What should I expect at my first office visit?

Unlike other clinics you may have had experience with, we run on-time! However this requires our patients to be on-time and prepared for the office visit. Please arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of your reserved appointment time to fill out the new patient paperwork. Bring your photo ID, insurance card, medications, relevant medical records, and the Hands On Medicine new patient paperwork.

Most clinics double book 15 minute office visits. Our new patient office visits are 30-60 minutes in length. Our clinicians will sit down with you, become familiar with your personal medical history, perform a physical exam to address urgent medical concerns, and create a plan for any on-going health concerns and health maintenance. We may request previous medical records and collaborate with your other healthcare providers (specialists, acupuncturists, mental health therapists, et cetera).

Unless prior arrangements have been made, no invasive procedures will be done at your first office visit and no controlled medications will be prescribed.

We look forward to caring for you and your family.

What should I expect at a well child appointment?

The well child visit schedule is a standardized head-to-toe physical exam and assessment based on developmental milestones. Because children grow so quickly, this schedule has more frequent visits in infancy and early childhood. The following is the standardized schedule:

• Newborn Well Baby
• (2-3 days after discharge from hospital or at 3-5 days old)*
• 2 weeks old
• 1-2 months old
• 2, 4 and 6 months old
• 9, 12, 18 months old
• 2 years old and annually thereafter

* Please note that if you are expecting a baby, please call us with your expected due date and make a new baby office visit soon after your baby is born (this task should be assigned to someone other than the mother, who’s a bit busy and tired!)

What about vaccines?

The CDC has developed a vaccine schedule to reflect the standardized well-child schedule. Hands On Medicine is dedicated to the principle that prevention is the best medicine. Vaccination is a very important tool in disease prevention. We stock all childhood vaccines and the most common adult vaccines, though respect every family’s choice regarding immunizations.

If your child is new to the practice, please bring all vaccine records to your first appointment. If your child is very behind on vaccines and you would like to get caught up, we may require additional vaccine administration appointments. Please note: Your insurance may not cover additional visits for vaccines administered outside of well-child office visits or office visits that are vaccine education only visits.

We offer the service of special ordering vaccines that are not commonly stocked, however fees are required up front.

While we are happy to answer your questions at the time of your visit, we kindly request you do some research and come prepared if you have concerns. We are happy to teach you some basics, refer you to resources, and share our recommendations.

Photo by Stephen Hambuchen

How can I prepare my child for an office visit?

Please be prepared, on-time and confident. Parents set the tone of their child’s appointment. Parents should act relaxed to place children at ease. Remember that there are many things that we as adults do for our health that may not be particularly enjoyable, and the same is true for our children. A parent can model appropriate healthy behavior.

Hands On Medicine staff will be honest and developmentally appropriate with your child. We don’t like surprises anymore than your child so we will explain things as we go along. We almost always have a bit of fun along the way. And then, of course, there are prizes!

If this is your child’s first office visit please bring health and immunization records. Please arrive 15-30 minutes ahead of your reserved appointment time.

Remember: we at Hands On Medicine are your health care partner.