About Guardian Pediatrics

We see patients ranging from newborns to young adulthood. We offer a wide range of services including well-child exams, sports physicals, urgent care sick-visits, and conferences for more extensive medical, behavioral, and psychological concerns. Some office procedures are also provided such as suture/staple removal and treatments for simple warts. Infants and toddlers have frequent exams to evaluate growth and development, address questions, and provide immunizations. School-aged children, adolescents, and young adults are seen annually for physical exams. Many patients remain with us during their college years and after.

Office Hours

Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with front office staff being available for phone calls beginning at 8:00am. Nurse triage is available from 8am – 5pm. For after hour emergencies, one of the doctors will be available after hours 24/7. The doctor on call will not be able to call in medicine or schedule appointments.

Doctor Availability by Weekday

Christina D. Boccone, MD: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Jaime L. McKeever, MD: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Alicyn D. Robb, MD: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Wendy E. Schulte, MD: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Insurance Statement

Office services are determined by the level of services received. Co-pays are due at the time of service. If we are not providers of your insurance, full payment is due at the time of service.

You will be asked to provide your insurance card(s) at every visit. This is to ensure that the information we have is correct and that your plan is current. Out of date cards or cards with incorrect information can cause unnecessary delays in the payment of your claim. Unpaid balances may ultimately become your full financial responsibility as per our financial policy guidelines. Frequently, small changes (for example, a group number change or plan change) may not be considered significant by patients, but insurers will not process claims that are not 100% accurate.

Insurance plans vary from employer to employer and some insurance plans change yearly. Sometimes it can be very difficult to keep up with or to understand your plan benefits. To find the answers, consult your insurance plan policy book, call the benefits number listed on your insurance card, or contact your employer’s human resource office.

Office Policies

Below is a list of our office policies. Click on any of the items below to view more information.

We feel that regularly scheduled Health Supervision Visits are important for the well being for your children. At these visits attention is paid to growth and development, diet, exercise, academic progress, as well as preventive topics related to the age of the patient. This is also a good opportunity to answer any questions or concerns you have.
Well visits are typically scheduled at the following ages:

1-2 weeks
1 month
2 months
3-4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
2 years
2.5 years
3 years and yearly there after.

Sick Visits: Same day sick visits are always available Monday-Friday.

The recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC are followed regarding immunization administration. We feel that immunizations are vital to ensure children’s good health.

Vaccines required before school include:

2 doses of Hepatitis A
3 doses of Hepatitis B
5 doses of DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis)
3-4 doses of Hib (Hemophilus influenza B)
4 doses of Prevnar (Pneumococcus)
4 doses of IPV (Polio)
2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
2 dose of Varivax (Varicella, or Chicken pox)
Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines are required for school entry for students in the 6th grade or above starting in August 2010.
Typical Immunization Schedule
Birth: Hepatitis B

1month: Hepatitis B,

2 month: Pentacel (Polio, DTaP, Hib), Prevnar, Rotavirus

4 months: Pentacel (Polio, DTaP, Hib), Prevnar, Rotavirs

6 months: Pentacel (Polio, DTaP, Hib), Prevnar, Rotavirs, Hepatitis B

12 months: Prevnar, Varicella

15-18 months: MMR, Hepatitis A, Hib, DTaP

2 years: Hepatitis A

5 years: DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella

11 years: Tdap, Menactra, HPV (recommended)

16 years and over: Second dose of Meningitis A vaccine required at age 16 years

Before start of college: Meningitis B vaccine recommended prior to the start of college

A nurse will be available Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm to answer medical questions. All phone calls will be returned that day.

To access our financial policy, please click on the following link: Guardian Pediatrics Financial Policy

Effective: September 2013

Notice of Privacy Practice

This notice describes how your medical information as a patient of this practice may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Please review it carefully. The privacy of your medical information is important to us. You may be aware the U.S. government regulators established a privacy rule, the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (“HIPPA”) governing protected health information (“PHI”). PHI includes individually identifiable heath information including demographic information and relates to your past, present or future physical and mental health or condition and related health care services. This notice tells you about how your PHI may be used, and about certain rights that you have.

Use and Disclosure of Protected Information

*Federal law provides that we may use your PHI for your treatment, without further specific notices to you, or written authorization by you. For example, we may provide laboratory or test data to that specialist.

*Federal law provides that we may use your medical information to obtain payment for our services without further specific notice to you, or written authorization by you. For example, under a health plan, we are required to provide the health insurance company with a diagnosis code for your visit and a description of the services rendered.

*Federal law provides that we may use your medical information for health care operations without further specific notice to you, or written authorization by you. For example, we may use the information, to evaluate the quality of care you received from us, or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities for our practice.

*We may use or disclose your medical information, without further notice to you, or specific authorization by you, where:

required for public health purposes
required by law to report child abuse
required by a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, such as the Department of Health, Office of Professional Discipline or Office of Professional Medical Conduct
required by law in judicial or administrative proceedings
required for law enforcement purposes by a law enforcement official
required by a coroner or medical examiner
permitted by law to a funeral director
permitted by law for organ donation purposes
permitted by law to avert a serious threat to health or safety
permitted by law and required by military authorities if you are a member of the armed forces of the U.S.
required for national security, as authorized by law
required by correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if you are an inmate or under the custody of a law enforcement official
otherwise required or permitted by law.

*certain types of uses and disclosures of protected health information require authorization, these include:

*uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes

*uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes: and

*disclosures that constitute the sale of PHI.

*other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice of Privacy Practices will be made only with an individual’s authorization

Minors

*For divorced or separated parents: each parent has equal access to health information about their unemancipated child(ren), unless there is a court order to the contrary that is known to us or unless it is a type of treatment or service where parental rights are restricted.

*We can release your medical information to a friend or family member that is involved in your medical care. For example, a babysitter or relative who is asked by a parent or guardian to take their child to the pediatrician’s office may have access to this child’s medical information. We prefer to have written authorization from the parent or guardian for someone else to accompany the child, and may make reasonable attempts to obtain this authorization.

*You can make reasonable requests, in writing, for us to use alternative methods of communication with you in a confidential manner. A separate form is available for this purpose.

*Other uses or disclosures of your medical information will be made only with your written authorization. You have the right to revoke any written authorization that you give.

Rights That You Have

*You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures described above. Except as stated below, we are not required to agree to such restrictions.

*You have the right to request confidential communications. You have the right to request that our practice communicate with you about your health and related issues in a particular manner or at a certain location e.g. at home and not at work. Such requests much be made in writing to your physician. Our practice will accommodate reasonable requests.

*You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your medical information (a reasonable fee will be charged).

*You have the right to request amendments to your medical information. Such requests must be in writing, and must state the reason for the requested amendment. We will notify you as to whether we agree or disagree with the requested amendment. If we disagree with any requested amendment, we will notify you of your rights.

*You have the right to request an accounting of any disclosures we make of your medical information. This is a list of certain non-routine disclosures our practice has made of your health information for non-treatment, payment or heath care operations purposes. An accounting does not have to be made for disclosures we make to you, or to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations, or as requested by your written authorization, or as permitted or required under 45 CFR 164.502, or for emergency or notification purposes, or for national security or intelligence purposes as permitted by law, or to correctional facilities or law enforcement officials as permitted by law, or disclosures made before April 14, 2003

*You have the right to restrict certain disclosures of Protected Health Information to a health plan, for carrying out payment or health care operations, where you pay out of pocket in full for the healthcare item or service (only healthcare providers are required to include such a statement; other covered entities may retain the existing language indicating that a Covered Entity is NOT required to agree to a requested restriction.)

*You are required to notify a Business Associate and a downstream Health Information Exchange of the restriction

*A family member or other third party may make the payment on your behalf and the restriction will still be triggered

*You have a right to, or will receive, notifications of breaches of your unsecured patient health information.

*All requests must state a time period, which may not be longer than six (6) years from the date of disclosure.

* You have a right to receive a paper copy of our notice of privacy policies.

* You have a right to receive electronic copies of health information.

Obligations That We Have

*We are required by law to maintain the privacy of protected health information and to provide individuals with notice of our legal duties and privacy practices. We are required to abide by the terms of this notice as long as it is currently in effect.

*We reserve the right to revise this notice, and to make a new notice effective for all protected health information we maintain. Any revised notice will be posted in our office, and copies will be made available there.

*We will inform you or our intention to raise funds and your right to opt out of receiving such communications.

*If you believe these privacy rights have been violated, you may file a written complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). We will provide the address of the OCR Regional Office upon your request. NO retaliation will occur against you for filing a complaint.

Organization Contact Information

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, PLEASE CONTACT:

Organization Name-Guardian Pediatrics

Address: 11590 N. Meridian Street, Suite 170 Carmel, IN 46032

Telephone Number- 317-848-3040

Contact Person: Privacy Officer

If you no-show an appointment, you may be charged a $25 NO-SHOW fee. If you cancel within 24-hours of your appointment, you may also be charged the same fee.

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At Guardian Pediatrics, we put your child’s health first.
Our team of doctors sees children whose ages range from newborns through young adulthood.

Call 317-848-3040 for appointments and information.