FAQs

A pediatrician is a Board Certified medical doctor who specializes in the care of children. Pediatricians have undergone special training in the health and illnesses of infants, teens, and young adults. 

Pediatricians provide preventive health care for children as well as medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill. They support and advise parents on issues such as growth and development, safety and prevention, nutrition and emotional wellness to foster a lifetime of good health.

We will always strive to schedule your child's well visits with their Pediatrician. If your child is ill, they may see another one of our physicians if theirs is not available. 

Yes, we always welcome new patients to our practice! If your child needs a well visit, we require prior records and immunizations before scheduling your appointment. This allows our physicians to prepare for your visit and ensures sufficient time for your child. Please visit the Our Team page to choose a pediatrician that best suits your family. Thank you, and welcome aboard!

We accept most major commercial insurances through your employer and some marketplace insurances; however, there are policies that may not be in-network with our office. As with any insurance, verify your benefits prior to your appointment to avoid any surprise bills. Call the customer service number on your insurance card and verify with a representative as there is no way for us to verify this for you.

Call us to make your appointment! All visits are by appointment only; we do not accept walk-ins. We kindly ask that you arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for any updates to your demographics or insurance information. Please complete the questionnaire linked in the text message before your arrival. If you are new to the practice, please visit the New Patient tab.

Our office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. If we close for a holiday or for inclement weather, this information will be posted on our Facebook page and announced on our voicemail.

For urgent needs when our office is closed, we partner with the Children's Mercy After-Hours Nurse Triage line. Call our office number, listen to the options, and it will connect you with a trained pediatric nurse who can assist you with your child's needs. If necessary, the triage nurse will relay your message to the physician on-call for our office.

Please Note: There is a $15 fee for calls answered by Children's Mercy Nurses.

If your call is non-urgent, please reach out to our office or send a message through the patient portal during normal business hours (Monday-Thursday, 8 AM to 5 PM; Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM), and our office nurses will be happy to assist you.

IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

Your child's patient portal is a valuable resource! Through the portal, you can access your child’s immunization history, view lab results, message your physician's nurse, view scheduled appointments, check statements, view payment receipts and complete the check-in. While you cannot link siblings using a web browser, you can do so through the Healow app. 

If you forget your child’s username and password, the easiest way to log in is by using the mobile phone option. Simply enter your child’s name and date of birth, and a code will be sent to you via text—no password needed! 

As always, if you have any questions about the portal or the Healow app, feel free to give us a call! 

For every appointment, we require you to complete a questionnaire for your child before your arrival. The questionnaires sent via text can be a bit tricky, so here’s a helpful guide. If you prefer, you can also find the questionnaires in the patient portal under "Questionnaires," selecting the one that corresponds with your child’s visit. 

1. When you receive the text, click the link. 

2. Select "Yes, I'll Be There." 

3. Start the check-in as PATIENT and verify your demographics. It will also allow you to take a picture of your insurance if it has changed.  

4. You’ll then be prompted to START a visit questionnaire. Here is where most go wrong--be sure to scroll through and answer all questions before hitting the save button. 

5. Once all questions are answered, hit the save button. If you accidentally save before completing, don’t worry! We have iPads in the office for you to finish the questionnaire. If there are multiple questionnaires, repeat step 4 for each. 

Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete the check-in process. 

To help keep your child healthy and track their growth and developmental milestones, our physicians recommend bringing your child in for a well-child visit every year after the age of 3. For newborns to age 2.5, regular visits are essential for immunizations and assessing growth and development. Our routine health maintenance visit schedule follows the American Academy of Pediatrics vaccine guidelines for children.

As long as your child has had a well-check within the last year, we can complete health forms for daycare, school and other activities! Please note that any form requiring a physician's signature that is submitted outside of the well-check will incur a fee. 

We offer a No-Rush option for $10, with a turnaround time of 4-7 business days, and a Rush option for $20, with a turnaround time of 1-3 business days. Payment is required before we begin processing the health form. Forms can be dropped off or emailed to frontoffice@ppadocs.com. Please ensure that all parent and patient sections are completed prior to submission.

For the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) health form, it is required that your child is seen after May 1st for the prospective school year. If your child's well check was completed prior to May 1st, please call the office for more information.

FMLA forms are available for $25 and will be completed within 14 business days.

Immunizations are a series of shots given to children at various ages to help protect against serious and potentially fatal childhood diseases. Ensuring your child receives vaccinations on schedule is the best way to safeguard them from these illnesses. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%.

Our physicians do require that our patients be vaccinated. 

To help protect your child from many serious infectious diseases, we follow the immunization schedule recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Please discuss your immunization questions and concerns with your pediatrician.

Our physicians do require that our patients be vaccinated. 

If your child needs a referral, it’s best to discuss the situation with your child’s pediatrician first during their appointment. They can recommend the most appropriate options for your child’s needs. If you’d like a referral outside of an appointment, you can leave a message for the nurse by calling or sending a portal message. The nurse will review your child’s situation and discuss it with the physician. In most cases, the nurse can send the referral directly. If necessary, they will schedule an appointment before sending the referral. 

Once we receive your lab results and the physician has had a chance to review them, you will receive a phone call. Any abnormal lab results will be addressed promptly. If you receive a notification that your lab results are available in the portal, please note that this occurs before the physician has reviewed them.

Please call our office or request a refill through your child's portal. Allow one business day for routine prescription refills, and plan ahead to ensure at least three to five days for refill approval. 

If your child is on medication that requires monitoring, medication checks are required at least every three months. In some cases, a medication check may be required after just one month.

Yes, we promote breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first six to twelve months. Breastfeeding helps protect against infections, prevents allergies, and safeguards against various chronic conditions. While experts agree that breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women.

Some women have medical conditions that make breastfeeding difficult, while others may choose formula feeding due to discomfort, work schedules, or lifestyle preferences. In such cases, an iron-fortified, milk-based infant formula is a good alternative. We are happy to discuss your dietary and feeding concerns during your child's well care visit, or you can call during office hours to speak with our experienced nursing staff.

We strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our physicians. During your visit, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about our practice or your new child. For more information, please visit our expectant parents page.

We typically recommend that your newborn be seen in our office 1-2 days after discharge from the hospital. If your baby is born at Overland Park Regional, our on-call doctor will advise you when to schedule during their visit with you at the hospital. If you deliver at another local hospital, the pediatrician who sees you may also provide guidance on when to schedule. Our staff understands the importance of this first visit and will make every effort to schedule it promptly.