Are We a Good Fit For You?
New Patient Checklist
It is crucial when choosing a pediatric practice for your children that you have given serious consideration to the fit between the practice philosophies and your own. Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family priorities and philosophies regarding medical care. Only then can shared decision-making be based on mutual respect.
Please read the following checklist carefully to be sure SF Bay Pediatrics is the appropriate medical home for your children. Additional checklists for new patients can be found here. We look forward to meeting you and forming a mutually rewarding relationship.
Vaccines
Our vaccine policy follows the schedule outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Antibiotics
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.
Medical Home
We work hard to provide comprehensive medical care and serve as your medical home. To that end, we expect that you contact our office FIRST before seeking specialty care, or heading to another provider for urgent care. We want to be involved in either providing care in our office where appropriate, or referring you to the most appropriate specialist and helping to coordinate your care.
Whenever you do see a specialist, we ask that you request a report be sent directly to our office so we may stay informed and have the most up-to-date information in your medical record
Technology
Our practice prides itself on efficiency through 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.
Office Hours
We make every effort to meet the needs of our patients, offering both routine well visits and sick visit appointments. We do offer walk-in appointments if necessary, however, these appointments are seen in the first available sick visit appointment slot.
To ensure we provided you with the most efficient care we highly recommend you call our main number 415-668-8900 ahead to schedule an appointment.
Please familiarize yourself with our office hours to see if they work for your family.
After Hours
We have a physician on call 24/7/365. When our office is closed overnight and you have an urgent issue that cannot wait until morning, you can call our after hours number 415-387-9293 and the provider on-call will give you advice regarding your child's problem. You may wish to check the "Is Your Child Sick?" section of our website for helpful information before using this service. Read more about After Hours care.
Insurance
Make sure we participate with your insurance plan. Click here for a list of our participating insurances.
It is your responsibility to know the limits and coverage of your particular health insurance policy, to show your cards to us at each visit, and be prepared to pay any copays at the time of service.
Our billing staff will do their best to assist you with insurance questions; however, If you have questions about your coverage, it is best check with your specific insurance company.
Our office does not want you to be surprised by a bill, but must always bill your health plan based on federal guidelines and the actual services provided.
Please read our financial policy for more information regarding insurance.
Billing and Fees
Insurance copays are expected to be paid at the time of service. If you are unable to comply, you must speak with the billing department prior to the visit to set up a payment plan.
As we follow the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics, your child will have specific periodic screening tests during the preventive health well child visits. These screens are intended to identify and address health problems at an early stage.
Some insurance policies may not fully cover these important screens and may assign full or partial patient responsibility as either a co-payment, co-insurance, or toward your deductible. You will be billed for any balance due after the insurance processes the claim.
Below is the current schedule for these screens so that you can check your insurance benefits.
Screens/Test
CPT Code
Age Administered
(may vary as needed)
Charge to Insurance Company
(patient responsibility varies by insurance carrier)
Vision Screen via Computerized Photoscreen
99174
1 year, 2 year, 3 year
$120/72 OOP
Vision Screen via Snellen Chart
99173
Annual 4-5 years
Every other year 6-12 years
Every three years 12-18 year.
$12/7.20 OOP
Hearing Screen
92552
Annual 4-5 years
Every other year 6-12 years
Every three years 12-18 years
$128/76.80 OOP
Autism Screen
96110
18 mos, 24 mos.
$145/87 OOP
Behavioral Screen (e.g. depression)
96127
Annual starting at 12 years old
$15
If you wish to opt out of hearing or vision screens, please let us know at the start of your visit. Declining these screens may cause delays in diagnosis.
Scheduling Appointments
For acute care, call the office main number to speak with triage staff, who will listen to your concerns and schedule an appointment for you. Sometimes an appointment may not be needed, and staff will advise you regarding your issue, or check with the physician and call you back.
If our nurse is on with another caller, you will be asked to leave a message and you will receive a return call.
For well visits, call our main office number to speak with our front desk staff. Well visits may be scheduled up to 6 months in advance. (You will receive an automated reminder when your child is due to schedule their next well visit.)
Timeliness & Missed Appointments
Our practice makes every effort to run on time with appointments, as we believe everyone’s time is equally valuable. As a courtesy, we will remind you of your upcoming appointments via phone/text message/email. We ask that you arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. We understand sometimes things happen beyond your control that may cause you to be late. However, we reserve the right to ask you to reschedule if you arrive late for your appointment.
Missed Appointments: Broken appointments represent a cost to us, to you, and to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for you. We reserve the right to charge a fee for canceled or missed appointments. We request 24 hours notice for cancellation of appointments.
