What To Expect at a Well Child Visit
Well-child visits are an important part of keeping your child healthy and growing on track. These visits allow us to monitor growth and development, discuss nutrition, sleep, behavior, school performance, and mental health, and ensure vaccinations are up to date. Here's what you can expect before, during, and after your appointment.
Before Your Child's Exam
Here at Cradle thru College Care, we recognize the value of your time. For that reason, we have made efforts to speed up the check-in process and reduce the wait time to be seen. In these efforts, we have created integrated, electronic forms and reminders to prepare for your visit.
Prior to every visit, you will receive a notification to remind you of your upcoming visit, and a link to electronic forms to be completed. These forms can be done at your leisure and are asked to be done prior to your arrival for your appointment. Having these forms completed will allow you to quickly be checked in by our front office staff, thus allowing our nurses and providers to see your family sooner. Completing these forms beforehand also allows our providers to review your responses before your appointment time, which assists in providing the best possible care for you and your family.
When completing the forms, if your insurance has changed (new insurance company, renewed policy, etc.) please upload a photo of the new insurance card. This will reduce the possibility of error when we submit your information to the insurance company.
Finally, if you haven’t activated your Patient Portal, you will receive a link for that as well. The Patient Portal contains patient medical information, including the shot record, so you have 24/7 access to your child’s medical records. It also allows you to see your statements and permits you to make your payment electronically 24/7.
If you have any questions about this, or haven’t received a text message, please feel free to call our front desk at 816- 942-5437 for assistance, M-F, 8:30 am to 5 pm.
A Few Days Before Your Visit
You will receive appropriate reminders a couple of days before your scheduled visit. If you need to change the date or time of the visit, please give us a call so that we can get you the date and time that best fits your schedule.
To reduce any errors in processing your insurance, we will verify your insurance for the visit. If we are unable to verify it, we will call you to obtain updated information.
What To Bring To Your Well-Child Exam
We want to spend time with you answering your questions. We strongly believe that this parent-provider communication and collaboration makes for a more effective treatment plan. As such, please bring any questions you might have with you so that the provider can cover every concern you might have.
Your child will receive an eye exam, so please ensure that they have their glasses or contacts.
Finally, please bring your insurance card with you so that we can add it to our database.
The Day Of The Visit
The provider and support staff will review your child’s chart in preparation for the visit. This individual attention will focus on any needed vaccinations, appropriate testing, and reviewing your completed forms. In addition, the results from outside labs will be reviewed as well.
At The Front Desk
First, we are glad to see you and your child. The receptionist will verify some information and collect any payments due at that time. If you haven’t completed your forms, we will resend you the link to your phone or provide you with an iPad if needed.
If there are any labs that need to be completed, your child may be asked by the front desk to provide a urine sample prior to going back to the exam room. The receptionist will let you know which exam room to go to and notify your nurse of your arrival.
In The Exam Room With The Nurse
The nurse will greet you in your exam room and ensure all necessary forms have been completed for your visit. The nurse will confirm the reason for your visit and ensure all the information we have is accurate and up to date. Your child’s vitals will be taken, and all corresponding lab tests will be performed, such as a yearly eye exam. Any paperwork you may need to have done, such as physical forms, can be handed to the nurse to give to your doctor. Once the nurse has completed their assessments, they will notify the doctor of your arrival.
In The Exam Room With The Provider
The provider has already reviewed your child’s chart and will ask some specific questions about your child’s health. A physical examination will be conducted beyond the basic vitals already obtained. It is important that you ask the provider all the questions you might have about your child’s health. Our providers will ensure that all your questions are answered and that you thoroughly understand what has been discussed. If any vaccinations or testing is required, the doctor will notify the nurse to provide the necessary services.
At Checkout
The provider will complete the examination notes. You will then be able to see them, along with any updates to your child’s vaccination record and schedule, in the Patient Portal. It could take 2-3 days for the system to update.
Charges are sent to the insurance company over the next couple of days. The insurance company will send you your explanation of benefits (EOB). If there is a balance, you will receive a notice from us and can review any potential charges in the Patient Portal.
So Now You Know
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, with a number of staff members working to ensure that you have a five- star visit.
Remember, we are available M-F, 8:30 am to 5 pm to answer your questions.
Ready to schedule your child's next well visit? Call 816-942-5437 or request an appointment through the patient portal. At Cradle Thru College Care, we're honored to care for children from infancy through their college years.
