Congratulations!

Here are some things to consider when choosing a medical home for your newborn:

1. Please read Are we a good fit for you?. Excellent care happens when the physicians and office staff are aligned with your family priorities and philosophies regarding medical care (i.e. vaccines, use of antibiotics, office hours, etc.)
2. Check to see if we are a participating provider under your insurance.  Please contact our office for information on a specific medical plan. 
3. Call our office as soon as possible once you have decided to enroll with us. You will be asked to provide insurance information.  It is important that we hear from you before baby is born to make sure that there are no potential insurance issues. During this initial call, our staff will ask you for some other information about your baby’s upcoming birth, and answer any questions you may have about our practice.
   • At this time, if you'd like, you can schedule an appointment for a prenatal visit where you can meet with one of our doctors, have your questions about the practice answered, and get a feel for the office. However, a prenatal visit is NOT required to enroll with us and there is no charge for this type of visit.

Once you have enrolled with us, inform your obstetrician that you have selected HoCo Pediatrics for your baby's pediatric care. If you deliver at Howard County General Hospital, the hospital will contact us when your baby is born. One of our physicians will then come to the hospital to evaluate your new baby, usually on the morning following your baby's birth.

If you deliver at another hospital (other than Howard County General), the hospital's staff pediatrician will see your baby and then direct you to call our office to schedule an appointment upon discharge.  We generally want to see our new babies 2-3 days after discharge, but the hospital physician will let you know if a follow up visit is needed prior to that time.  Before you leave the hospital, please make sure the medical staff has provided you with a discharge summary for our review.  You should also make sure to complete any necessary paperwork so that all necessary medical records can be forwarded to our office. 

Important note for parents:  It is extremely important that you add your new baby to your health insurance policy once your baby is born. Most insurance plans have a 30 day grace period for newborns to be added. Once the grace period has expired, if the baby has not been added, the parent will be responsible for charges incurred. Please remember to bring your insurance card, copay, and patient forms to your first visit.