Policies

We work hard to not overuse antibiotics.

We educate families on appropriate use of antibiotics, but follow evidence-based guidelines and don’t automatically treat ear pain or a green snotty nose with antibiotics.

We do not routinely prescribe antibiotics over the phone as we do not believe that is good medicine. We will prescribe an antibiotic when we believe it is an appropriate treatment.

Except for emergencies, patients will be seen by appointment only. Please call 752-PEDS (7337) to schedule an appointment. We reserve time in our doctors' schedules daily to accommodate same day appointments for children with acute illnesses. To help us best accommodate you, please call as early as possible. Inform the nurse if you have multiple concerns or if you think you may require extra time with the physician. Please call ahead if you need to "add on" another child to be seen at the same time of another child's previously scheduled appointment. Walk-in patients will be offered and/or seen at the next available work-in appointment that day.

In general, well child check-up appointments should be scheduled 3-4 weeks in advance. If your child plays a sport through school, state law requires a yearly physical exam/well visit. Please plan ahead when scheduling a physical in the summer, as this is our busiest time of year for this type of appointment. Please arrive on time for your child's appointment. Our doctors make every effort to remain on time; arriving late not only affects the doctor's schedule, but also affects the patients who have appointments following yours. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule.

If you will be unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please call to reschedule or cancel. This courtesy will allow us to make the appointment time available to another patient who may need it. You will be charged a $30.00 fee for appointments not cancelled 24 hours prior to your appointment. Excessive no-show or missed appointments will result in dismissal from the practice. It is our policy that children must be directly supervised by a parent or other responsible adult while on the premises of West Alabama Pediatrics.

• Civil Rights Policy
• Procedure of Communicating with Persons of Limited English Proficiency Policy
• Section 504 Accessibility
• Non-Discrimination Policy
• Sensory Impairment Policy

• Insurance and Office Policy

Efficiency through the use of technology

You will be encouraged to consult our website, register for and use our patient portal, and effectively use automated reminders for appointments and for routine care/immunizations that are due.

We believe in the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent serious illness and to save lives.

We believe in the safety of the vaccines we provide.

We believe that all children and adolescents should receive all of the recommended vaccines according to the schedule published by the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We believe, based on all the available literature, evidence, and current studies, that vaccines do not cause autism or other developmental disabilities. We believe that thimerosal, a preservative that has been in vaccines for decades and remains in a few vaccines now, does not cause autism or other developmental disabilities.

We believe that vaccinating children and adolescents may be the single most important healthpromoting intervention we provide as your pediatrician. The recommended vaccines and the schedule by which they are given are the results of years of scientific study and data gathering on millions of children by our brightest pediatricians and epidemiologists.

West Alabama Pediatrics would like to emphasize the importance of vaccinating your child. We recognize that you may hear a lot of rumors or myths about vaccines. We will do everything we can to inform and educate you about each vaccine on the current vaccine schedule. Vaccine Information Sheets are provided for each vaccine. Should you have questions, please discuss them with us.

Please be advised, that "alternative schedules" or "breaking up the vaccines" to give one or two at a time over multiple visits goes against our recommendations. This can put your child at risk for serious illness or death.

An Alabama Certificate of Immunization (Bluecard) will not be given until your child is up to date on vaccines according to the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine schedule. Should you refuse to vaccinate your child, we will ask that you find another health care provider who shares your views.