FAQs

Yes, we offer same-day appointments at all Pediatric Affiliates locations and reserve these visits for children with urgent or sick care needs. We make every effort to accommodate same-day visits at your primary location whenever possible.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling our office.

At Pediatric Affiliates, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to any necessary complete paperwork and verify information such as insurance.

For your child’s first visit, we recommend bringing your insurance card a photo ID, and complete any online forms through Phreesia. Completing forms ahead of time helps our team stay up to date on your child’s medical history, preferences, and current needs so we can make the most of your time together.

If you’re bringing a newborn, please bring any hospital or birth records you received, as well as feeding details and all discharge instructions. For families transferring from another practice, we encourage you to have your child’s previous medical records sent ahead of time or bring a copy with you to ensure continuity of care.

At Pediatric Affiliates, our providers are experts in care for children from birth through adolescence, including:

• Newborns & Infants (0–12 months)
• Toddlers (1–4 years)
• Children (5–12 years)
• Teens & Young Adults (13–18 years)

Several of our locations offer extended evening and weekend appointments to give families greater scheduling flexibility. Our Lakewood (Madison) office provides the most extensive appointment availability, including late evenings and weekends. Hours vary by location, so please contact your nearest location for current availability.

Medication management involves carefully evaluating, prescribing, and monitoring medications to ensure they are safe and effective for your child’s age, weight, health needs, and development. It may include adjusting dosages, reviewing potential side effects or medication interactions, and working closely with families to help children achieve the best possible health outcomes.

To get your child started with behavioral health services, the first step is scheduling an initial evaluation appointment. During this visit, our team will learn more about your child’s needs and recommend a personalized care plan.

Behavioral health sessions are confidential, helping create a safe and trusting environment for your child to share openly. Our team respects your child’s privacy while also keeping parents informed when it is important for their safety and overall care. If you have questions about confidentiality or would like to learn more, please contact one of our locations or speak with our team when scheduling your visit.

During a behavioral health session, our team creates a safe and supportive environment where your child can express their thoughts and feelings openly. Sessions are tailored to your child’s age and needs and may include conversation, skill-building, and medication management when necessary. To get started, schedule an evaluation appointment by calling one of our locations.

We recommend that newborns have their first pediatric visit within 48–72 hours after leaving the hospital or following a home or birthing center delivery. These early visits are an important opportunity for our providers to check your baby’s weight, feeding, and overall health, as well as answer any questions you may have as you settle in at home.

Our team is here to support you from the very beginning, and we encourage families to schedule this first visit before leaving the hospital—or shortly after delivery for home or birthing center births—to ensure a smooth transition home. Visit our Expectant Mothers page to learn more about the process of getting an infant started at Pediatric Affiliates.

Wellness visits start shortly after birth, often within the first few days after your baby comes home. From there, visits are scheduled frequently during infancy and early childhood to closely monitor growth and development, then continue regularly—typically once a year—as your child gets older.

If your child is sick on the day of their wellness visit, it’s best to contact our office. Depending on their symptoms, the appointment may be rescheduled or changed to a sick visit so your child can be properly evaluated and treated.

This helps ensure the wellness visit remains focused on preventive care while your child receives the appropriate attention for their illness.

Wellness visits are recommended regularly throughout childhood to monitor growth and development. Infants and toddlers are typically seen more frequently during the first few years of life, while children over age 3 usually have a wellness visit once a year.

Your pediatric provider will follow a recommended schedule and let you know when your child is due for their next visit.

If your child is not cleared during their physical, it means the provider has identified a concern that needs further evaluation before safe participation. Our pediatric care team will explain the reason, provide guidance on next steps, and may recommend additional testing, treatment, or a follow-up visit. Once the concern is addressed, your child can be re-evaluated for clearance.

If your child has a medical condition, our pediatric care team will carefully review their health history and current status during the physical. We will assess whether it is safe for them to participate and provide guidance or any necessary restrictions to ensure their safety. If needed, additional evaluation or follow-up may be recommended before clearing your child for activities.

Most children need a physical once a year. Many schools, sports teams, and camps require an annual exam to make sure your child is healthy and safe to participate. Even if a physical isn’t required, yearly visits help monitor growth, development, and overall well-being.

Yes, sports or school forms are often completed during a wellness visit. Since these visits include a comprehensive exam and review of your child’s health, they are a convenient time to fill out required forms for school, sports, or camp participation.

Be sure to bring any necessary paperwork with you to the appointment so it can be completed at that time.

Yes. Warts can spread from person to person through direct skin contact or by touching shared items and surfaces, such as towels, shoes, or athletic equipment. Children may also spread warts to other areas of their own body by picking or scratching them. Keeping the affected area clean, covered when appropriate, and avoiding picking can help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Yes. Most children can return to school or daycare once they are feeling better and are no longer likely to spread their illness. Your provider will give you specific recommendations based on your child’s diagnosis and treatment plan.

In general, children can return when they:

• Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
• Feel well enough to participate in normal daily activities
• Are showing improvement in symptoms such as cough, congestion, or sore throat
• Have been free from vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours

Certain illnesses, including strep throat, pink eye, and other contagious infections, may require your child to complete at least 24 hours of treatment, such as antibiotics, before returning to school or daycare.

You should consider urgent care instead of scheduling a regular sick visit if your child’s symptoms need immediate attention or occur outside normal office hours. While most common illnesses can be managed during a sick visit, urgent care may be more appropriate in certain situations.

• Seek urgent care if your child has:
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• High fever that will not come down with medication
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea causing signs of dehydration
• A deep cut, possible broken bone, or significant injury
• Severe ear pain or sudden worsening of symptoms
• An allergic reaction with swelling, hives, or trouble breathing

If your child is experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as severe breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, or seizures, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

For your child’s sick visit appointment, it’s helpful to bring a few important items so the provider can ensure the best care possible:

• Insurance card and identification
• List of your child’s current medications, vitamins, or supplements
• Record of symptoms, including when they started and any fever readings
• Your child’s medical history, if you are visiting a new provider

At Pediatric Affiliates, we accept same-day appointments to ensure your child is seen in a timely matter. To schedule your child’s sick visit, please call one of our locations.

Help prepare your child for vaccines by staying calm, positive, and reassuring before the appointment. For younger children, bringing a favorite toy, book, or comfort item can help distract and soothe them during the visit.

For older children, it can be helpful to briefly explain what to expect in a simple, honest way—letting them know it may feel like a quick pinch but will be over quickly. Holding your child, offering comfort, and praising them afterward can also make the experience easier and more reassuring.

If your child is behind on vaccines, your provider can create a safe and effective catch-up schedule to get them back on track. These schedules are designed to provide protection as quickly as possible while following recommended guidelines.

The vaccines your child needs are based on their age and follow a recommended immunization schedule designed to protect them at each stage of development. These typically begin in infancy and continue through childhood and adolescence, covering illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, whooping cough, and more.

Your pediatric provider will review your child’s immunization record at each visit and let you know which vaccines are due. If your child is behind, a catch-up schedule can be created to safely keep them up to date.

Vaccines are important because they help protect your child from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. By helping your child build immunity, vaccines reduce the risk of infection and prevent complications that can affect their long-term health. Additionally, they help protect others by limiting the spread of illness within your family, school, and community.