Welcome
Welcome to Center City Pediatrics – your “partner in parenting”.
As a top-rated National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient Centered Medical Home, we strive to be a resource to you, not just in illness, but also in health. We want to help you optimize your child’s growth and development, just as we do for our own children. While you provide your children “roots and wings”, our team of pediatric providers endeavor to support them as they grow from completely dependent newborns until their time “to fly off.”
Whether you choose our Main Line, Fishtown or Center City (South Street) location, we hope that you and your children will look to our “home” as a place of comfort. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff aspire, from first contact, to make every visit to our office warm, welcoming, and informative.
To help get acquainted with our practice, we strongly encourage you to browse our website. There, you can learn about our skilled providers, the services we provide, our focus on care coordination, a variety of parent education classes, news about office logistics and a host of medical resources. You can also create your own Follow My Health account, providing you with 24/7 access to your child’s medical records, as well as email access to your providers.
We look forward to getting to know you and your new addition. If not for you, we would not be able to do the job we love!
Philosophy:
Center City Pediatrics aims to be your “Medical Home” for pediatric care. In accordance with our top NCQA Patient Centered Medical Home accreditation, we are patient-focused, evidence based and community oriented. We are constantly working to improve our care, communication with families and patient satisfaction. We are interested not only in treating and preventing illness, but also in enhancing the growth and development of all our children in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policies.
Staff at a Glance:
- • 9 Doctors and 3 Nurse Practitioners – all American Academy of Pediatrics Board Certified, working across 3 convenient locations
- • Registered Nurses providing phone-based, consultative triage and in-office teaching
- • Specialists offering parent education workshops and hands-on instruction
- • A Care Coordinator helping you navigate challenging care systems
- • Medical Assistants working side-by-side with the providers, collecting information, carrying out nursing procedures and administering vaccines
- • Receptionists helping you make appointments, messaging with the Nurses and welcoming you to the practice
- • Billing assistance helping you maximize insurance reimbursement for your care
- • Administrative support keeping the whole operation running smoothly
THREE LOCATIONS. ONE GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS. 1740 South Street • Suite 200 • Philadelphia, PA 19146 • 215.735.5600 33 Rock Hill Road • Suite 170 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19146 • 610.257.9000 2365 E York Street • Philadelphia, PA 19125 • 215.278.2500 www.centercitypediatrics.com • info@centercitypediatrics.com
Accessibility:
- • 7 day a week availability for sick visits
- • Online self-scheduled appointments for certain weekday sick visits
- • Well visit availability weekdays and evenings, by appointment
- • Support for continuity of care to make appointments for well visits with your preferred provider
- • After hours and weekend call service to connect with one of our providers for emergency questions
Hours and Locations:
Center City (South Street) – 1740 South Street, Suite 200 Philadelphia, PA 19146 Phone: 215-735-5600
Monday 8:00am – 7:30pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 7:30pm Wednesday 8:00am – 7:30pm Thursday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday 8:00am – 12:00pm
Sunday CLOSED
Bala Cynwyd – 33 Rock Hill Road, Suite 170 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Phone: 610-257-9000
Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am -4:00pm
Thursday 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday CLOSED
Sunday 9:00am – 11:00am
Fishtown – 2365 E York Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125 Phone: 215-278-2641
Monday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am – 4:00pm Wednesday 8:00am – 4:00pm Thursday 8:00am – 7:30pm
Friday 8:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday/Sunday CLOSED
Prenatal Outreach
If you are reading this, it probably means that you are expecting a baby. Congratulations!!
By now, you have had a few visits to the OB or the mid-wife and have started to receive the endless advice from family and friends. No doubt, there is an increasing amount of sage wisdom coming your way about what to expect life to be like with a real baby in it. In the back of your head, there is a small, quiet voice telling you to be careful about what to believe.
Please allow us to share some things we have learned from caring for hundreds of new parents in our practice. These tips are based on years of experience as pediatricians and being parents ourselves. It is just a start. We hope you will use it as an in initial guide, as you prepare for your new life as a parent.
What is important to understand is that flexibility is probably the most valuable tool to possess. This applies to many aspects of having a baby, starting with your birth plan. Once your baby arrives, feeding, sleeping, daily schedules and almost every challenge you face as a parent will demand flexibility.
Feeding choices are many, including nursing or breast feeding, bottle feeding with formula, bottle feeding with expressed breast milk and usually a combination of all or some of these. In the first few days of your baby’s life, it is normal for there to be weight loss – regardless of what choice you have initially made for feeding. You have not done anything wrong if your baby is losing weight. If you are nursing, a regular supply of breast milk will take at least 3-4 days before it “starts to come in.” Have patience, and think of these first few days as an opportunity for both you and the baby to practice nursing. The more often you practice, the more often a signal goes to your brain to help your body produce more breast milk.
In an attempt to help the baby gain weight and minimize the risk of newborn jaundice, we usually encourage a little “tough love” for nursing parents. This starts with arousing the baby every 2-3 hours to feed. After undressing them or changing the diaper, take a wet washcloth and wipe the baby enough to wake them. During the feed, continue this annoyance to keep them awake long enough to complete 15-20 minutes on the first side, and then again on the second. Anything longer will not be sustainable at first. You cannot feed for 60-90 minutes, and have any chance to sleep enough yourself. In order to deal with issues like significant weight loss and jaundice, your pediatrician might ask you to be flexible about plans for exclusive nursing. Be flexible, and understand that there might be a medical need to supplement with expressed breast milk or formula temporarily. Tough love and supplementing is usually only needed for at most a week.
Sleep is a beautiful thing. It may become an obsession for many weeks, months and years to come. I am referring to both the baby’s sleep and your own. Some babies will sleep up to 18-19 hours a day. Unfortunately for you, it will not be all at once, and it will usually not be during the night as much as you wish.
Once you and the baby have figured out “how to feed”, and gaining weight is no longer an issue, do not expect your baby to be awake for more than an hour or so at a time. If they’ve been awake for an hour already, start to find that quiet, dark place to allow them to sleep. Even if they seem happy, content, and not obviously tired, let them sleep! When they are older, you will have a chance to enjoy their alertness for longer periods of time. But right now, it is best for them to sleep.
This is very important to remember, because an over-tired baby does not sleep better. They sleep worse! If they are tired, they will have a harder time calming down to sleep restfully. Babies are not small adults. When you or I am tired, we tend to sleep better. When babies are tired, they cannot calm themselves or self-sooth. Daytime sleep helps night time sleep. Your own daytime schedule and your inevitable “to-do list” may have to wait. Be flexible.
Common concerns. A few thoughts about what might seem abnormal, but really is not. Every newborn sounds congested, sneezes and hiccups. Most likely, nothing is wrong with them. You do not need to “suction” out their nose, use any medicine or call the doctor unless they look like they are breathing much harder, struggling more to eat, or having rivers of snot running out of the nose. The peeling of their skin or that dry skin appearance in the first few weeks of life does not require moisturizer. All of those splotches in the first week are ok too. No worries.
Questions, questions, questions. At the same time that you’re feeling completely sleep deprived, your brain will quickly become full of questions. Then, every time you visit the pediatrician, all of those questions will suddenly escape you. Don’t let this happen. Consider keeping a pen and paper nearby to jot down any questions as they arise or keep a running list on your phone. Your doctor visits will be much more satisfying when you can walk away having had all of your questions answered. Trust me, the pediatrician is expecting you to pull out the list. Sure, some lists are longer than others. That’s ok. We are confident that list will get shorter, eventually.
This is just the start of a long and rewarding process. There is much more to anticipate in the months ahead. Once you have established a relationship with your pediatrician, there will be plenty of things to ask about. Think about discussing other issues, like how to negotiate crowds and going outside, care for colds and fever, swaddling, tummy time and the need for vitamin D.
Again, congratulations. Feel free to visit our website, where we share information on a variety of topics on our “What’s Up, Doc?” blog as well as in our searchable Medical Library. Or join on of our “Come Meet Us” prenatal events. We look forward to meeting you and becoming your “Partner in Parenting”.
Classes
Center City Pediatrics is committed to creating a medical home for our patients. Providing the highest quality pediatric care requires supporting the growth and development of your entire family. This is at the center of our education program. See our website for a full list of classes, dates, descriptions, and facilitator information. Advanced registration is required through our website for all classes, and additional fees may apply. A small sample of our workshops include:
Moms Supporting Moms: Postpartum Support
Having a baby is a major life change that presents surprising and overwhelming challenges. This group is facilitated by a licensed clinical social worker and provides both a space to vent and a system to support new parents during this exciting time.
Breast or Bottle Weekly Lactation Support Group
It is never too soon to develop a healthy feeding relationship with your child. This group is facilitated by an IBCLC certified lactation consultant, troubleshooting the issues that keep you from reaching your feeding goals. A scale is available for weight checks.
Sleep Foundations
There are several causes of sleep issues and – thankfully – a host of strategies to help combat them. Our certified sleep coach covers co-sleeping, swaddling, “bad” habits and more. A complimentary “sleep check-up” is also available to all new patients. Ask our staff for details!
Infant & Toddler CPR
Accidents happen suddenly, and the ability to provide immediate care is invaluable. This non- certification course, facilitated by an American Heart Association certified instructor, is perfect for caregivers and extended family members.
Oral Motor Feeding Skills
Promoting early, healthy motor skills is critical for efficient feeding, improved breast and bottle feeding, and introduction to solid foods. Facilitated by a CCC-SLP, special attention will be given to exercises, positioning and movement support.
Introduction to Solid Foods
Starting solids is an exciting – and stressful – part of your child’s development. Facilitated by a CCC-SLP, you’ll receive the tools, guidance and support to start healthy habits from day 1.
Preparing to Return to Work as a Working Mom
Join fellow moms transitioning back to work after the birth of a child. Led by an ICF-Certified Coach, you’ll learn what to anticipate and prepare for – both at work and at home.
Check the class calendar on our website for full descriptions, facilitator biographies and registration links. New classes are added regularly!
Tech
We strive to combine our personal, hands-on, Patient Centered Medical Home approach with the latest technology. We are happy to highlight just a few of the platforms designed to save you time and provide easy access to information.
Appointment Confirmations: Want a quick and easy way to confirm your child’s appointment? Seven days before your visit, you’ll receive a text message allowing you to do just that. Need to make a change? Let us know and we will contact you by phone to reschedule.
Pre-Visit: Wish you could spend less time in our waiting room? This check-in link will be texted to you once you confirm your child’s appointment, prompting you to complete any required paperwork in advance of your visit. Pay copays, upload your insurance card, verify demographics, acknowledge office policies, and complete appropriate screening tools at your convenience. When you arrive, just let our staff know you used the Pre-Visit link.
Early Access: Have a child experiencing a new illness over the past 48 hours that is worsening overnight? Use the Early Access Self-Scheduling pop-up, available on our website Sunday – Thursday evenings beginning at 7:30pm and schedule an appointment for the following weekday morning. The link remains available until our office re-opens the following morning at 8am or until all the slots have been filled.
Well Appointment Requests: Always seem to remember you need an appointment at a time when our office is closed? Use the button on the top of our homepage to submit your well visit request anytime. Simply provide your child’s information and three day/time options. If one of your choices is available, you’ll receive a confirmation email. If we need to look at additional days, our scheduling staff will contact you by phone. For best availability, select dates 6-8 weeks in advance, and remember you can now book up to a year into the future!
Medical Library: Want advice vetted by specialists without having to wait on hold? Check out the vast Medical Library on our website. We offer trusted information on a wide variety of topics, blogs authored by our own providers, dosing guidelines for over-the-counter medications and a pediatric symptom checker – all available 24/7 from the comfort of your own home. This includes our own Wait-Worry-Panic guide, highlighting the symptoms you can treat at home and those that require more attention. These are the same resources our triage nurses and doctors reference when answering your calls!
Follow My Health: Like to review your child’s medical history, order prescription refills, request referrals and email your provider all from your phone? Enroll in our patient portal for all of this plus access to printable immunization records, visit summaries and more.
Health/Allergy History and Concerns: Prefer to spend your appointment time asking questions, not just answering them? Accurately complete the sections of the pre-visit link listing your child’s health and allergy history. This automatically populates to the chart and eliminates the provider having to ask those questions at the start of your exam, freeing up time to address your questions and concerns.
After Hours Messaging: Want timely after-hours access to the providers for emergency questions? Contact our office by phone and follow the prompts to leave a message with your child’s name, date of birth and the issue(s) they are experiencing. Your message will be sent directly to the on-call provider in both a transcribed message and in your original voice along with your child’s chart! We will still have our excellent Nurse Triage service answering your late-night calls from 10:30pm – 8am every day.
Patient Satisfaction Surveys: Want to help inform our quality improvement efforts? Completing the brief survey you’ll receive after your visit helps us to enhance the office experience for all our families. Want to do more? Consider joining our Parent Advisory Board and lend your voice to shaping our future policies. Ask a staff member how to get involved!
Vaccine Policy
Center City Pediatrics Vaccine Policy
Purpose: Center City Pediatrics is a Vaccinating Practice. This means that we adhere to the evidence-based recommendations on vaccines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACIP).*
We recommend that all of our patients follow the recommended immunization schedule, and we stock these vaccines accordingly. We will not special-order different vaccines for patients but will administer provided vaccines as long as the vial is not expired, is appropriately marked, is appropriately stored, and shows no evidence of tampering.
Even though Center City Pediatrics remains bound by current scientific evidence, we are also a practice that is sensitive to the concerns of families. As such, we acknowledge that a few parents may desire to deviate from the recommended schedule. We pledge to work with families to assure that their concerns are addressed, as long as we can continue to protect our patients from diseases that may imminently threaten them and other patients with whom they are in contact. While all vaccines on the current recommended schedule are of high importance, certain vaccine -preventable diseases are more likely to be spread through airborne transmission or direct/indirect contact with respiratory secretions in a waiting room environment. Families receiving care at Center City Pediatrics must, at minimum, abide by the recommended immunization schedule for selected vaccines, by which delays, or exclusions may pose a significant public health risk to other vulnerable patients in our practice who may be exposed.
The following are our “hard-limits” for immunization standards at Center City Pediatrics, whereby all patients must agree to receive these specific immunizations by the listed timeframe. The vaccines listed below should not be interpreted in any way as being of greater importance than other vaccines not included on this list.
| Center City Pediatrics Mandatory Vaccine Compliance Schedule Maximum Age Limit | HiB (4- dose) | DTaP (or Tdap) | PCV13 (Prevnar13) | MMR | Varicella |
| 3 months, 0 days | Dose #1 | Dose #1 | Dose #1 | ||
| 5 months, 0 days | Dose #2 | Dose #2 | Dose #2 | ||
| 7 months, 0 days | Dose #3 | Dose #3 | Dose #3 | ||
| 16 months, 0 days | Dose #4 | Dose #4 | Dose #1 | Dose #1 | |
| 19 months, 0 days | Dose #4 | ||||
| 7 years, 0 days | Dose #5 | Dose #2 | Dose #2 | ||
| 13 years, 0 days | Tdap |
Patients who join our practice as unimmunized or under-immunized must agree to initiate a “catch-up” immunization plan according to the current ACIP recommended immunization catch-up schedule**. This catch-up must be completed by the current hard- limits established by the practice, when applicable, or by one year – whichever is the shorter timeframe.
Since trust is a fundamental component of the physician/patient relationship, families who do not adhere to our required immunization standards will not be permitted to remain as patients with our practice. CCP will issue a formal notice of termination from our practice where, during the transition, we will see your child(ren) for acute conditions (sick visits). Within a 60-day time period from the date of the termination letter, you must transition your child(ren)’s care to another medical provider.
*ACIP Birth – 18 Years Immunization Schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html
**ACIP Catch-Up Immunization Schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/catchup.html
33 Rock Hill Rd
1740 South Street
2365 East York Street