It is crucial that you have given serious consideration to the fit between our practice philosophies and your own when choosing a pediatric practice for your children.
Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family's 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 Growth and Wellness Pediatrics is the appropriate medical home for your children.
We look forward to meeting you and forming a mutually rewarding relationship.
Our Vaccine Policy follows the schedule outlined by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
We work hard to not overuse antibiotics. We educate families on appropriate use of antibiotics, but follow evidence-based guidelines and don’t automatically treat ear pain or a green snotty nose with antibiotics.
We 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.
We work hard to provide comprehensive medical care and serve as your medical home. To that end, we expect that you contact our office FIRST before seeking specialty care, or heading to another provider for urgent care. We want to be involved in either providing care in our office where appropriate, or referring you to the most appropriate specialist and helping to coordinate your care.
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.
Our practice prides itself on efficiency through use of technology. You will be encouraged to consult our website, register for and use our patient portal, and effectively use automated reminders for appointments and for routine care/immunizations that are due.
We make every effort to meet the needs of our patients, offering both routine well visits and sick visit appointments.
To ensure we provide you with the most efficient care, we require that you call ahead to schedule an appointment. We do not accept walk-ins.
Please familiarize yourself with our office hours to see if they work for your family.
There is always a doctor on call when our office is closed. For urgent matters after hours, you can reach the Privia nurse care line at 877-977-4842. An experienced, licensed RN will be answering calls after hours for urgent matters. The RN will page the on call doctor if necessary. Calls such as prescription refills, referrals, medical records and billing inquiries should be made during regular business hours.
You may wish to check the "Is Your Child Sick?" section of our website for helpful information before using this service. Read more about After Hours care.
Make sure we participate with your insurance plan.
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 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 check with your specific insurance company. Our office does not want you to be surprised by a bill, but 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.
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.
Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable. As a courtesy, we will remind you of your upcoming appointments via phone/text message/email.
We ask that you arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. We understand sometimes things happen beyond your control that may cause you to be late. However, we reserve the right to ask you to reschedule if you arrive late for your appointment.
Missed Appointments: Broken appointments represent a cost to us, to you, and 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 hours notice for cancellation of appointments.
A fee may be charged for a second missed appointment. The third consecutive missed appointment will result in discharge from the practice.
For new patients, a fee may be charged if the FIRST appointment is missed.
Office: 240-630-8882
Fax: 240-800-4708
Wildwood Medical Center
10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 200
Bethesda, Maryland 20814