a urine test, and a physical exam that includes checking your child’s heart, neck, throat, and ears.  Telemedicine appointments are an option when lab tests and a hands-on physical exam is not necessary. 

  • How do I take a temperature?
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    When Does Your Child Have a Fever?

    • Rectal, Forehead or Ear temperature: 100.4° F (38.0° C) or higher
    • Oral (mouth) temperature: 100° F (37.8° C) or higher
    • Under the arm (armpit) temperature: 99° F (37.2° C) or higher
    • Caution: Ear temperatures are not accurate before 6 months of age

    Where to Take the Temperature

    • Rectal temps are the most accurate. Forehead temps are the next most accurate. Oral and ear temps are also accurate if done properly. Temps done in the armpit are the least accurate. Armpit temps are useful for screening at any age.
    • Age under 3 months old (90 days old). An armpit temp is the safest and is good for screening. If the armpit temp is above 99° F (37.2° C), re-check it. Use a rectal reading. Reason: If young babies have a fever, they need to see a doctor now. New research shows that forehead temps may also be accurate under 3 months of age.
    • Age 3 months to 4 years old. Rectal or forehead temps are accurate. An ear thermometer can be used after 6 months old. An armpit temp is good for screening if it is taken right.
    • Age 4 years and older. Safe to take the temp orally (by mouth). Ear and forehead thermometers are also good.
    • Digital (electronic) thermometers are easily found in stores. They do not cost very much. They can be used for rectal, armpit and oral temps. Most of them give an accurate temp in 10 seconds or less. The AAP suggests you replace any glass thermometer in the house with one of these products.

    Rectal Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: Birth to 4 years old
    • Have your child lie stomach down on your lap. Another way is on the back with the legs pulled up to the chest.
    • Put some petroleum jelly on the end of the thermometer and the anus.
    • Slide the thermometer gently into the anus no more than 1 inch. If your child is less than 6 months old, put it in no more than ½ inch. That means until you can no longer see the silver tip.
    • Be gentle. There should not be any resistance. If there is, stop.
    • Hold your child still. Leave a digital thermometer in until it beeps (about 10 seconds).
    • Your child has a fever if the rectal temp is above 100.4° F (38° C).

    Armpit Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: Any age for screening
    • Put the tip of the thermometer in an armpit. Make sure the armpit is dry.
    • Close the armpit by holding the elbow against the chest. Do this until it beeps (about 10 seconds). The tip of the thermometer must stay covered by skin.
    • Your child has a fever if the armpit temp is above 99.0° F (37.2° C). If you have any doubt, take your child's temp by rectum or forehead.

    Oral Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: 4 years and older
    • If your child had a cold or hot drink, wait 30 minutes.
    • Put the thermometer under one side of the tongue towards the back. It's important to put the tip in the right place.
    • Have your child hold the thermometer with his lips and fingers. Don't use the teeth to keep in place. Keep the lips sealed until it beeps (about 10 seconds).
    • Your child has a fever if the temp is above 100° F (37.8° C).

    Digital Pacifier Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: Birth to 1 year. Only good for screening. Requires the baby to suck on it, which is not always possible. 
    • Have your child suck on the pacifier until it beeps (about 10 seconds).
    • Your child has a fever if the pacifier temp is above 100° F (37.8° C).

    Ear Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: 6 months and older (not accurate before 6 months)
    • This thermometer reads the heat waves coming off the eardrum.
    • A correct temp depends on pulling the ear backward. Pull back and up if over 1 year old.
    • Then aim the tip of the ear probe between the opposite eye and ear.
    • Parents like this thermometer because it takes less than 2 seconds. It also does not need the child to cooperate. It does not cause any discomfort.
    • Caution. Being outdoors on a cold day will cause a low reading. Your child needs to be inside for 15 minutes before taking the temp. Earwax, ear infections and ear tubes do not keep from getting correct readings.

    Forehead (Temporal Artery) Temperature: How to Take

    • Age: Any age
    • This thermometer reads the heat waves coming off the temporal artery. This blood vessel runs across the forehead just below the skin. 
    • Place the sensor head at the center of the forehead.
    • Slowly slide the thermometer across the forehead toward the top of the ear. Keep it in contact with the skin. 
    • Stop when you reach the hairline. 
    • Read your child's temp on the display screen.
    • Note: some newer forehead thermometers don't need to slide across the forehead. Follow the box directions on how to take the temp.
    • Used in more doctor's offices than any other thermometer.
    • Parents like this thermometer because it takes less than 2 seconds. It also does not need the child to cooperate. It does not cause any discomfort.
    • Caution: Forehead temperatures must be digital. Forehead strips are not accurate.

    Copyright 2000-2020 Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC

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