FAQ

We're always available to answer your questions and encourage you to contact our office if you have a question that is not answered below. Here are some of our most commonly asked questions.

Q: What is concierge pediatrics?

A. Concierge pediatrics is a membership-based pediatric practice. Families pay a monthly or annual fee that includes all office visits, sick visits and well child check-ups, preventative care, prescription refills, as well as follow-up on any referrals. Our staff obtains notes from your child’s specialists and reminds you of any follow up appointments needed with the specialist. Our only charge outside the membership fee is for vaccinations. When vaccinations are given we provide you will a billing slip that you can provide to your insurance company. 

Our doctors only take a limited number of patients so that they can give each child more time and attention – for example well checks are typically allotted a full hour with as many follow-up visits as needed. We have a very relaxed, supportive, low-traffic environment, with personalized service.

We have easy phone and email access directly to our nurses or your doctor and same day appointments. We know all of our families by name.  ou will always see your own doctor unless they are on vacation, when one of their 2 partners will be covering. Our physicians cover their own calls during the week, and rotate calls on the weekends. 

Q: What is it like to visit your office?

A. Concierge pediatrics is about providing that one-on-one time with you and your family whenever you need it.  Our staff is friendly and welcoming. Our staff answers our phones promptly and there is no phone tree – you get to talk to someone who knows you and your family. We can usually fit you in the same day when you request an appointment. We take the time to listen to your concerns and address each one specifically. You will never be rushed in and out in 15 minutes slots. And we are available 24/7 to help you during those difficult times when you just need advice. We develop a relationship with you and your children so that visiting us is never scary or traumatic.

Our pediatricians provide preventive health care for children in good health and medical care for children who are acutely or chronically ill. They also provide parents with support and advice with issues such as growth and development, safety and prevention, nutrition, and emotional wellness to foster a lifetime of good health.

Q: What if my child needs to be hospitalized?

A. Should your child need to be hospitalized, we will care for him or her in conjunction with the hospital staff and other specialists. We maintain privileges at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford University Hospital.

Q: Is your office accepting new patients?

A. Yes, Dr. Shelly Miller is accepting new patients. Contact our office for additional information or request an informational appointment to meet her and our staff. Her bio is here.

Q: Do you take Insurance?

A. In order to offer a streamlined, no red-tape office, we do not contract with any managed care systems or third-party insurance companies. Instead there is a monthly fee for each patient. However, we are happy to provide a statement that you can submit to your insurance. The statement will provide the date of each visit and the billing code(s) associated with that visit. The fees are going to be based on the covered period – typically 6 months or 1 year. Since we don’t work with insurance carriers, we don’t know if your company will reimburse you for this membership fee expense. All plans are different in what they will cover. Some families obtain a high-deductible PPO insurance policy that will provide catastrophic coverage but allow you to use the money you save on the lower monthly premiums to obtain the kind of high-quality personalized care that you and your children deserve.

Q: What about FSA or Health Savings cards?

A. This may be a good option if you can optimize the use of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), or Health Care Reimbursement Accounts (HCRAs) offered by your employer. These plans allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical services not covered by insurance. Because all plans have different rules on what they will and won’t cover, it’s best to check with your specific plan to see.

Q: What if I need to see a specialist?

A. We will refer patients to specialists and for laboratory and radiological services as needed. Patients can use their traditional insurance for these services according to the provisions of their plan.

Q: What ages of patients do you accept?

A. We are for children from birth through college graduation.

Q: Can I meet my pediatrician before my baby is born?

A. Yes, in fact we strongly encourage parents-to-be to visit our office for a prenatal appointment. This is a great way to get acquainted with our office and our doctors. During this visit, we will answer any questions that you have about our practice or your new child. Visit our expectant parent's page for more information here.

Q: How often should my child see the pediatrician?

A. In addition to visiting us for an illness, it is also important to schedule well-child-care exams regularly, beginning in infancy. Well-care visits or checkups are routine examinations providing the best opportunity for our doctor to observe the progress of your child's physical and mental growth and development; to counsel and teach parents; to detect problems through screening tests; to provide immunizations, and to get to know one another. Well-care visits are strongly recommended as part of preventive pediatric care.

Well-child visits are also a good time for parents to raise questions and concerns about a child's development, behavior, nutrition, safety and overall well-being, though of course, we welcome your questions any time via calls or email as well.

Q: Will your doctors come to my home?

A. Yes, our doctors will come to your home for your baby’s first month’s visit at no additional charge.

And, we also offer two options for home visits. If you’ve signed up for our regular concierge in-office membership, you can still ask for a home visit when needed for an additional one-time fee. Or, if you wish to have all of your visits in your home, you can sign up for our Home Visit membership at additional cost. Contact our office for information on pricing.

Q: What is the best way to schedule an appointment with your office?

A. You can schedule an appointment by calling our office during regular business hours, sending an email to [email protected] or by requesting an appointment online here.

Q: Why does my child need to receive vaccinations?

A. Immunizations are a series of shots given to children at different ages to help ward off serious, and potentially fatal, childhood diseases. Making sure your child receives immunizations when scheduled is the best way to help protect your child from potentially fatal diseases. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, vaccinations have reduced the number of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90%. If you're apprehensive about vaccinations, please do not hesitate to contact our office. For more information on vaccinations, please go to our Resources page here.

Our Location

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed