Keeping you informed with the latest news at North Fulton Pediatrics.
What's New
Vaccine Update
Flu vaccines are in for all patients. Please call and make your appointment. If you can not come during the week, we have a few evenings and some Saturday Flu Clinics.
Home Safety
Baby-proofing your home is a vital task. Many things throughout the home can be dangerous to your baby. The ideal time to undertake baby-proofing is BEFORE your baby starts crawling. The AAP has information about safety. Many stores offer a wide variety of safety products. Also, there are companies in the Atlanta area that can come out to your home and provide a home safety inspection and make recommendations based on the age of your child. One such company is Prepare First (www.preparefirst.com)
Parenting Teens Online - Free Resource for Parents
We want to help parents of teens in our practice. There is a free resource called ParentingTeensOnline. ParentingTeensOnline is a monthly publication with weekly updates that offers cutting-edge information on all topics we discuss with parents, from managing chronic conditions to risk-taking behaviors to family relationships and more. You can visit the website or sign up for a free subscription.
Medical Expenses in a Recession
In this inflationary/recessionary time, any port in the storm can be beneficial. We believe that as your primary care providers we can, in fact, save you money in the long run by reducing your medical expenditures. This is not self serving, since it will most likely improve your health as well.
Wellness, or the avoidance of illness with enhanced daily living, assumes personal responsibility. Lack of wellness takes both a personal toll and costs the overall health system dearly. As pediatricians, we encourage a healthy lifestyle including exercise and healthy diet. If necessary, weight loss, or weight maintenance until your child is able to grow into their weight, will benefit their overall health. Avoiding sodas and fast foods not only benefits your wallet, but also their health. Avoiding cigarettes is one of the quickest ways to avoid compromising your health and garner more cash in your pocket. Preventive measures like seatbelts and bike helmets will reduce your medical intervention in case of an accident.
Immunizations are essential to avoiding serious illness. Flu shots in the fall can assist you in avoiding absenteeism from work and school, as well as complications like pneumonia. Remember, all routine vaccines are covered by your insurer or the government.
Don't get into the mindset that antibiotics will help your child get better faster. If it is a viral illness, you are deceiving your self and your child. If they do require antibiotics, however, consider using Publix pharmacy since many of the generic antibiotics are free. If they are taking a chronic prescription, try to see if your plan has a 90 day local or mail in to save co pays and time. Try to use generics when possible.
Emergency room and urgent care, including Minute Clinics, may seem like they are useful and practical, but will in the end cost you more money. In general, your copay is the same or greater than our office. It is inevitable that more lab tests and unnecessary x-rays will be performed. This will either add to your deductible or expose you to unnecessary radiation. Minute clinics and urgent care have no after hours coverage. Should you have a complication from their treatment, the physician, or nurse practitioner, whom you saw will not be available to advise you. You will possibly then have an emergency room visit in addition, with additional co-pay. Remember, any provider who treats you is ultimately responsible for the consequence of their treatment. In our office, follow-up care with a physician is available 24/7.
When you visit an urgent care facility or ER, they will only address your immediate problem. They will fail to see that you have discontinued your preventive medicine, which may have caused your relapse.
Don't be lulled into the concept that a physician who does lots of tests is providing good medical care. Tests are sometimes necessary, but a physician who knows you better, and has extensive experience, will usually require less testing, saving you money on your co-pays and deductibles.
Self referral to specialists may seem like a bargain by by-passing your child's doctor. However, you will usually have a greater co-pay to visit the specialist. Specialists tend to do lots of tests; after all, they are "specialists". They tend to look at problems with a narrow focus based on their specialty. Your pediatrician looks at the whole child since symptoms often overlap and can represent multi-systemic problems.
Call our office to speak with a nurse if you are uncertain that your child should be seen. Unnecessary visits require more gas. Keeping up with your check-ups can also be a means of reducing your "illness".
Use the internet, but use reliable websites that provide helpful, not misinformed, data. Look at our website, www.northfultonpediatrics.com for helpful links. Should you move and unfortunately need to transfer physicians, consult our sister practices involved in the Kids Health First network at www.kidshealthfirst.com where only top quality practices are admitted.
We hope these ideas will help you maintain your health and healthy finances.
Welcome Dr. Szabo to North Fulton Pediatrics!
First, we are please to have Dr. Richard Szabo join North Fulton Pediatrics after spending the previous seven years working in the Emergency Department of Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. He has a special interest in asthma management and is looking forward to developing ongoing relationships with his patients and their families in private practice. He received his medical degree from New Jersey Medical School in 1997 and completed his pediatric training at East Carolina University in 2000. He is board certified in pediatrics. Dr. "Rich" was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and is a big college football fan. He and his wife live in Roswell with their two daughters. He loves spending his free time playing with his children, reading and playing the piano.
CAMP and SPORTS Physicals:
It is time to think of scheduling your child's camp or sports physical. Requirements are different, so be sure to check the form you have to see if it requires a yearly check up. Our schedule is open through mid-August. Pat Musto, our nurse practitioner, sees patients for check ups late on Wednesdays with the last appointment being at 6:30pm. Schedule your check up early and avoid the rush. Also, if your child is up to date and does not require a physical this year, remember that we do require 72 hours to complete your form as the doctor has to review and sign the form.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION:
It is early registration time in most county school systems. In order to register your child for Pre-K or kindergarten, your child needs to have completed their 4/5 year old check up to get the appropriate forms to register. Please call the office and make your appointment as soon as possible.
SPRING and your child's Allergies:
"Spring's Here and so are allergies for many of your children." Our providers would like to assist you and your children during the spring pollen season. If your child is suffering with spring allergies, please call for an appointment so that we can help stop their suffering.