We have found it helpful to acquaint new patients with our office routine.   We hope the following information will assist you in obtaining the services available in our office when you need them.  

Regular Office Hours

Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.   Our phones are off from 12:30 to 1:30 pm each day.   It is only during these "regular office hours' that well-child checkups are scheduled.   Each day we reserve specific time for well-child (physical) checks and for sick visits.   Frequently, our time for well-child examinations is filled weeks ahead; therefore, try to anticipate well in advance you need for camp, school athletic, and other examinations with a deadline.

Whenever the office is closed, a physician is always on call.   If the office is closed, you will need to call the office service directly at (540) 361-4779.   There is a Mary Washington Hospital Healthlink Nurse available when the office is closed.   There is a $12 fee for this triage service.   The responsible party will be billed for this service as the office pays to provide this service.   You can also call the number provided on your insurance card for advice free of charge.

How to Telephone the Office

•  Call (540) 361-4779

•  Make the call yourself if at all possible.   Relaying the message through a third party may result in misleading information.

•  Identify yourself and give your child's full name and age.   Describe the condition in specific terms and be sure to state if the child was seen recently for the condition.

•  Have a pencil and paper ready when you call.   Do no rely on remembering instructions - especially when you may be upset.

•  If the receptionist is unable to solve a problem which is not urgent, your phone number will be taken and a nurse will call you back between office patients, but by the end of the day.

•  Call us, if at all possible, before rushing to the emergency room, so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Hospital Affiliations

Please note that our doctors direct admit patients at Mary Washington Hospital.   A pediatric hospitalist will follow your child's care while admitted except for newborns.

Appointments

We realize that your time is important, and it is inconvenient and irritating to wait for long periods in the doctor's office.   We have implemented a schedule which allows us to see patients with minimal delay.   Everyone in out office is alert and committed to this goal.   There are several things you can do to help us in this effort:

When you call for an appointment, briefly inform the receptionist of the problems you wish to discuss with the doctor.   This helps her schedule and appropriate amount of time for your child.   Most problems can be handled in a routine appointment.   Others such as family, school, and behavior problems require much more time.

If you decide to bring a sister or brother along to be seen also, please ask us prior if time is available so the chart can be prepared in advance and more time can be allowed for your visit.

If a conflict arises and you cannot make your appointment on time, let us know and we will give you an appointment later in the day is possible.

Upon arrival in the office, check in at the front desk and have a seat.   If you have not been called with 15 minutes of your appointment time, please check with the receptionist.

Please do not "walk-in" to be seen without an appointment unless the circumstance is unavoidable.

Telephone Advice

Many problems can be handled by phone without the necessity of an office visit.   You should expect your call to be returned by the end of business.   If you have an emergency, please alert the operator and a nurse will be paged immediately.   When necessary, the nurse will consult with one of the doctors.   When the office is closed, calls should be limited to urgent problems that cannot reasonably wait "regular office hours."

Immunization Policy

Immunizations are the cornerstone of pediatric medicine and have changed the landscape of medicine in the 20 th century.   PL Physicians, Inc. follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control.   We feel very strongly that the immunizations are one of the most important medical services we can offer your child.   We welcome the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

Transferring From Another Practice

If you are transferring to PL Physicians, Inc. from another practice, we appreciate your entrusting us with your child's health care.   To help you request a transfer of your records from your previous physician, we have provided below a Record Release Form.   The blank form may be printed and then filled out by hand.   Be sure to sign the form, and then send it to your previous physician's office.

Transferring Out of the Practice

We are always sorry to have patients transfer out of our practice, but we understand that there are valid reasons for doing so.   To help you request a transfer of your records to another office or clinic, we have provided below a Record Release Form. The blank form may be printed and then filled out by hand.   Be sure to sign the form, we would appreciate knowing the reason for your transfer.   The signed form may be brought, faxed or mailed to our office to request your records to be transferred.