Carolyn D. Ashworth, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Pediatric Associates of North Texas

Committed to Excellence in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care

Services

Comprehensive Healthcare Services
Complementary Consultations
Phone Calls
On-Call Service
Office Visits
Accepts patients from 0 to 18 years of age
Three registered nurses available daily
Trained lactation consultant on staff
Most labs are done on the premises
Vaccination updates for parents
Vision screenings beginning at age 2
Registered dietician on site
EKG/ECG

AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) as well as stabilizing emergency equipment on premises for kids and adults

Ill Child Appointment

If you are uncertain whether you need to have a physician look at your child, please call at 8:30 a.m. and talk to the nurse so that she may advise you. Our phones are answered by actual people (not recorders) so you may need to persevere. In order for you to receive a nurse callback, you must remove "call blocking" from your phone.

Routine Problems and/or Questions

Call anytime during office hours. Please wait until 10 a.m. or later to call, as phones are very busy at 8:30 a.m.

Routine calls should be made during regular office hours. Calls will be returned in the order received by the nurses. The nurses have been specially trained. They can answer most questions and give approved advice. If there are problems that exceed their authorized limits, they will consult with the physician.

Weekend and After Hours Nurse Hot-line

Please try to limit after-hour and weekend calls to those you feel are absolutely necessary and cannot wait until regular office hours, when your child's health records are readily available. Please have a pen, paper, and your pharmacy phone number handy. Calls will be returned at regular intervals, usually within an hour. Calls on Saturday morning are free. Calls at other times after routine office hours are charged a minimal fee based on the level of care.

Emergencies:

(Any health care problem requiring immediate attention) If your call is a true emergency (i.e., IMMEDIATE contact with the physician on call is necessary), please so state when you call the office or answering service.

During Office Hours: Call the office and state your emergency. You will be given instruction on what to do.

After Office Hours: Please call the office answering machine and follow the taped instructions. After hours medical advice calls are answered by a nurse answering service. If you cannot wait for a return call, please go immediately to Medical Center of Plano emergency room without calling. There is a physician there 24 hours a day. The emergency room will then notify whomever is on call. If you have a life threatening emergency, illness, or injury you feel definitely needs immediate treatment, call 911 or go directly to Medical Center of Plano emergency room. Please have your local emergency number available if you need an ambulance. We see emergencies only at Medical Center of Plano. IMPORTANT: Please notify the office of any changes in address or telephone numbers. Whenever leaving town, make certain that the person caring for your child has a notarized statement giving them authority to obtain medical care.

Office Visits

Health Maintenance Visit (Check-up): Your child's physical and mental development are evaluated. This will involve history, physical examination, screening tests, counseling, and immunizations when required. If you need extra time, please tell the receptionist. Please call well ahead of time (two months) to schedule a check-up. If you can not keep the appointment, please be considerate enough to cancel the appointment well in advance. There will be a charge for appointments not cancelled.

Preventative Care: We recommend the following schedule as a guideline for preventive care: 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 15 months, 18 months, and 24 months, 3 and 4 years. After this period children are seen each year through adolescence. See the Checkup Schedule page for more details.

Sick Child Appointments: Your child will be seen as soon as possible on the day you call. Call early in the day. If your child's condition worsens, call for an earlier appointment. There may be an additional office charge if you do not call for an appointment first.

Problems Requiring Extra Consultation Time: If your child has a special problem, please inform the appointment secretary so we can allow time to discuss it with you. For instance:

Bed wetting

School problems/learning disabilities/hyperactivity

Behavior problems

Developmental delay/mental retardation

Complex medical problems/physical handicaps