Telephone Calls

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Many questions or concerns about your child can be handled over the telephone. The first step in getting advice on how to care for your child is knowing when and how to call your pediatrician. ln order to get the greatest benefit from your call, please follow these suggestions:

• 1. For routine (non-emergency) questions, please try to call during office hours. One of our receptionists will answer your call. Please give your name, your child’s name and age, and your main question or concern. Your call will be returned later by a nurse or doctor.
• 2. lf you are calling about an emergency, please state “This is an emergency” as soon as the receptionist answers the phone. An emergency is considered to be a serious accident, injury or poisoning, bleeding that cannot be stopped, unconsciousness, severe breathing difficulties, convulsions, and sharp abdominal pain lasting more than two hours, a black or bloody bowel movement in an Infant, or a child who appears or acts severely ill.
• 3. lf your child is sick, always try to take the child’s temperature before calling for advice.
• 4. When you call our office, have a pencil and paper ready to write down the instructions that the doctor or nurse gives you. Have the number of your pharmacy on hand so that the doctor or nurse can order a prescription if necessary.

Our nurses are trained to answer most of your questions, but we will be happy to return your call if you wish to speak directly to a doctor. We return calls periodically during the day – before lunch, before dinner, and after 8:00 pm.

lf your child becomes seriously ill after office hours or on a holiday. One of our physicians is always available by telephone 24 hours a day. Please call our office, and the answering service will be able to Contact us to assist you. lf your after-hours call has not been returned within one hour. Please call again to make sure that the message and correct phone number have been conveyed.

In the event of a life-threatening emergency call 911, or call or go directly to the nearest Emergency Department. For an urgent, non-threatening illness after hours, please telephone our office at (630) 810-0900, or go to the Emergency Department at Hinsdale Hospital, as we are on staff at this hospital.

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