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Top 28 Questions Asked by new Patients
- What are your office hours?
- Where are you located?
- If my child is sick after office hours whom can I talk to?
- What hospitals do the physicians have privileges at?
- Who will see my newborn in the hospital?
- How many doctors do you have at RBK-Pediatrics?
- Can I always see the physician I want?
- How long does it take to return telephone calls?
- What insurance plans do your take?
- If I have questions about bills or payments that can help me?
- What is your mailing address?
- Do you need an appointment for an emergency?
- At what age does my child need a well visit?
- How long does it take to get a well child appointment?
- How long does it take to get a back to school or sports physical?
- Prescription Refills
- Referrals
- Are your doctors taking new patients?
- Do your offices have nurse practitioners?
- How far in advance do you book appointments?
- If my child is sick, how soon will the doctor see him/her when I call for an appointment?
- How far in advance should I schedule my next well visit?
- Should my teenager have a physical each year?
- Do you have separate waiting areas for sick and well children?
- How do I get an insurance referral when my child needs to see a specialist?
- If my child sees a doctor or nurse practitioner that is not our regular doctor, will our insurance pay?
- What should I do if we’re traveling out of town and my child becomes sick?
1. What are your office hours?
Hours differ depending on the location. Please select the office you are interested in for that location? (HYPERLINK????????????)
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2. Where are you located?
We have offices located in Commack and Bay Shore New York. Please select the link to the office you are interested in for a street map. (HYPERLINK????????????)
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3. If my child is sick after office hours whom can I talk to?
When our office is closed, calls are taken by our answering service. If you have a question that cannot wait until the office reopens, your call will be directed to our internal on-call physician. The doctor will either answer your questions or will may instruct you to proceed to the local emergency room for evaluation and management if he determines that the case cannot wait until the office reopens in the morning.
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4. What hospitals do the physicians have privileges at?
Good Samaritan Medical Center, Saint Catherine’s of Sienna and South Side Hospital.
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5. Who will see my newborn in the hospital?
You and your baby will be seen by one of physicians from RBK-Pediatrics.
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6. How many doctors do you have at RBK-Pediatrics?
All together we have 8 physicians, and two nurse practitioners. All of our staff rotates between the Bay Shore and Commack Offices.
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7. Can I always see the physician I want?
If you are able to make your appointment in advance you can typically see whichever physician you want. If you have a sick child who needs to be seen on short notice we will match your physician choice as best we can. Our goal is to take care of sick children as quickly as possible.
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8. How long does it take to return telephone calls?
Our physicians typically return telephone calls about sick children within one to two hours and to return routine calls within 24 hours.
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9. What insurance plans do your take?
Please click on the link for Insurance information for a list of insurance plans.
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10. If I have questions about bills or payments that can help me?
We have a business office dedicated to helping you with insurance and billing questions. (HYPERLINK????????????)
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11. What is your mailing address?
All mail should be sent to our Billing Office at 646 Commack Road, Commack, NY 11725.
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12. Do you need an appointment for an emergency?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. If you have another urgent matter please call our office to let us know what the problem is. We can either prepare for you at the office or direct you to an appropriate facility.
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13. At what age does my child need a well visit?
Our physicians recommend the following schedule based on the guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Regardless of this schedule we will be happy to arrange for a well child appointment any time a patient or parent request.
The recommended well child visits are at the following ages:
Again, a well child visit can be scheduled any time one is requested. Please be aware that some insurance policies do not cover all well visits. You may want to confirm coverage with your particular plan.
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14. How long does it take to get a well child appointment? Typically an appointment will be available within 1-2 weeks. If you have very specific criteria such as a specific time of day with a specific provider, it may take a little longer.
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15. How long does it take to get a back to school or sports physical?
Availability is similar to a well child appointment though there is a very high demand at the end of the summer. We encourage you to schedule these appointments in the late spring or early summer to avoid the back to school rush.
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16. Prescription Refills -
When you need a refill for a medication, please contact your pharmacy first. If the pharmacy is unable to refill the prescription, please call our office and leave a message with one of our staff members. A physician will review the medical record and determine if a refill of the medication can be authorized or if an office visit is required.
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17. Referrals -
Sometimes it may be necessary for our Physicians to refer your child to a specialist, for diagnostic testing (such as X-rays, CT scans, Ultrasounds) or to a therapist (speech, physical, occupational).
Some insurance plans allow you to go to any provider of these services without an authorization. In this case we can recommend some practitioners for you and you can make all of your own arrangements. Other insurance plans have very specific rules that must be followed in order to set up a referral. In this case, we will work directly with the insurance company and will direct you to practitioners who are contracted with your insurance plan.
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18. Are your doctors taking new patients?
Yes, all of our doctors are taking new patients.
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19. Do your offices have nurse practitioners?
RBK-Pediatrics does employee two Pediatric Nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed advanced training in well-care and routine childhood illnesses. A nurse practitioner works in collaboration with our pediatricians and can handle the majority of your child’s needs. Our office was involved with Stony brook University Hospital Nurse Practitioner program years ago and some of our physicians have personally trained many of the Nurse Practitioners in the community
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20. How far in advance do you book appointments?
We can book an appointment for you up to three (3) months in advance.
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21. If my child is sick, how soon will the doctor see him/her when I call for an appointment?
If your child is sick, we will see him/her on the same day you call.
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22. How far in advance should I schedule my next well visit?
Well child visits are filled very quickly, therefore, the sooner you make the appointment the more scheduling options you’ll have.
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23. Should my teenager have a physical each year?
Yes, we recommend that adolescents have a physical once a year. Routine exams give your teenager and opportunity to receive reliable answers to questions he/she may feel uncomfortable asking you or another adult. This exam also allows the provider to discuss with your teenager the normal occurrences of puberty and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
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24. Do you have separate waiting areas for sick and well children?
Yes, our offices provide separate waiting areas for sick and well children.
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25. How do I get an insurance referral when my child needs to see a specialist?
If your doctor has recommended that your child see a specialist and you have a scheduled appointment with the second doctor, call our office to get the referral authorization. If your doctor hasn’t recommended a specialist referral, you should first schedule a visit with us to evaluate your child’s situation.
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26. If my child sees a doctor or nurse practitioner that is not our regular doctor, will our insurance pay?
Yes, as long as the doctor or nurse practitioner that saw your child is a provider in your health care plan the insurance company will pay. If you have questions regarding a doctor’s participation in your health plan, be sure to ask one of our staff members before you register. This will avoid any misunderstanding if the claim is rejected.
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27. What should I do if we’re traveling out of town and my child becomes sick?
If this occurs during regular office hours, please call our office. We will help you assess the situation and determine what course of action, if any, is necessary. Please note, however, the doctor will not be able to prescribe any medication without seeing your child. If this occurs during hours when our office is closed, you may seek care at a local pediatrician’s office, walk-in clinic or emergency room. Many insurance companies also have an out of area phone number that you can contact for more information. Call the member services number on your insurance card for assistance in locating a participating provider.
You can follow the following link to local urgent care centers that we know about.
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Disclaimer: The information and advice provided is intended to be general information, NOT as advice on how to deal with a particular child's situation and or problem. If your child has a specific problem you need to ask your pediatrician about it - only after a careful history and physical exam can a medical diagnosis and/or treatment plan be made. This Web site does not constitute a physician-patient relationship. |
