24 Hour Phone Consult

An important part of our service for our patients is 24-hour availability because significant illness and injuries can occur at any time. Our physicians rotate after hours call responsibilities to always provide continuous call coverage for our patients. We cannot give advice or speak about a medical condition concerning your child if the child is not an established patient at our clinic. 

During regular office hours, you should call our office concerning minor problems, colds, constipation, prescription refills, etc. Our nurses, under the direction of our physicians, will return phone calls made to us during regular office hours. Please have a pen and paper handy and stay at the number you left so that you do not miss the nurse’s call. If the nurse is unable to help you, a physician will return your call, usually during the noon hour or after 5 p.m., unless our schedule allows us to return them earlier. 

If you believe that your child will need an appointment, it is not necessary to speak with the nurse. You should make an appointment directly with the receptionist.  You may need to speak directly with a nurse if you are unsure whether an appointment is necessary, or if you know your concern will be a time-consuming visit. In these cases, please tell the receptionist and our nurses will return your phone call to assist you. If you have an emergency, tell the receptionist. She will notify the nurse or physician immediately. 

When you call our office, be specific about the problem or question that you desire to be addressed. In discussing health problems with either our nurse or physician, the following information is helpful: 

• length of illness 
• main symptoms 
• medications with dose currently being taken 
• medication allergies 
• your child’s weight and age 
• your child’s temperature, if they have a fever 
• the phone number of a pharmacy that is open 

After our regular hours, telephone calls made to our office should be limited to emergency and urgent medical problems which cannot wait until the office is open. After hours, your call will be answered by a pediatric nurse who should be able to help you. If the nurse is unable to help you, a physician will return your call. Due to the high volume of after-hours calls, including many that are not considered urgent, it may take up to one hour for our physician to return your call.  

Always call 911 or take your child to the nearest emergency room for any true medical emergency.  If it is an urgent problem, but not requiring an immediate trip to the emergency room, please call our office. PLEASE HAVE A PEN AND PAPER READY WHEN YOU CALL. 

Hospital Services 

Our physicians have admitting privileges at the following hospitals: 

• Baptist Medical Center 
• Children’s of Mississippi Hospital at University of Mississippi Medical Center 

Should your child require hospitalization, the most appropriate hospital will be chosen in consultation with you for your child. Please be aware of which hospitals are considered in network with your insurance.