Frequently Asked Questions

To help protect your child from many serious infectious diseases, we follow the immunization schedule recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please discuss your immunization questions and concerns with any of our pediatricians.

We recommend that your newborn be seen in our office 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. Our staff understands the importance of this first visit and will make every effort to schedule this visit promptly.

We are currently accepting new patients with the following insurances:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• United Healthcare
• UMR
• Golden Rule
• Aetna
• Cigna
• MedCost
• Humana Military

Billing Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I getting a bill for services that were provided so long ago?

Once we have received a response from your insurance, if we confirm that there is patient liability, we will bill the patient.  Insurance carriers sometimes require additional information which delays the processing of the claim.

Why wasn't my insurance carrier billed?

If the information in our billing system is inaccurate at the time of service we will be unable to bill your insurance carrier. Please provide us with your correct health insurance information when you register with the office.

Did my insurance carrier pay for the services?

Reimbursement from your insurance carrier will be reflected on your statement. Some carriers send "explanation of benefits" explaining how the medical claim was processed:

• Information on what was paid
• Any non-covered, deductible, or denied amounts
• The balance owed by you

Why didn't my insurance carrier pay for the services?

Contact your insurance carrier directly for an explanation of how your claim was processed or denied.

If you have questions about your insurance or account, please contact the office between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the following number: 910-763-8183

Yes, we always welcome new patients to our practice! Please see the list of insurances that we accept under the FAQs. If your child is new to the practice and needs a well visit, please note that we need all records sent to our office before making your appointment. This gives our doctors adequate time to prepare prior to your appointment and that means less wait time. It also 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!

Please 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.  Refills can also be requested through the patient portal. 

Every effort is made to arrange your child's well care and follow up visits with the provider of your choice. When your child is ill, he or she may see any one of our providers.

Our Wilmington office is open Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings for sick appointments only.  Our Hampstead office is open Monday through Friday.  As our daily schedule is subject to change, please call to confirm office hours.

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. We will gladly discuss your diet and feeding concerns at your child's well care visit, or please call during office hours to speak with our experienced nursing staff.

To make an appointment please call our office. To ensure the best use of time, for both our physicians and patients, all of our office visits are by appointment only. We ask that you arrive at our office 5 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you to complete any necessary paperwork 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.

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.

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.