Answers to Common Questions
- New Patients & Expecting Parents
- Sick Children
- After Hours
- Immunizations - Vaccine Policy
- Office Policies
- Insurance
New Patients & Expecting Parents
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, we are accepting new patients. New Patients should have their previous medical records available when making an appointment. Check our list of insurances to make sure we are in your network.
What are your doctor's philosophies?
All of our doctors are board-certified by the most accredited pediatric credentialing board in the US. We adhere to recommendations made by the American Board of Pediatrics.
Does my child get asssigned to one partcular provider?
No, you can select any of our providers. Because of our electronic medical records, all of our providers have the same information about your child available to them, regardless of which office you go to. Our doctors work at different offices on different days, so you may have to travel between offices in order to stick with one doctor. Due to vacations, time off, or previously scheduled patient-load, it may not be possible to stick with one particular physician if your child needs immediate medical attention.
Do you use nurse practitioners?
Yes, we do. We believe that Certified Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in pediatric medicine. Our Nurse Practitioners have extensive training both in medicine as well as nursing care. If your child is seeing one of our Nurse Practitioners you will find that they are being seen by a very competent specialist who is in constant communication with our physicians. Our Nurse Practitioners are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.
I am expecting, how do I notify the hospital that I have chosen GPAM as my pediatrician?
Your OB will give you paperwork to fill out for the hospital delivery. This paperwork will ask you to designate your pediatrician. You can enter Gwinnett Pediatrics or the name of one of our pediatricians. Neonatology will see your baby while in the hospital and you should follow-up with us within 2-4 days after being discharged from the hospital.
Sick Children
How do I get an appointment if my child is sick?
Call our appointment line at 770-995-0823 or use our self-scheduling tool. If you have questions on whether or not your child should be seen, please call our advice line to speak with a nurse. If your child is sick after hours, please see our after hours faqs.
After Hours
What if my child gets sick after regular business hours?
If there is a life-threatening medical emergency, please call 911. When our office is closed, a medical answering service will take your call and forward your call to the advice nurses at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. It may take up to one hour for the CHOA nurse to call you. They will provide medical advice according to rigid medical protocols. If you feel you are unable to wait, then you should take your child to the nearest pediatric emergency room.
Should your child need the attention of one of our physicians, they will immediately contact us and one of our doctors will call you back shortly. In case of a very serious illness or injury, we will refer you to the ER. If your child has a minor illness, we will direct you to see a pediatrician at CHOA Urgent Care. You can get more information for CHOA by calling 404-250-KIDS or visiting Children's Health Care of Atlanta.
The on call pediatrician will NOT call in medications. There are NO exceptions. If you feel your child needs a prescription medication after hours, then your child must be seen during normal business hours for medication refills.
Poison Control phone number is 1-800-222-1222.
Immunizations
What is your immunization policy?
We strongly believe in the importance of immunizations. We adhere to an immunization schedule for all children.The decision to vaccinate your child is ultimately yours, however, a new patient who has already decided not to be vaccinated will not be able to schedule an appointment with us as we are not the right medical home for you. View GPAM's vaccine page for more on our policy.
When do you give the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is routinely given prior to the start of the winter flu season. We usually give flu vaccine sometime in the fall. The specific date depends on when we receive it from the vaccine manufacturer. In the fall, look for specific information posted on our website.
How do I get a copy of my child’s immunization record?
You can request a copy of your child’s immunization record at any office visit. Simply request a copy to be printed at the checkout desk. Additionally, you can send us a request through a message on the patient portal.
Office Policies
What does it mean "Urgent Care Only" on the Saturday Lawrenceville office hours?
The Lawrenceville office is only open on Saturdays for urgent sick visits. During these hours, we do not see wellness exams or non-urgent concerns.
Why can't I get a prescription called-in when my child is sick?
To ensure the most appropriate medical care, we feel that your child should be examined before prescribing any medication.
If my child is on a controlled substance how often does he/she need to be seen?
If your child is on any controlled substance medicine he or she will need to be seen every 3 months by the prescribing provider.
Do I need an appointment in order to be seen?
Yes. It is highly recommended that you schedule your appointments. We do offer same-day sick appointments. We do not allow walk-ins. Please see our Walk-in Policy.
How do I get my Lab results?
You will receive your lab results through the portal after your provider reviews them. If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, click the Patient Portal link at the top of the page. If for some reason you do not see the lab results on the portal, please call the office at 770-995-0823 x option 7.
What labs are done in your office?
We are able to perform the following labs in our office: rapid strep test, rsv, covid, flu test, urinalysis, infant bilirubin, lipid panel, pregancy test, glucose, iron, and complete blood count. Your doctor will give you the results before you leave the office.
What if my child needs labs that are not performed in your office?
If your child requires additional labs, we will send him/her to an outside lab. Your insurance will dictate where your child can have labs done. This will be a separate bill.
What if my child needs an x-ray?
If your child requires an imaging study, we will send you to an outside facility for it to be performed. There will be separate billing from that facility for your procedure and interpretation.
Insurances Accepted
To see which insurances we accept please visit our Insurance page.