Clinic Information
Childhood Health Associates of Salem is a group medical practice dedicated to the medical care of children. All physicians are board certified in pediatrics. Our clinic has a greater than twenty year history in Salem caring for children. Additionally the doctors of Childhood Health are on staff at Salem Hospital and care for newborns and ill children requiring hospitalization.
Office Hours
Monday to Friday 8 A.M.—8 P.M.
Saturday 9 A.M.—2 P.M.
Sunday Variable
(On Fridays we close from 12—2)
Office hours are by appointment only. Hours will vary depending on the season so please don’t wait until closing to make an appointment or come by the office to pick up paperwork. If immediate assistance is needed for a medical emergency please call 911. For other urgent health related matters when we are closed please call us at (503) 364-2181. A nurse will gather information about the situation and inform you of the best course of action. A nurse will notify a pediatrician if needed. Please keep in mind that our after hours service is available for urgent situations only. Issues that are not urgent are better left for regular office hours when staff can devote more time to answering your questions and have access to your child’s medical records.
Telephone Calls
General questions and appointments 364-2181
Nurse advice line 364-2181
Billing concerns 364-0227
Our staff makes every effort to provide excellent telephone service to our patients. Unfortunately, there are times when phone volume is exceedingly high. For your own convenience, you may want to consider calling our office after 10 am with non-urgent questions urgent health matters consider consulting our printed “Red Book” available for free at our office or online at www.childhoodhealth.com. After regular office hours, routine health questions are answered by Emmanual Hospital’s nurse triage service. A physician is on call at all times.
Appointments
Office visits are by appointment only. When making an appointment be sure to give the scheduler enough information such that they can schedule enough times that all of your child’s health care needs can be met. If for any reason you are unable to keep your appointment, please call at least 24 hours in advance, or as soon as you know you need to cancel. This will allow us to use the time slot for another patient who urgently needs attention. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for an appointment, you may be asked to reschedule appointment. If you are repeatedly late or fail to show up for a scheduled appointment, we may ask you to seek care at a different clinic.
Seeing My Child’s Primary Physician
Every effort is made to schedule you with your child’s primary care physician. To see the provider who knows your child best will ensure the best quality health care. However, there may be times when we are unable to accommodate your request, such as same day appointments or on weekends and holidays when only one physician is scheduled to work.
Computerized Medical Record
Our office was one of the first offices in Salem to use a computerized health record (EMR). We have been using an EMR product called Healthmatics which is supported by Allscripts for more than five years. Health information is stored on a central computer in our office accessible by computers and wireless handheld computers by our staff. We take the security of our patient’s information very seriously. Health information is protected by periodic back ups that are stored off site and out of state. We have a very large number of patients such that it was becoming impossible to always have ready access to our patient’s information when we were working with paper charts. Now with every phone call or office visit your child’s medical information is available, minimizing errors and overall improving patient care.
Fees and Billing
Our office accepts many insurance plans including the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). If your child is insured by OHP then they must be enrolled in the Marion-Polk IPA managed plan and not CareOregon as we are not currently accepting CareOregon insurance. Call your OHP case worker to make the switch.
Our fees are based on the type of visit your child needs and what your child was seen for. The more complex the issues involved, the greater the charge. Our fees are based on national benchmarks established by Medicare and supported by insurance companies. Regardless of insurance, patients are responsible for payment of their accounts. Be sure to give us accurate insurance information at every visit so we can bill your insurance promptly on your behalf. Our office bills primary and secondary insurances.
The Business Office is available at (503) 364-0227 weekdays 9a–4p to discuss any billing concerns you may have.
If your insurance requires you to list a primary physician for your child make sure this is done before your appointment or you will be asked to reschedule. You can see any provider in the office as long as one of the providers from the office is named as your primary physician. Patients whose insurance includes a co-pay are expected to make the co-pay at the time of service. If your insurance company does not pay promptly, you may be asked to pay the bill.
Prescriptions refills for many prescriptions can be done over the phone. We utilize an electronic prescribing system which allows us to transmit prescriptions electronically to many area pharmacies. If you need refill on medications just call us or the pharmacy. You will be transferred to our prescription voice mail line. We require two business days to refill all prescriptions.
Leaving the Practice
It is our policy to provide care up to the age of 18. Exceptions to this policy require physician approval. If your child needs to transfer medical care for any reason be sure to request copies of medical records and shot records for a smooth transition. Requests can be made in writing at our front desk.
Getting Your Child Vaccinated
Vaccinations are often given during well child check-ups. If shots are needed at other times, try our Shot Clinic. Remember to call ahead and book an appointment for your child. Vaccine health information also available with our health information. Flu shots are seasonal and we schedule walk-in shot clinics on Saturdays early in influenza season once vaccine is available.
Allied Health Professionals
To improve our service to you we work along with Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP’s) and Physician Assistants. These providers work with our physicians in the care of children. These staff can:
- Take medical histories, perform physical exams, make diagnoses, establish treatment plans, counsel and educate patients.
- Perform well child exams, order lab tests and prescribe medicines and immunizations.
- Refer children, when appropriate, to other physicians or health care professionals in the community.
HIPAA
In response to new privacy rules we have updated our policies to protect your child’s health information. A summary can be obtained from our front desk or on our web site.
