FAQS

FAQ: FAQ

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NEED TO SPEAK TO A DOCTOR AFTER HOURS?

If your child is experiencing an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room before calling our office.

Our physicians are pleased to offer 24-hour telephone support to our patients. During regular business hours we have proficient pediatric nurses available to answer your questions. After hours, the calls are covered by one of our pediatricians. There is a $15 charge for the use of this after-hours service.

After-hours advice availability is intended for urgent questions only. Situations which should always generate a call are:

Newborn (Less than 8 weeks old):

- Any temperature 100.4 or higher

- Persistent vomiting for greater than 6 hours

- Irritability or uncontrollable crying

- Refusing to eat for 3 consecutive feedings

- Excessive drowsiness

Infant and Toddler:

- Wheezing or difficulty breathing

- Uncontrollable vomiting for greater than 8 hours

Situations that might generate a call:

- Injuries

- Fever greater than 103 that has not responded after an hour of appropriate fever medication

Have a pharmacy phone number available in the event the physician needs to call in a prescription. Our telephone number is 703-569-8400. When leaving a message for the physician, please state your child's name, age, any chronic medical conditions, immunization status (particularly if your child is not fully vaccinated), and the reason for your call. As the telephone prompt directs you, messages are checked hourly. If your question is urgent and cannot wait up to an hour until messages are checked, please hit #5 at the end of your message.

ARE ALL OF YOUR PHYSICIANS BOARD-CERTIFIED?

All of our providers are board-eligible (physicians who successfully complete residency but are still taking their boards in the upcoming year) or board-certified.

HOW ARE PRESCRIPTION REFILLS HANDLED BY THE PRACTICE?

Please see our policies page.

WHY WAS I CHARGED A COPAY FOR A PREVENTATIVE CARE VISIT?

A preventative care visit or "Wellness Check" includes a routine physical exam, immunizations, and other services that have been delineated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For the majority of health plans, insurance providers are not able to charge a co-pay for preventative services.

At Virginia Pediatric and Adolescent Center, we strive to address all of our patients' concerns and thoroughly investigate and treat issues that may arise. When our patients are seen for preventative care visits, families should expect that both preventative care and acute or chronic issues may be addressed at the same visit.

Please be aware that if symptoms of acute or chronic diseases are discussed at a preventative care visit, it is considered "diagnostic," and your insurance may require Virginia Pediatric and Adolescent Center to charge a co-pay/office visit charge for that visit. The decision of a co-payment for a visit is based on federal laws and insurance regulations -- it is not decided by Virginia Pediatric and Adolescent Center.

WHAT PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE TO KEEP PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

We require that ALL patients and family members 2 years and older wear masks at all times while in our office, just as our staff does. We also request that patients come with only one parent (the other parent will need to wait in the car unless the patient is 2 months or younger) and avoid bringing siblings unless they are being seen that day. We continue to strictly adhere to thorough cleaning/disinfecting of all patient rooms between patients (well and sick).
We also telemedicine appointments for appropriate visit types.