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When can I schedule a sick child visit?
If you’re ever in doubt about whether your child needs a sick visit, call our office. The friendly nurse asks a few questions to determine the severity of your child’s symptoms, then helps you decide if you need to come into the office.
You can schedule same-day sick visits any time the office is open. See our Hours and Locations.
We offer online scheduling through our portal for your convenience for routine sick and standard well visits. Please do not use these spots for mental health concerns, as those visits typically are much longer than standard sick visits. Call the office so we can find the best fit for anticipated long visits.
What happens during a sick child visit?
The goal of a sick child visit is to quickly diagnose the problem and start treatment that will help your child feel more comfortable.
In addition to reviewing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a physical exam to assess the symptoms will be done.
Sick visit may require laboratory tests or imaging for identification of the source of symptoms. We can do rapid tests for Strep, flu A & B, urinalysis and COVID19 in our office.
We can collect samples for Strep throat cultures, some PCR tests, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and urine cultures to send to laboratories. We can order further tests from local labs and radiology facilities as needed.
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.
The following are some of the most common conditions treated during sick visits:
- Flu Upper respiratory infections
- Earaches Headaches
- Sore throat or strep throat
- Congestion
- Coughs
- Abdominal pain
- Asthma
- Rashes or hives
- Allergic reactions
- Eye discharge or infection
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
We also treats minor injuries like concussions without persistent vomiting or altered level of consciousness, cuts and sprains.
When does my child need immediate medical care?
Your child should be evaluated by a medical professional for the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4ºF or higher in children younger than 2 months of age - this is an emergency: do not wait until office hours
- Daily fever of 100.4ºF or higher that persists for 3-5 days (the younger the child or the more concerning the symptoms, sooner; older children who are overall well appearing can wait 5 days)
- Unusual symptoms or any symptoms that concern caregivers
- Difficulty breathing should be seen immediately unless home treatment improves sufficiently to wait until business hours
- Signs of dehydration (no tears, dry in mouth, decreased urine output or too much urine with other signs of dehydration) should be seen immediately
- Persistent pain may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms
- Rash that you can't identify or know how to treat may require emergent treatment, depending on severity and other symptoms
- Fever with a rash, stiff neck, vomiting, and headache is an emergency and should be seen immediately
- Suspected bacterial infection, such as Strep throat (fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, vomiting , sandpaper rash in a child over 3 years - not all symptoms must be present) or urinary tract infection (painful urination, foul smelling urine, fever, vomiting - not all symptoms must be present): most of these can wait until business hours unless there are significant symptoms that are concerning
When your child is sick, call the office as early in the day as possible so they can schedule a same-day visit if necessary or come to our Urgent Care/Walk In hours.
If you have questions about your child’s symptoms or you need to schedule a sick visit, call our office or book an appointment online.
What is appropriate for walk in visits (urgent care)?
We have a full page about our Urgent Care (walk in) availabilities. Learn more here.
Walk in visits work well for acute injuries and illnesses. They are not appropriate for mental health concerns, routine well visits or chronic disease management.
Schedule an appointment with the provider your child most often sees for ongoing conditions such as chronic pain, asthma, and constipation. Your usual provider who knows the story should see chronic concerns. Of course, if there is an exacerbation or sudden worsening of symptoms, acute management can be done at our urgent care with follow up by appointment and ongoing management with your primary care provider.
Becoming a New Patient
Having a baby? Thinking about transferring care? Want to learn more about our providers?
Our website is full of images of our staff and families. Take a look around our website to learn
- about our physicians, our nurse practitioners, and our staff
- our policies
- office hours and locations
- our services
- and more!
How Does My Child Become a Patient?
For Newborns
Our providers will care for your newborn throughout your hospital stay. If it is not a hospital that our providers have privileges at, the hospital physician will provider care. The doctor will determine when your first appointment should be scheduled. Upon discharge, call our office to schedule your baby's first appointment.
New Patients
Please be aware that under federal (HIPAA) and state laws, your previous medical provider may charge a "reasonable, cost-based fee" to copy your child's medical records. This cost is your responsibility. This fee may be waived if records are sent directly to our office.
Meet & Greet
To become a new patient at our practice, whether you're preparing to welcome a new baby or transferring care, we encourage you to schedule a Meet & Greet. This personalized session gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have, explore our care philosophy, and get to know one of our dedicated pediatricians in a relaxed, welcoming environment. It's a great way to ensure our practice is the right fit for your family’s needs. We’re here to support you every step of the way, and we can’t wait to welcome you to our community!
For Newborns
Choosing a pediatrician for your newborn is an exciting first step in giving them the best start in life. It's not just about check-ups; it's about building a trusted relationship with healthcare providers who will guide you every step of the way. This strong connection lays a supportive foundation for your child's growth and well-being, from tracking milestones to addressing health concerns.
If your baby is born at one of the hospitals we're associated with, let your obstetrician or the hospital staff know we will be your child's pediatrician. Within 24 hours of birth, one of our physicians will conduct a thorough examination and discuss any questions you might have.
For deliveries at hospitals we aren't associated with, a hospital staff pediatrician will examine your baby. Once discharged, please schedule a comprehensive first visit at our office within 1-2 days of discharge. This first visit ensures a detailed examination and allows your pediatrician to address any questions.
Remember to add your new baby to your insurance policy within 30 days of birth to secure coverage. If required, select one of our pediatricians as your baby's primary care provider. Don't forget to bring any hospital records regarding your baby's health to your first office visit.
For Transferring Families
To ensure a smooth transition to our practice:
Gather and organize all medical records, including vaccination and test results.
Communicate with both your current and new pediatrician to provide necessary information about your child's medical history and ongoing treatments. Receiving previous medical records is crucial for a new practice to review and assume regular care.
For new patients with acute illnesses, an appointment can be scheduled if all necessary medical information is obtained to address the issue.
Transfer records
Growth charts, immunization records, past surgeries and summaries of medical conditions help us help you. Please use the linked form to request records to be transfered from your previous physician prior to your 1st visit.
For New Families Transferring to Us
Our goal is to provide the best medical care for your children. To do this successfully, we must be able to review all of your children's medical records from all providers that your children have seen. It is our policy to receive your children's previous medical records before we can assume care of your children and schedule an appointment.
Once the records are received, we will review them to determine if they are complete or sufficient for us to begin caring for your children. Unfortunately, we cannot treat or provide any care for your children until that time.
for those transferring with mental or behavioral health needs
We are honored to have a reputation in the community for providing excellent care, including support for mental and behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD. However, due to the increasing demand for appointments in these areas, we must prioritize our established patients to ensure they receive timely and comprehensive care.
We will continue to welcome new patients seeking routine pediatric care, even if they are currently being treated for mental or behavioral health concerns.
- New patients transferring from a KC Metro practice will be seen for routine health care, but we will coordinate referrals to specialists for the continued management of mental and behavioral health needs.
- For families moving to the area, we will review their child's needs on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the complexity of the mental or behavioral health concerns, we may provide management within our office or refer to a specialist for medication management.
We have made this difficult decision to ensure that we maintain the highest standard of care for all our patients. By reserving appointment availability for our established patients, we can better meet their needs while still supporting new families in accessing appropriate care.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving your family in ways that best support your child’s health and well-being. If you have further questions or need assistance finding mental health resources, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
Transfer Records Before Your First Visit
Please be aware that under federal (HIPAA) and state laws, your previous medical provider may charge a "reasonable, cost-based fee" to copy your childrens medical records. This cost is your responsibility. This fee may be waived if records are sent directly to our office.
If you have not already done so, please sign a Transfer of Records Form and provide it to your children's previous medical provider.
We look forward to meeting you and your family. For any additional questions, please call our office.
