General Information
We provide inpatient newborn services at Paradise Valley Hospital and Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea. We also provide inpatient pediatric care at Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea
Outpatient Services
As a courtesy we provide “Pre-natal Visits” for expectant parents on an individual basis. These visits are meant to give you the opportunity to meet with the physician of your choice, get to know what the practice can offer, its philosophy with respect to medications, immunizations, and general approach to the care of your infant.
Newborns discharged from the hospital will be seen in our office shortly after their discharge, the exact timing of the visit will be determined by the physician examining your baby while in the hospital.
Our standard visits begin at 2months and are every two months through 6 months of age. Scheduled visits between 6 months and 18 months are every 3 months, then at 2 years, and yearly thereafter. Most of these visits correspond to the recommended immunization schedule.
In addition to all of the recommended immunizations, we provide vision and hearing screening at the appropriate ages, hemoglobin’s, urinalysis, rapid strep screens, and placement of PPD.
Should your child need to be brought in for an appointment other than by a parent or legal guardian, please provide us with a completed “Consent to Treat” form, giving permission to the person bringing your child in to do so, and to authorize any necessary treatment. You can print this form from the “Forms” section.
Information about your child’s medical status and treatment is kept in the strictest confidence and will not be released to any person, insurance plan, or legal counsel without your written permission. Should you require that information be released to any of the above, it will be necessary for you to complete and sign a “Records Release Form” available to you from any of our staff members. You can also print the form from the “Forms” section.
To assist us in better serving you, please advise the receptionist of any changes in your address, telephone number, marital status, insurance coverage, etc.
What to Bring
- Insurance Card(s)
- Driver’s License or other Photo Identification
- Pertinent Medical Records
- Immunization Record(s)
- List of Current Medications and Dosages
- Co-Pay
- Completed Patient Forms
Privacy
Yours and your child’s privacy is a priority at Desert Canyon Pediatrics. Our procedures and software programs meet or exceed the HIPPAA standards required for physician practices. A copy of the “Notice of Privacy Practices” will be given to you upon your visit. You may print out the Signature Page of Acknowledgement of Receipt of “Notice of Privacy Practices” from our “Forms” section.
You can save time by printing and completing the New Patient Paperwork prior to your visit, or for established patients printing and completing updated Patient Paperwork.
Your input is welcome and helps us improve our service to all of our patients. Any suggestions or concerns you may have about the care or service you receive can be directed to our Office Administrator.
Office Hours/ After Hours
Monday – Friday 8am to 5:30 pm
Saturdays from 8:30 am to 11:30 am except those Saturdays associated with a holiday.
Phones are answered from 7:30 am to 5pm Monday – Friday, on Saturdays we are open from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.
After Hours
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.
For other emergencies or urgent problems, please call our Answering Service at 602-667-4585. They will contact our triage service or the physician on call. We have hired a nursing triage service that can assist you with most questions you may have. Please remember to unblock your line if necessary by pressing #87.
Non-emergency calls for information should be made during regular business hours. Routine refills cannot be approved during the weekends or after regular office hours. Please plan ahead so you do not run out of medication
Should your child need to seek medical attention at a facility after hours please see our list of recommended Emergency Rooms and Urgent Care Centers.
Appointments
Our well child visits are scheduled in advance. We ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your appointed time if your child is a new patient with our practice; 20 minutes before, if your child is an established patient. It may be necessary to reschedule if you arrive more than 15 minutes late.
Missed and Late Cancellation of Appointments
We understand that problems arise and that you may be unable to keep your child’s appointment. If so, please notify our office immediately. Cancellations are requested at least 24-hours prior to your appointed time.
Missed Appointments and Late Cancellations represent a cost to us, to you, and to other patients who could have been seen in the time set aside for your child. A fee of $50.00 will be assessed to your account for a missed appointment or for an appointment cancelled less than 24 hours of your scheduled time. Following a third missed appointment or repeated abuse of late cancellation of scheduled appointments will result in discharge from the practice.
Telephone Calls
If you call with a question regarding your child’s condition, medication, or treatment, our staff will take a message, present it to your provider, and return your call once your question has been answered. If your question requires that you speak directly with your provider, a message will be taken and your provider will return your call at the earliest opportunity.
Prescriptions & Refills
All prescriptions should be requested by 4 pm, Monday through Friday. This will ensure that we have adequate time to access your child’s medical records and to place the order.
Refills
Please call your pharmacy for refills and be prepared with your prescription number and name of your physician. In some instances your child may need to be seen by the physician before receiving a refill. If so, we will notify you immediately upon receiving the request.
Routine refills cannot be approved during the weekends or after regular office hours. Please plan ahead so you do not run out of medication. Allow 24 hours for refills to be completed.
Immunizations
We therefore recommend that you follow the recommended immunization schedule. Our practice follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. We share your concern for your child’s health and safety and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have. We have provided links to several websites we feel will help answer questions you may have.
Please bring your child’s immunization records to each visit. Without these records it may be necessary to re-immunize your child.
Payments/ Fees
All co-payments and payments for services not covered by your insurance must be made at the time of your child’s visit. If your child’s treatment program requires several visits, or your child’s visit is not covered by insurance, and you need to make arrangements for payment you will be given an estimated cost for treatment and assisted with financial arrangements by our business office. We accept payment by cash, personal check, Discover, Master Card, Visa, American Express, and bank debit card.
FEES
Charges for professional visits, procedures, medications, and lab tests, are determined by the time spent, complexity of the problem, and the cost of supplies.
The following fees are associated with medical records, letters written by our providers, missed appointments, and appointments cancelled within 24 hrs of the scheduled time.
Medical Records-
With written consent we will send medical records where requested. There will be no charge for the first request for records sent to another physician, or if picked up by a parent or legal guardian. Subsequent requests for the same record will be assessed a $30.00 fee per patient record.
Records requested for third parties, for example, insurance companies, attorneys, etc. will be assessed a $30.00 fee per patient record.
Letters written by our providers-$30.00 per letter requested.
Missed Appointments/Late Cancellations-$50.00 fee per missed appointment or late cancellation.
Fees assessed for medical records, letters, missed appointments, and late cancellations are not covered by insurance
Health Insurance
We are contracted with the following insurance companies and accept most plans within these networks.
- Aetna
- AHCCCS
- Arizona Foundation
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- CCN
- Cigna
- Great West
- Healthnet
- Humana
- MMSI
- PHCS
- Professional Benefit Services
- Tricare
- United Healthcare
We are only able to direct-bill the insurance plans that have a contract with Desert Canyon Pediatrics, PC. If you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, please call or refer to the information provided to you by your insurance plan.
It is your responsibility to know what is, and is not covered by your insurance plan.
Financial Policy
Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company, the doctor is not involved. Many insurance plans have high deductibles and co-payments that are your responsibility. Please contact your insurance company prior to your visit should you have any questions about your coverage or responsibilities. It is your responsibility to know your healthcare policy and to verify all benefits and coverage information prior to having any services rendered.
We have contracted with many insurers and health plans to accept an assignment of benefits. We will bill those plans for which we have an agreement. Our contracts with the insurance companies require us to collect co-payments at the time of service, and any portion of your visit that the insurance company states as “patient responsibility”. In the event your health plan determines a service to be “not covered,” you may be responsible for the complete charge.
If you have insurance coverage with a plan that we are not contracted with, as a courtesy we will prepare and send the claim for you on an unassigned basis. This means your insurer will send the payment directly to you. Therefore our charges for your care and treatment received are due at the time of the service. For your convenience we will accept cash, personal check, and most major credit cards.
For all services provided in the hospital, we will bill your health plan. Any balance due is your responsibility and is due upon receipt of a statement from our office.
For all services rendered to minor patients, we will look to the adult accompanying the patient and the parent or guardian with custody for payment.
In order to provide the best possible service and availability to all our patients, please notify us of your need to cancel an appointment at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before a scheduled appointment will be assessed a fee.
Fees assessed for Missed Appointments, Late Cancellations, and copying of Medical Records are not covered by insurance plans and are your direct responsibility.
We reserve the right to send your account to collections if we receive a statement marked “Mail Return” with “No Forwarding Address”, your account is 90 days past due, or you default on a payment agreement made with our office.
Patients who are on any AHCCCS Plans must inform us of any other Private Insurance that they may have. By law, claims must be filed first with your Private Insurance. AHCCCS will be billed secondarily. Not informing us of this information is considered fraud, and parents could be fined and/or dropped from plan.
Please notify us of any changes to your insurance plan or policy prior to your visit.
Hospital Affiliations
- Paradise Valley Hospital
- Scottsdale Healthcare Shea
Poison Control/ Emergency Rooms/ Urgent Care
Poison Control Center
602-253-3334
Emergency Rooms
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
1919 E. Thomas Road
Phoenix,AZ 85016
602-546-1000
Scottsdale Healthcare-Shea Campus
9003 E. Shea Blvd.
Scottsdale,AZ 85260
480-323-3810
Paradise Valley Hospital
3929 E. Bell Road
Phoenix,AZ 85032
602-923-5622
Urgent Care Centers
Mendy’s Place/J.C. Lincoln Deer Valley
19829 N 27th Ave.
Phoenix,AZ 85027
623-879-5437
Phoenix Children’s Hospital Urgent Care-East Valley
5131 E. Southern Ave.
Mesa,AZ 85206
480-833-5437
Hours- Mon.-Fri: 5pm-11pm
Sat.-Sun.: 12N-11pm
Phoenix Children’s Hospital Urgent Care-Northwest Valley
20325 N. 51st Ave.
Suite116
Glendale,AZ 85308
623-972-5437
Hours- Mon.-Fri: 5pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 12N-11pm
Helpful Links
www.aap.org – General Information for Parents
www.healthychildren.org – General Information for Parents
www.cdc.gov – Information related to general health, various diseases, immunizations, foreign travel, etc
www.kidshealth.org – Information for Parents, Kids, and Teens
www.help4adhd.org – Information for Parents about ADD/ADHD
Immunizations
www.aap.org – General Information for Parents
www.immunizationinfo.org – General Information for the Public and health Professionals
www.immunize.org – Immunization Action Coalition
www.cdc.org – General Information for Parents
www.vaccinateyourbaby.org I General Information for Parents
Child Health and Human Development
www.zerotothree.org – General Information on Early Development
www.nichd.nih.gov – Information on General Health and Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
www.autismcenter.org – Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center
Drug Abuse
www.notMykid.org – Information for Families, Students, and Educators
www.drugfree.org – Partnership for a Drug Free America
Child Abuse
www.childhelpusa.org – Child Abuse Hotline and Information
Suicide Prevention
www.azspc.org – Arizona Hotline and General Information
Safety Information
www.nhtsa.gov – General Information on Vehicle, Car Seat and Child Safety Seat Safety
www.cpsc.gov – Product Safety/Recall Information (Toys, Cribs, etc)