frequently asked questions

Do I need an appointment, or can I just walk in?

We see patients by appointment only. We make every effort to accommodate families with sick children and reserve same-day appointment slots each day. If your child gets sick in the afternoon and there are no appointments remaining, we may give you advice over the telephone and see your child the next business day. If there is an emergency, we may recommend that you take your child to the Pediatric Emergency Department at MUSC or to an MUSC After-Hours Clinic

What else can I do to make things go smoothly when I come for my appointment?

Upon check-in, please notify the front office staff if there are any changes with your contact information. At check-out, please make note that copays, co-insurance and deductibles are due at the time of service. Please also notify the nursing staff if you need a shot record before leaving the office.

I am pregnant and would like one of the doctors at Neighbors Pediatrics to see my new baby once he/she is born. What do I need to do?

If you are delivering at St. Francis Hospital, let your labor and delivery nurse know which pediatrician you would like to see your baby. The newborn nursery staff will notify us once your baby is born and our on-call provider will come and see the baby at the hospital each day that they are there. When the baby is discharged from the hospital, you will call and make a follow-up appointment with the pediatrician of your choice. If the baby is born at any other hospital, a doctor or nurse practitioner from Coastal Pediatrics will take care of your baby at the hospital and tell you when to schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor of your choice. The first hospital follow-up appointment is usually within 2-3 days of discharge and does not involve immunizations.

I am expecting my first baby. Do I need to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician prior to delivery?

Since most of our patients come to us through trusted referrals, a meet and greet appointment is not necessary. You can schedule your baby’s first appointment once they are born. However, one of our physicians, Dr. Wilmont Martin does schedule meet and greet appointments.

I am not sure if my child needs an appointment or not. I would like to talk with a nurse.

For non-urgent issues, you can call the office during regular hours and leave a voicemail for the nurse in our office. Please remain near your phone as you will receive a call back soon. Some days, we have a high volume of calls, so thank you for being patient. The nurse will give you advice over-the-phone and help you decide if your child needs an appointment that day. Each phone message is then reviewed by a physician in the office.

After normal business hours, we have an answering service and you can speak with a nurse about your child. These messages are reviewed by a physician the next business day. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, you should always call 911.

What if I need a shot record?

If you need a shot record, please call our office. Plan ahead as we often receive a large volume of requests and we may need at least 48 hours to process your request. Also, if your child has received shots at another office, we can only include those shots on their shot record if we have a copy of them.

What should I do to prepare for my child’s check-up?

Please call your insurance company to see if your child’s vaccinations will be fully covered. This is important because we have two stocks of the same vaccines. The state of South Carolina provides vaccines at low or no cost to patients who are uninsured or under-insured.

What vaccination schedule do the doctors recommend?

We recommend adhering to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) vaccination schedule. Learn more by visiting the website for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Vaccinations are safe and effective in preventing serious illnesses.

What if I need my child’s prescription refilled or a prescription for WIC?

Please call the office. Plan ahead as we receive a large volume of requests and may need at least 48 hours to process your request. While some prescriptions can be refilled without an appointment, depending on the situation, the physician may need to assess your child before issuing a refill.

Will the doctor call in antibiotics without seeing my child?

Our desire is to practice excellent medicine. It is often difficult to accurately determine what is going on with a child without doing a physical exam. For this reason, we are unable to call in antibiotics without having seen your child.

If my child has a fever, and I bring he/she in to be seen, should I expect to receive a prescription for antibiotics?

Many childhood illnesses are viral. You should expect the doctor to take a thorough history and perform a physical exam. From there, the doctor will make a plan for treatment, which may or may not include antibiotics.

What if I need a pre-participation sports physical?

If your child has not had a well child check within the past 12 months, please call and schedule one. Bring their physical form with you and make sure to fill out the patient history section. Your child’s physician will perform a sports physical and fill out the form at the appointment.

If your child has had a well child check within the past 12 months, please fill out the patient history section of the form and send it to us. Please allow 48 hours for completion. Any health concerns, recommendations, or referrals may need to be addressed prior to your child being cleared for participation.

What if I am concerned that my child may have ADHD?

If you are concerned about ADHD, please fill out the parent assessment and ask your child’s teacher to fill out the teacher assessment, then bring the forms to our office. Schedule a behavior assessment appointment when you can bring your child in and discuss the results with a physician. It is helpful if you can bring the forms to the office ahead of time, so your child’s physician can review them prior to the appointment.

My child is on medication for ADHD. How does that work at your office?

In general, even when a child is stable on ADHD medication, careful monitoring for side effects is required. We will see your child for an ADHD med-check every 3 months to monitor blood pressure and growth.