Welcome to our practice
We are looking forward to getting to know you and your family, and taking care of your healthcare needs.
This is a small practice, and you will be seen by the same doctor for most of your visits. I am also the pediatrician on call most of the time.
Please call the office if you have any emergency. The call back is prompt and will assist you in deciding the best way to handle the problem. This ensures good continuity of care and makes sure your child is seen at a good facility if needed.
Walk-in centers are not staffed with Pediatricians, so for better care, please call us first.
Scheduling appointments
We see our patients on the same day for sick visits and try to accommodate your schedule as best we can, so please call the office first, when your child is ill.
f you know your child needs to be seen for a sick visit, please call our office as early that day as possible. Routine physicals should be booked at least 6 weeks in advance. We can book a physical within a week or two, but it will not be an after school or Saturday appointment.
So again, please book physicals ahead of time, so that we may best accommodate you.
Copay
All insurance copays are DUE AT THE TIME OF VISIT according to your insurance contract.
Missed appointments
When you book an appointment, that time is put aside specifically for your child.
If you are unable to keep the appointment, we request that you notify us at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments that are missed without prior 24 hour notification are subject to a $40 missed appointment fee.
Those who repeatedly miss appointments, without the courtesy of a phone call, may be discharged from the practice.
Telephone calls
Your telephone calls will be answered by our front desk staff.
Calls will be triaged and emergent calls will be directed to Dr. Ashenberg for immediate response. Urgent calls will be returned by either Dr Ashenberg or the nurse within one hour and all non-urgent calls will be returned before the staff leaves for the day.
After hours, weekends and holidays
There is pediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have an emergency when the office is closed, please call our main number 978-957-4300 for instructions on how to leave a message for Dr.Ashenberg or the covering physician. You should receive a return call within 10 minutes. If you do not, please call again and when leaving your message be sure to speak clearly and REPEAT your phone number.
Prescription refills
Prescription requests and refills should be called in during our regular office hours.
Please allow 24 hours for all refills when possible.
School and camp physical forms
Two (2) physical forms with all immunizations are given to every child at their yearly physical after age 1 year.
We STRONGLY recommend that you keep a copy for yourself at all times, in case it is needed additionally during that year for things like camp, sports, or a new school.
Changes in address, phone number and insurance
Please notify the staff immediately, if there is a change of address, phone numbers, or insurance.
Transferring medical records
Should you request to transfer your child’s medical record, please be advised that there is a $20.00 fee for this service.
Upon written authorization to release the record and receipt of payment, if required, we will have the records ready for pickup within a reasonable period of time. A record summary is provided at no cost. We will only mail medical records under certain circumstances.
Our staff is here to help in any way that we can, so please don’t hesitate to ask any questions. We look forward to getting to know you and your family!