• NEW Prescriptions:
  In general, we do not prescribe new medications or make medication changes over the phone. With just a few exceptions, this is a dangerous and bad medical practice. New prescriptions and changes to medication regimens will therefore usually require an office visit. If  you have a sick child, please call the office for an appointment.  It is always preferable to provide a pharmacy a WRITTEN prescription, as it is the best way to assure accuracy and prevent errors. 

• Prescription REFILL Authorizations/Requests: 
  We are happy to phone in prescription refills to pharmacies if they are needed for ongoing treatment at a time when a followup office visit is not necessary. Particularly, long-term medications for chronic conditions may need frequent re-prescribing with certain insurance companies.

  Prescription refill requests may take our office up to 24 hours to "process",  although we try to (and usually do) have them phoned in the same day!

  Please understand that calling in prescriptions is very time consuming for both our office and the pharmacy: First, all prescription refill requests generate a record review in our office and are confirmed with the prescriber's signature. Second, we are frequently on "hold" five minutes or more with the pharmacy when calling it in. Third, any questions from the pharmacist for the clinical staff means making the pharmacy "hold" even longer.

  You can help by following these guidelines:
  

  • Don't wait until the last minute... call in your request several days before you run out of medicine.
  • Please have the following information available when you call:

  • Prescription name, form (pills or liquid?) strength and dosage (how much? how many times a day?)
  • How many days/week/months do you need?
  • Pharmacy name, location (street and town), and phone number
  • Who prescribed the original drug? When? And why?
  • The approximate date of your child's last visit for this problem.
  • The date of your child's next appointment for this problem. Understand almost all long term medications require periodic follow up visits and we may ask you to schedule an appointment prior to refilling a prescription.
  • Finally, can this drug be "called in", or does it require a WRITTEN prescription? If so, plan extra time for the script to be mailed.

  • Call the pharmacy to check if the prescription is ready BEFORE you go to pick it up.
  • Check and double check the prescription when you pick it up. Note any discrepancies immediately to the pharmacist, and call the office if you are still not certain.

• Exceptions to no-telephone prescribing rule:

• Fluoride
• Pinworm or Head Lice treatment
• Family contacts of Giardia, or Scabies.
• Certain other situations in which prophylactic treatment due to contact with a contagious illness is needed but the patient is not exhibiting signs of illness..

• Drugs that require a written prescription (no telephone refills):

• Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Metadate, Concerta
• Codeine & other narcotics
• Valium, Phenobarbital, Klonopin, Ativan
• certain others as determined by your insurance company