FAQs

Appointments can be scheduled over the phone, through Phreesia, or within eCW.

• Over the phone: Call the Palmetto Pediatrics location nearest to you and any of our team members can assist with getting an appointment scheduled.
• Through the patient portal: Existing patients can schedule appointments through the patient portal for added convenience.
• When closed: While appointments can’t be scheduled over the phone after normal operating hours, you can still reach one of our on-call providers–available 24-hours a day.

Yes, Palmetto Pediatrics offers same-day appointments for urgent illnesses and other immediate pediatric concerns when availability allows. We make every effort to schedule your child at the Palmetto or Manasota (Sarasota) office that is most convenient for your family.

If you’re an existing patient, appointments may be requested via Phreesia or by calling our office. If you’re a new patient, please call the location closest to you. If your preferred location has limited availability, our team can check the other office and help identify the most appropriate care option.

Depending on your child’s symptoms, a telehealth appointment may also be available for certain same-day concerns. If you are unsure which type of visit your child needs, please contact our team for guidance.

Yes, Palmetto Pediatrics offers telehealth appointments for certain illnesses and health concerns. A virtual visit allows your child to connect with a provider from home when an in-person exam isn’t needed. Select behavioral health follow-up and medication management visits may also be available through telehealth.

Call your Palmetto Pediatrics office to ask about scheduling a virtual visit. Our team can help determine whether telehealth is a good fit for your child’s symptoms and appointment needs.

Your child will need to appear on video during the visit. Please ask our team about location and other requirements when scheduling.

Some concerns require an in-person exam, lab work, or other testing. If your child needs further evaluation, their provider will guide you to an appropriate office or care facility.

If your child is not feeling well on the day of their wellness visit, please contact our office before the appointment. Based on their symptoms, we may recommend rescheduling the checkup or converting the appointment to a sick visit so the immediate concern can be addressed.

This allows the sick visit to focus on evaluating and treating your child’s symptoms while reserving the wellness appointment for preventive services and a complete review of their health and development.

Medication management includes assessing your child’s needs, prescribing appropriate medication, and monitoring how well it works for their age, weight, health, and development. Care may involve changing doses, checking for side effects or interactions with other medicines, and partnering with your family to support safe treatment and the best possible results for your child.

Our behavioral health team offers a welcoming, supportive space for your child to share what’s on their mind. Each session reflects their age and individual needs, with conversation, practical coping skills, and medication management when appropriate. To begin, call one of our offices to arrange an initial evaluation and discuss your child’s needs.

Your child’s behavioral health care begins with an initial evaluation by calling your preferred Palmetto Pediatrics location. At this appointment, our team takes time to understand their needs, discuss your concerns, and recommend a care plan tailored to your child.

Privacy is an important part of behavioral health care, giving your child a comfortable space to speak honestly and build trust. We respect their confidentiality while involving parents as appropriate for their safety and care, within applicable privacy requirements. For questions about how confidentiality works, please call one of our offices or talk with our team when arranging your child’s appointment.

Extended hours are operating hours outside a normal 8am – 5pm business day. During extended hours, our Palmetto location is open and operating as usual for your convenience. We recognize that between work and school, it can be challenging to always fit in your child’s pediatric visit during “normal” business hours.

After-hours support is how we refer to the care options you have available to you once our offices are closed. We make it a priority to ensure triage and medical guidance is accessible around the clock for our patients. Please visit our specific after hours support page for more information.

If your child needs support after regular office hours, call your preferred Palmetto Pediatrics location to reach our on-call provider. A physician is always available when the office is closed to discuss your concerns and guide you through the next steps for your child’s care.

If experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Our Palmetto location offers extended hours care on Mondays and weekend availability from 9:00am to 12:00pm on Saturdays.

You’ll be seen by Palmetto Pediatrics providers you know and trust, ensuring continuity and high-quality care—even outside of regular hours.

Prescription refills requests can be made through our patient portal app. To learn how to easily submit your request, watch this short video.

You can help your child prepare for vaccinations by speaking calmly and offering reassurance before the visit. For young children, bring a favorite stuffed animal, book, or other comfort item to help them feel more at ease.

For older children, explain what will happen in simple, honest terms. Let them know the shot may feel like a quick pinch, but the feeling won’t last long. Holding or comforting your child during the appointment and praising them afterward can also help make their vaccination experience more positive.

If your child has missed one or more immunizations, their provider can develop a childhood vaccine catch-up schedule. This plan follows recommended guidelines and helps your child build protection while getting their vaccinations up to date.

Your child’s recommended vaccines depend on their age and immunization history. The childhood immunization schedule begins in infancy and continues through the teen years, helping protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and whooping cough.

At each visit, your Palmetto Pediatrics provider will review your child’s vaccination record and discuss any immunizations that are due. If your child has missed a vaccine, we can create a catch-up schedule to help them get back on track safely.

Childhood vaccines help protect your child from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. By building immunity, immunizations lower the risk of infection and complications that can affect your child’s health. Vaccinating your child also helps reduce the spread of disease, protecting others in your family, at school, and throughout the community.

We recommend scheduling your newborn’s first pediatric visit within 48–72 hours after hospital discharge or a home or birthing center delivery. At this appointment, your Palmetto Pediatrics provider will check your baby’s weight and overall health, discuss feeding, and answer your questions about caring for your newborn.

If possible, arrange the visit before leaving the hospital or shortly after your baby arrives. Call your nearest Palmetto Pediatrics office to schedule your newborn’s first appointment.

To help your child’s provider prepare for their pediatric sick visit, please bring:

• Your insurance card and identification
• A list of medications, vitamins, and supplements your child takes
• Notes about their symptoms, when they began, and any fever readings
• Your child’s medical history if they’re seeing a new provider

These details help our Palmetto Pediatrics team understand your concerns and provide appropriate care.

At Palmetto Pediatrics, we accept same-day appointments to ensure your child is seen in a timely manner.  To schedule your child’s sick visit, please call one of our locations or if you are an existing patient–through the patient portal.

Your baby’s first well-child visit usually takes place within the first few days after coming home. During infancy and early childhood, regular wellness visits occur more often so your pediatric provider can monitor growth and development. As your child gets older, well-child checkups are typically scheduled once a year.

Well-child visits are scheduled regularly to follow your child’s growth and development. Babies and toddlers typically need more frequent checkups during their early years, while children older than age 3 usually have a wellness visit once a year.

Your Palmetto Pediatrics provider will guide you through the recommended schedule and let you know when it’s time for your child’s next checkup.

Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses a very cold substance, usually liquid nitrogen, to freeze and remove unwanted skin growths such as warts. During the visit, your child’s provider applies the treatment to the affected area. The skin may blister before the treated growth gradually heals and falls away. Your provider will explain what to expect and how to care for the area afterward.

Minor wound care appointments can address injuries such as small cuts, scrapes, and minor lacerations, including some cuts that may need stitches. Your child’s provider will assess the injury, clean and treat the wound, and discuss how to care for it as it heals.

If your child has a wound that may need stitches, call your preferred Palmetto Pediatrics location promptly so our team can help determine the right care. For severe bleeding, call 911.

After your baby’s circumcision, focus on keeping the area clean and protected as it heals. During diaper changes, gently clean the area with warm water and avoid using wipes directly on the site until it has healed. Change diapers often to help keep the area clean and dry.

Some redness, mild swelling, or a yellowish film can be normal during circumcision healing. If you notice significant swelling, bleeding, signs of infection, or unusual discomfort, contact your child’s Palmetto Pediatrics provider.

Yes, warts are contagious and can spread between children through skin-to-skin contact or shared items such as towels, shoes, and sports equipment. Warts can also spread to other areas of your child’s body, particularly if they pick or scratch at them. Encourage your child to leave the wart alone, keep it clean and covered when possible, and avoid sharing personal items.

Your child should feel well for their physical exam. Illness symptoms, such as fever or fatigue, can make it harder for their provider to assess their health and determine whether they’re ready to participate. If your child is sick, please call our office; we may recommend rescheduling once they’ve recovered.

If your child isn’t cleared during their sports physical, their provider has identified a concern that needs further evaluation before they participate. Our team will explain the findings and discuss next steps, which may include testing, treatment, or a follow-up visit. Once the concern has been addressed, your child can be evaluated again for clearance.

If your child has a medical condition, our pediatric team will review their health history and current needs during their physical exam. We’ll discuss whether they can safely participate in their chosen activities and recommend any precautions or restrictions. In some cases, your child may need further evaluation or follow-up before receiving clearance.

Many children need a physical exam each year, especially when required for school, sports, or camp. An annual pediatric physical gives your child’s provider an opportunity to check their growth, development, and overall health, even when a form isn’t required.

Yes, your child’s well-child visit is a convenient time to have school, sports, or camp forms completed. During the appointment, your provider reviews your child’s health and performs an exam, giving you an opportunity to discuss participation requirements and any needed clearance.

Please bring the required forms to your child’s wellness visit so your provider can review and complete them.

Your child should feel well for their physical exam. Illness symptoms, such as fever or fatigue, can make it harder for their provider to assess their health and determine whether they’re ready to participate. If your child is sick, please call our office; we may recommend rescheduling once they’ve recovered.

Yes, your child can usually return to school or daycare after a sick visit once their symptoms are improving and they are no longer contagious. Your child’s provider will give specific guidance based on diagnosis and treatment.

In general, children can return when they:

• Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
• Feel well enough to participate in normal activities
• Have improving symptoms such as cough, congestion, or sore throat
• Are no longer vomiting or having diarrhea for 24 hours

Some conditions—such as strep throat, pink eye, or certain infections—may require 24 hours of treatment (like 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.

At Palmetto Pediatrics, we accept same-day appointments to ensure your child is seen in a timely manner.  To schedule your child’s sick visit, please call one of our locations or if you are an existing patient–through the patient portal.

Yes, pediatric telehealth visits use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms to protect your child’s health information. These privacy safeguards help keep your family’s information confidential during virtual care.

Yes, your child’s provider can prescribe medication during a pediatric telehealth visit when appropriate. After reviewing your child’s symptoms, your Palmetto Pediatrics provider may send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy and explain how to use it safely.

For your child’s pediatric telehealth appointment, you’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera, microphone, and reliable internet connection. Choose a quiet, well-lit space where your Palmetto Pediatrics provider can clearly see, hear, and speak with your child during the virtual visit.

Pediatric telehealth visits can be a convenient option for mild illnesses, rashes, allergies, and follow-up care. A virtual visit may be appropriate when your child’s symptoms can be assessed through discussion and video without an in-person exam.