Office Policies

Well Visit Policies:
The cornerstone of pediatrics is well child care. It provides us with an opportunity to evaluate your child’s growth and development — from the earliest smiles and words to their concerns about sex and drug use when teenagers. Patients from birth through age 21 are required to have a complete physical examination to participate in our practice. New patients will receive record release forms to be sent to your previous doctors so we may receive past records. It is ideal if we receive such records prior to a check-up so we can determine if any further immunizations or laboratory tests should be done.

A complete physical exam at our office includes height, weight, head circumference (for infants), evaluation of vision and hearing (in older children), and an estimate of development. Ample time should be allowed for discussions of problems relating to your child’s home, school and peer relationships. Yearly hemoglobin and urinalysis will be performed, as well as necessary immunizations. Since most camps and schools require physical exam forms to be current, it is important that physical exams be performed yearly. Such regular exams set the tone for anticipatory guidance and good preventative health care. While recalls for yearly check-ups are sent out periodically, please try to call well in advance for your child’s exam.

Appointments:
Appointments can be made at anytime during regular office hours. We realize that your time is important, and so is ours. We would appreciate 24-hours notice for canceled visits
Please try to be prompt for your appointment time. You must bring with you your insurance ID card as well as your co-pay. We do require at least 24 hours notice for physicals and will charge your account for no-shows. We schedule a specific time for visits. If you feel the problem you wish to discuss is involved (i.e. behavioral, hyperactivity, etc.) please let us know when you are scheduling your appointment so that extra time will be allotted. Please try to make your check-up appointments three months in advance. Baby visits should be made in advance at the time of each visit. These visits are essential for the optimal health care maintenance of your children. Be aware that your insurance plan may require a full 12-month time span between routine checkups. Know the date of your child’s last physical when scheduling new appointments.

Telephone:
Routine questions should be asked during your visits to our office. If a problem arises between visits that requires attention, we will be happy to discuss it by telephone during office hours. Our pediatric nurses are experienced to handle your child care questions. We suggest mid-morning or mid-afternoon as the best time to call and discuss issues such as feeding, sleeping, etc. You will be transferred to our nurse advisement line where you can speak directly to a nurse or leave a message for a call back. Emergencies will be handled immediately. Remember, if you have Caller ID with a blocking feature, please remove it with *87 before placing your call so the advice line nurse can return your call. After office hours, we ask you to use common sense and call only if it is a reasonable concern or emergency. As the name shows, Kids First Pediatric Partners exists for the kids. We understand that when it comes to children, emergencies can and do occur. For urgent medical questions and concerns, medical providers can be reached 24-hours a day during non-office hours by calling the answering service number below: 24-Hour Answering Service:(773) 583-6868

Financial and Insurance:
We accept most insurance companies, including Illinois All Kids/Public Aid. For any questions you may have regarding billing information, please call:

• Our office: (847) 676-5394
• Our Billing Manager Lisa A.: (847) 676-1018

We participate in most health care plans offered in the area. It is advisable to notify your insurance carrier of your baby’s arrival and that you have selected one of our pediatricians as your child’s PCP (primary care physician) to ensure maximum coverage for health care costs.Some policies will not cover the expenses for your baby unless notified within 30 days of birth. We also require that you notify us (by copy of front and back of insurance card) any time a change is made to your insurance plan or carrier. We ask that you familiarize yourself with the coverage of your plan and it’s restrictions. You are ultimately responsible for services that are not a covered benefit. Please be sure to bring your insurance identification card with you to each visit.

Co-Pays:
Your insurance company expects the payment of your co-pay at the time of service as do we.Our policy is not to bill for co-pays, but if we must, a billing fee will be added to your charge. We accept cash, check, Mastercard, Visa and Discover.

Fees:
Fees for services rendered are based on the prevailing fee schedule for this area. Payment is expected at the time of visit. You may pay by cash, check or MasterCard, Visa and Discover. In the cases of divorced parents, we do not involve ourselves in intra-family disputes regarding the financial responsibility of a bill or account. In cases of dispute, the parent or person who brings the child to the office is considered responsible. All co-pays must be paid at the time of the child’s visit regardless of who accompanies the child. In the event that a friend or relative brings your child to the office, we ask that person to be responsible for paying the bill or co-pay. Please save your cash receipts. For your convenience, you may keep your credit card information in your file and sign an authorization which allows us to charge your account for your co-pays or co-insurance.

Referrals:
Most managed care insurance plans require referrals from your primary care physicians before your child can be seen by a participating specialist. We require at least 72 business hours for processing referrals and are not allowed to back date any referral request. Our referral line is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday to expedite your requests.

Forms for School, Camp and Sports:
Your child will require many forms to be filled out over the years. When your child’s school, camp or sport’s program requires a physician form, please provide it to us with as much of the information you can already filled out. Please submit all forms with a STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. Because of the volume of forms we do, especially during the summer, this will help facilitate their rapid return. Forms should reach our office AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the time you need them returned. We will not be able to fill out the forms at the child’s annual physical during very high volume months (June, July, August and September).