CATAWBA PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES

Catawba Pediatrics is comprised of five pediatricians, two nurse practitioners, and one P.A. who practice together in a professional association.  Our Hickory office is located in Unifour Medical Commons on Tate Boulevard midway between Frye Regional Medical Center and Catawba Valley Medical Center.  Our Lincolnton office is located in Doctors Park near Lincolnton Medical Center.  Parents may select a physician within the practice to provide preventative well-child care as well as most sick-child care.

It is our desire to provide high quality, comprehensive, pediatric care to your child as completely and economically as possible.  Please feel free to discuss with us any problem potentially affecting your child's physical or mental health and make suggestions to us for better delivery of health care.

APPOINTMENTS

The office will be open seven days per week and on all holidays except Easter Sunday, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.  Weekday hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm .  Holiday and weekend hours are 8:00am until all sick children are seen.

We see patients by appointment to reduce waiting time and help run the office more efficiently.  Even if your child needs to be seen immediately, please call for instructions before coming to the office.  As a courtesy to you, "drop-in" patients without appointments will only be seen after all children who have appointments have been served.  Should you find you are unable to keep an appointment, please notify our office immediately and no later than 1 hour prior to the appointment.

OFFICE HOURS
Hickory Office                                               Lincolnton Office
Monday-Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm                                Monday-Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
	(sick and well children)
Saturday, Sunday, & Holidays
	8:00am - until all sick children are seen
Both offices closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

TELEPHONE INSTRUCTIONS

During office hours, pediatric registered nurses are available to discuss problems by phone.  They have been educated about specific information to give to you about common pediatric conditions and illnesses.  Unusual problems will be discussed with the physician before giving advice by phone.  However, if you are concerned about your child or do not feel comfortable with the information relayed by phone, we are always happy to see your child in the office.  After hours instruction for ill children may be obtained by calling 828-322-2550.

NIGHT CALLS

When the office is closed, your calls will be answered by a nurse triage service developed by the Bowman Gray School of Medicine.  These nurses are provided with specialized information about pediatric illnesses to assist you in making decisions concerning your ill child.  Please call our main number, 322-2550, and you will automatically be forwarded to the triage system.  One of our physicians is always available to the triage nurse for questions.

EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS

If your child has to be seen in the emergency room or admitted to either Frye Regional or Catawba Valley Medical Center, Catawba Pediatrics has an arrangement with Dr. Sam Wellman and Dr. David Berry to care for your child during this time.  Both are board certified pediatricians and board certified neonatologists who provides a special level of expertise for our patients.

WAITING ROOM

We request that, when possible, you limit the number of children, friends, and relatives accompanying your child to the office.  We understand, of course, that on occasion babysitting or transportation problems may leave you no choice. 

We request that there be no food or drink in the waiting room except for infants.  Please remember to turn off your cell phone when you enter the office as a courtesy to other patients and their families. No smoking is allowed on the premises.

FEES

A complete list of charges for service and laboratory tests may be seen at the receptionist's desk.  Payment is due at the time of the visit.  Should you have unusual financial burdens, please call ahead and speak to the billing office so arrangements may be made prior to the visit.

There is an additional charge for weekends, holidays, and evening office hours. If your insurance company does not cover this charge, you will be responsible for the bill.

Charges for newborn care, emergency visits, and hospital care will be mailed to you. Statements go out twice a month and payment may be made by return mail. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, or Checks, Money Orders and Cash. (Please do not mail cash).

There is a $10 charge for the completion of all medical forms that are not presented at a well visit exam or sports physical. Payment must be made before the form is completed. If you think your child will need a form for daycare or sports participation at the time of the visit, Catawba Pediatrics has generic forms which can be completed at the time of the visit.

FEE FOR COPYING PATIENT RECORDS

We have contracted with HealthPort to process your request for medical records. There is a per page charge which is subject to change without notice. Currently the charge for this service is

$.75 PER PAGE 1-25

$.50 PER PAGE 26-100

$.25 PER PAGE 101+

PLUS ACTUAL POSTAGE

You will receive an invoice from HealthPort for services rendered. Please allow 10 working days for delivery of records. 1-877-595-9900

INSURANCE

We are happy to assist you with filing for insurance reimbursement and currently accept most major carriers and many smaller companies. A complete list of carriers with whom we have contracts may be reached by clicking Participating Insurance Plans.

If you have a Health Savings Account (HAS) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), please click on the following link : Financial Policy for Health Savings Accounts / Health Reimbursement Accounts