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Appointments
We are able to accommodate all same day sick visit requests that are received by phone before 3:00 pm. Phone requests for sick visits received between 3:00 - 4:00 pm will only be scheduled if available. All phone requests for sick visits after 4:00 pm will be scheduled for the following morning. Thus, if you think your child needs a same day appointment, you must call before 3:00 pm to ensure availability. Note: All appointments are scheduled by appointment only and at this time we do not have walk-in office hours. If you think your child needs to be seen urgently, please contact the office by phone as soon as possible to secure the next available appointment. Those patients who still choose to walk in without contacting the office first will be given the next available appointment later that day. Furthermore, all walk-in patients that are accommodated may incur an emergency appointment fee that may not be covered by insurance. Please click here for additional contact information and resources if you need to reach Dr. Hirsch urgently or if your child needs to be seen by a physician after office hours and it would be unsafe to wait until the next business day. 
Are
you currently accepting new patients? As of November 2011, Hirsch Pediatrics is only accepting newborns. At this time we are not able to accept older children who do not already have a sibling that is an established patient of Hirsch Pediatrics. Please note that we are not able to schedule appointments for children who were previous patients at Hirsch Pediatrics but have switched care for any reason to another pediatric practice. We are sorry for any inconvenience this policy may cause. However, by limiting the overall size of the practice, Hirsch Pediatrics is committed to ensuring that we always maintain the family like atmosphere and individualized care. Please e-mail Dr. Hirsch with any questions on the current patient policy.
What
if I need an appointment, and Dr. Hirsch is not available?
If I am pregnant or have just delivered a baby, how do I officially select and notify Hirsch Pediatrics? If you deliver at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Dr. Hirsch will be notified by the hospital shortly after the birth of your baby. He will then see your baby within 24 hours of birth, typically the morning after the baby is born. Prior to being discharged from the hospital, Dr. Hirsch will make arrangements with you when to follow-up at the office. In the event that Dr. Hirsch is not available at the time of delivery, Hirsch Pediatrics will have already made arrangements on your behalf for a covering pediatrician to manage the care while in the hospital. If your baby is born at a different hospital such as Holy Cross, Sibley, or Montgomery General, upon entering the hospital, arrangements will be made for another pediatrician to look after your baby until he or she is ready to go home. Prior to going home, please call our office to schedule your first visit. Please note that if your child is born at another hospital, it is very important to bring all of your discharge paperwork to your first visit.
How do I schedule an appointment? You may either call our
office during regular hours or leave a message if the office is
closed. Additionally, you may send a request by e-mail.
All phone messages and e-mail requests for sick visit appointments
that are sent after-hours will be responded to between 8:00 AM—9:00
AM the next business day. Messages expressing more urgent needs
will be responded to first, thus allowing your child to be seen
at one of the earliest morning appointments.
Can I schedule more than one child for a check-up at the same time? Yes, Hirsch Pediatrics
is happy to accommodate check-ups for up to 3 children at one visit.
We have found this policy to be especially helpful for families
with twins and an older sibling. Additionally, with our extra
large exam rooms and exciting office design, we have found that
most children are happily occupied during their sibling's check-up.
What if I have a medical question that does not require an appointment? At Hirsch Pediatrics,
we pride ourselves on our ability to respond to your phone calls
and e-mails promptly. Urgent messages will be responded to
right away. Because Dr. Hirsch is readily available throughout
the day, our patients do not have a need for specified "call-in"
hours that may be found in larger practices.
What if I am going to be late for my appointment? If you realize that you are going to be late for your scheduled appointment, we respectfully request that you call to alert us. Rather than rushing, we may be able to offer you an appointment later in the day. However, if our schedule is very busy and you arrive more than 5-10 minutes late for an appointment, out of consideration we will see the next patient(s) first if they are already present in the office. If your family has recurring late arrivals or missed appointments and therefore disrupts our ability to provide quality and timely care to our other patients, we will contact you to discuss care alternatives.
What is a “pre-natal” meeting? Although most families will choose their pediatrician based on personal recommendations from other doctors, friends, and family members, Hirsch Pediatrics offers a "pre-natal" meeting for expecting parents who want to learn more about our practice. During these meetings, Dr. Hirsch will give you a tour of the office, describe some of the features of the practice, and answer any questions you may have about the office. These interviews are currently being scheduled every other Wednesday from 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm and space is limited to 5 families per session. Please call or e-mail the office to reserve your spot in an upcoming session.
How often will my child need check-ups? Early in life, especially before the age of 12 months, children require frequent well-child exams. At each visit, in addition to a complete physical exam and review of your child’s growth chart, we will discuss many issues including your child’s development (gross motor, fine motor, language, social), feeding and sleep patterns, safety issues, and what milestones to anticipate prior to your next visit. The recommended schedule involves a well-child exam at the following ages:
For those parents that prefer more frequent follow-up as well as for children with particular issues or concerns, additional evaluations including those at 3 months, 5 months, 21 months, and 30 months may be scheduled. Please note: If you have school or camp forms that need to be completed, your child must have a well-child exam with Hirsch Pediatrics within 1 year of completing the forms. This will ensure that the forms are as accurate and complete as possible. Please note that we are not able to complete the forms if your child has only had sick visits at the office or has not had a well-child exam at Hirsch Pediatrics within 1 year of completing the forms. If you have recently moved or switched practices and had a recent well-child exam at another practice, please contact the previous practice to complete the forms. |
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