New Patients
Welcome to Amherst Pediatric Associates! Below is some information about our practice and some forms that will need to be filled out prior to your appointment.
What is Amherst Pediatric Associates (APA)?
Our staff consists of six board-certified pediatricians and three pediatric nurse practitioners striving to give your children the best care possible.
When are we available?
Our office is open daily Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you need medical help when our office is not open, you can call and speak with our answering service who can reach the on-call doctor if you wish to be called back. Late night calls are frequently triaged by a medical answering service. These services are staffed by nurses who employ a variety of previously agreed upon protocols but who are able to reach our physicians when necessary.
Who will see your child?
When possible, you will be given an appointment with the doctor of your choice, but when an acute problem arises, you may be seen by one of the physicians assigned to "sick" calls on that particular day. Unfortunately, there will be times when the physician you request may not be available. We try to accommodate our families' requests as much as possible. As volunteer faculty members of the State University of New York at Buffalo, we also commit teaching time to pediatric residents and medical students. These professionals may also see patients in our office under close supervision.
Standards of Practice
It is our policy to follow closely the recommendations of the various subspecialty committees of the American Academy of Pediatrics (i.e. the committee on infant nutrition, the committee on infectious diseases and immunizations, the committee on safety and accident prevention, etc.). Such groups are made up of top authorities who, as a result of new understanding, suggest changes in practice details from time to time.
Recommended Visits for Health Supervision
Amherst Pediatric Associates and the American Academy of Pediatrics share the belief that annual preventative health maintenance visits are an important means of ensuring good health. We recommend children 3 years and over are seen annually even when there are no vaccines or laboratory practices due.
Health Problems
If your child is ill and you are uncertain as to what to do, please do not hesitate to call us. When we are confident in simply giving phone advice, we will do so. If you prefer your child be seen, we will do our best to ensure an office visit in a timely fashion. Do not ask for antibiotics over the phone. Although you may be confident of the diagnosis, it may be risky to use antibiotics without a physician understanding exactly what is being treated. In certain cases, antibiotics have the potential to make a child sicker and in many other situations they will offer no help at all.
Finances
We participate with Independent Health, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Univera and most commercial insurances. We also accept all of the medicaid managed programs. Co-payments are due at checkout, there is a $5 service charge for not paying at time of service. If you experience a time when you are without coverage, payment is expected at the time of service. If you participate with a high-deductible plan, a payment of $50 will be due at time of service for non-preventive visits if the deductible has not been met. For assistance with insurance questions you may contact the Billing Office at 632-2729.
The Best for your Children
In spite of our efforts to provide the best care possible, we do not claim to be perfect. Should there be confusion, unanswered questions or anything else that may make you unhappy about your experience, please speak to one of us or contact the Office Manager. Remember, we are in the practice of pediatrics, focused on the well-being of children. Each child is someone special to us.
New Patient Forms
♦ Medical Release Authorization Form
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