In The News
New Clinic in the East Bay
Our newest clinic is located in Fremont, near Washington Hospital. Please talk to our office manager to schedule an appointment. Hours are the second and fourth thursday of each month.
2287 Mowery Ave., Suite E
Fremont, CA 94538
Monterey County Clinic
We are pleased to announce office hours in Monterey County the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. The clinic is located in the newly remodeled Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, California. Appointments at the Monterey County Clinic can be scheduled directly through Natividad Medical Center.
Natividad Medical Center
Pediatric Specialty Clinic
1441 Constitution Blvd, Building 200
Salinas, CA 93906
REFERRALS:
Phone 831-755-4156
Fax 831-755-5583
Nutritional Consultation Available
Whether your child has special dietary needs, specific nutritional deficiencies, or you just have questions about best practices for feeding children at specific ages, our registered dietician can provide guidance. Patients can have a nutritional consultation without a visit to a gastroenterologist. If your child does need a gastroenterological evaluation, we will be able to schedule a timely consultation.
Contact our receptionist for further information.
Our Community
Take Steps 2012
Take Steps for Crohns and Colitis takes place May 19, 2012 at Discovery Meadow in San Jose. Help raise money for research and raise awareness. Talk to our staff for details. The walk starts at 6 pm.
Welcome To Our Site
Pediatric Gastroenterology Associates provides children and their families with superb, accesible medical care. Pediatricians, family practicioners, and other healthcare providers tap our expertise for help managing common and uncommon gastrointestinal, liver, and nutritional problems. We see patients in our offices as well as children who are hospitalized at our affiliated hospitals.
General Information
Appointments
Please contact our office to schedule an appointment at (408) 358-3573. For new patients, you may also fax the Appointment Request Form and our office will call you back to schedule a consultation appointment.
Check-in
Please arrive on time for your appointment, as we may have to reschedule if you arrive late. For the initial visit, the patient must check in 15 minutes prior to the appointment time. Your Co-Pay or Deductible will be collected at check-in. Please inform the staff whenever there have been insurance, address, or other important changes.
Initial Visit
Sometimes there are delays in receiving information from your doctor, so if you have them, please bring with you or arrange to be faxed to us copies of:
- All x-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, procedure reports, laboratory reports, and growth charts.
- Current Insurance Card.
- HMO Referral form and your co-pay if applicable.
- A completed Registration Form For A New Patient.
Cancellation Fees
For all cancellations, a 1 business day notification is required or a fee will be incurred. Our after-hours answering service will not accept any message regarding an appointment cancellation.
Payments and Fees
All co-pays and deductibles are due at the time of your appointment.
We accept major credit cards, cash and checks.
Insurances
We accept most insurances. Please contact our office for insurance verification.
If your insurance is an HMO, you will need an authorization from your
Billing Question
If you have any questions with regards to billing, you may contact Metro Billing at
(408) 448-9213.
Prescription Refills
Please ask your pharmacist to fax us the prescription refill request during normal business hours. If your prescription requires insurance authorization, please be sure to request your refill at least 48 hours prior to running out.
Medical Record Copies
We will provide you with a copy of your child's medical records for a fee. Please submit a completed Request for Medical Records form available on our Forms & Materials page. The office staff will inform you of the total fees due after your written request has been reviewed.
Emergencies
This website should not be used for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. For after-hours advice, please call (408) 358-3573 and the on-call doctor will be contacted. All other non-urgent messages, including prescription refills will be returned within 24 business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about urgent appointments?
If your pediatrician feels your child needs to be seen right away, please have him or her call us to discuss the case. We might decide to start some tests in advance of the appointment, or schedule an earlier appointment.
What will happen at the first appointment?
We will ask a lot of questions to get to know your child. We will give your child a full physical exam that may include a rectal exam, and we may request blood or stool tests or an x-ray. Procedures such as endoscopies are not done at the first visit. Please bring a current list of the medications your child is taking including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products.
Should my child fast for the first visit?
No, please feed your child normally. In fact, bringing a snack and entertainment is a good idea.
Can I talk to the doctor without bringing my child?
Your child must be present and examined at all visits for us to provide the best medical care. If you wish to speak to the doctor in private, before or after the visit, please let the doctor or our receptionist know, and we’ll be happy to arrange it.
Can a relative bring my child or can my child come on their own?
To comply with the law and to make sure we are able to give the best medical advice, we request that at least one parent or legal guardian bring your child. Older teenagers under 18 can on occasion come on their own for follow-up visits, with parent permission, if they have a good understanding of their medical condition.
What if I'm running late?
In order to give all patients adequate time with their doctor, please let us know as soon as possible if you think you will be late. Please see click on our "Policies" section on the upper right hand corner of our webpage. A missed or late appointment prevents another child from being seen in on time.
What are your office hours?
The main office at 2577 Samaritan has appointments 9 AM - 5 PM. Our receptionists are available to assist you between 9 AM - 12 PM and 2 PM - 5 PM. We also have office hours in Tracy and Salinas 2 days a month.