Whether you are a new parent, or a parent with new concerns, Boulevard Pediatrics is available to answer your questions and provide guidance on a daily basis. Dr. Levenstein works daily except for Fridays. Dr. Liddy is in Monday, and Wednesday-Friday. Dr. Shapiro is in daily and off on Wednesdays. Dr. Tang is in daily, and off on Thursdays. Our pediatricians rotate Saturdays in the office.
Because we are committed to patient care during office hours, we will usually return your morning calls/e-mails during our lunchtime (from noon until 1:30pm), and your afternoon calls after the end of the office day. You can also message us through your child’s chart (only if you have a pc - at this time mac users cannot access medical records ) by accessing our patient access portal at www.boulevardpediatrics.com. Please leave the best phone numbers and times available to reach you. We would appreciate it if pager numbers are not left, as time lapses may cause communication delays.
We make e-mail accessible to you through our website at www.boulevardpediatrics.com. This is a wonderful way to communicate concerns that can wait for an e-mail response. However, we will respond to e-mails only during office hours. Please respect our need to have some private time with our families in the evenings and weekends, by knowing ahead of time that any e-mails left at night will be answered the next business day. If there is a matter of urgency that needs immediate attention, please call the office during the day, or the doctor on call at night. Otherwise, expect that your e-mail will be answered within a 24 hour period (except on weekends, when your response will usually be on Monday).
E-Mail Etiquette
Although we developed a secure e-mail site, we ask the following: When you register at the office, please let us know to which specific e-mail address you desire communication about your child. Information about laboratory results and diagnoses of a sensitive nature should not be discussed via e-mail. If you have questions we feel may compromise your privacy, we will indicate this in a return message and either speak with you personally or arrange an appropriate consultation. We will make every effort to use the venue of e-mail as a tool to guide you with the care of your child. **Please note that if you are an sbc or earthlink client, both ISPS bounceback our emails to you - under these circumstances it is best to set up either a yahoo, hotmail or gmail account for communication with our office. Technology has its shortcomings!
Day-to-Day Advice
Our office staff is well-trained to steer you through most minor illnesses, answer simple questions, and help determine if an appointment is needed. Please let them assist your when necessary. For questions that are beyond their specific training our pediatricians are consulted for an answer. Please be assured that, if you need to speak with a doctor personally, our staff will take a message and your concern will be addressed within the same office day.
Telephone and Electronic Medical Evaluation, Management and/or Consultation
Boulevard Pediatrics will always be committed to providing our patients and families access to quality medical care every day. Telephone and online medical evaluation/consultation are two very important ways we meet this commitment.
Telephone and electronic communication involves the physician's time, expertise and the documentation of the medical management provided. By utilizing these convenient options, these services may replace or prevent the need for an office visit. Therefore, telephone and electronic care are recognized as patient care by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and some insurance providers as of 2008. Additionally, our medical malpractice insurance provider requires documentation to reflect this aspect of patient interaction in order to maintain compliance with current medical standards and continue our unblemished record of patient care.
Boulevard Pediatrics will be adhering to this national trend of addressing alternative methods of providing care via telephone and electronic consultation, and charging for some of those professional services. In the past, we have provided these services gratis, in order to manage immediate medical needs, adjust or start medication, treat ongoing chronic illness or assist with normal growth, development and behavioral concerns. This care will continue, but will be considered a professional service and charges may be submitted to your insurance when appropriate. Please be assured that routine calls to the office for brief guidance and support are welcome and will continue to be a courtesy service of our practice.
Circumstances for which a fee would be submitted to your insurer may include, but are not limited to, treating minor infections such as pink eye, head lice or rashes, ongoing case management of conditions like ADD, care of complex/ongoing feeding and developmental problems, troubleshooting emotional or psychological events, educational counseling and case management that requires the time and expertise of your primary care physician. In addition, some night/weekend on-call care consultations may be billed, if complex/lengthy advice is rendered, treatment initiated and an office visit is saved.
If you telephone or email us for issues or questions deemed more complex, you will be offered the option of a coming in for a regular office visit before evaluation or management is provided by phone or online. Charges will NOT apply or be billed if your communication is related to an office visit for the same complaint within the past 7 days (follow-up phone calls or emails related to that problem), or if your child needs to be seen within 24 hours after phone/electronic care was provided.
Depending on your specific health plan coverage, you will be financially responsible for all or part of this fee if not covered by your insurer. We encourage you to contact your health plan to determine your coverage for telephone and electronic services in 2008. (CPT Codes 99441-99444 and 98966-98969)
-
Telephone Consultation Fees billed to insurers: Fees based upon complexity and service provided by our MD
| Phone- Low Complexity |
$15 - $30 |
| Phone- Medium Complexity |
$30 - $45 |
| Phone- High Complexity |
$45 - $75 |
| Phone- Cumulative Monthly Complex Case Management |
$150 / hr |
-
E-mail Consultation Fee billed to insurers: $20 / per email consultation
We hope you appreciate the convenience of telephone and online consultation and the expertise required to safely deliver this care. Neither are complete substitutes for office visits however the ability to offer these services strengthens the backbone of care we can offer your child. Please contact Carolyn Beilfuss, our Business Manager, with any questions or concerns.