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Frequently Asked Questions

  >  Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I take my children to The Doctors Luce Pediatrics, LLC?

This is a medical home concept concierge style practice without the exorbitant fees. There is guaranteed access to your provider when they are in clinic as we always accommodate an acute sick walk-in appointment (well child visits are appointment only so that we can guarantee plenty of time with your provider). We are trying very hard to keep a low volume of patients, so that we can spend more TIME during each appointment. Average time spent is at least 30 minutes for an acute visit and 40-60 minutes for a well check.

How is insurance handled?

We accept all major forms of insurance. We are network providers for most insurances.  Please check the billing link for the coverage.  If you don’t see your insurance company, please give us a call.  We can see your child as an out of network provider, however there is an additional cost-share for the visit set by your insurance. Please give us a call if you have any questions regarding “out of network” care.

I don’t have insurance, what will it cost me?

You have come to the right place. We have a transparent pricing scheme that is posted in every examination room. Please contact us if you have any questions.

What if I have a question for Dr. Marcus or Dr. Mari?

The patient fusion messaging portal is the easiest way to contact Dr. Marcus or Dr. Mari. They will try their best to reply to your message quickly. You may also contact us by calling our office. Our after-hours phone service is also available to connect you with an on-call pediatrician after office hours. Please call our main office (503) 713-5330 to utilize this service. There is no charge for this service, however, you must have been seen in our clinic and be empaneled to the clinic to use.

How do I dose medications for my child as the manufacturer says ask your physician?

The dosing of all common OTC (over the counter) medications from birth to adolescent are available in the “Medication Dosing Chart” link on the left side.  Click here to download.

What do I do if I want to meet my provider before bringing my child for an appointment?

We offer a consultation visit “meet and greet” for $200 fee (you will be responsible for this charge as we will not bill this to your insurance) with parents to see if we are a good fit. We do not provide any medical evaluations or prescriptions with this visit as it is simply a meet and greet. Most parents come without their children, but they are welcome for this visit if desired.

What if my child needs specialized labs or X-rays?

We use various centers for these services depending on where you are comfortable taking your child. We provide very basic lab services in the clinic.

I have heard you have a legendary playroom, how does that work?

We wanted to make this clinic fun for all children to look forward to coming to rather than dread the immunizations so commonly associated with visits. So we purchased Skee-ball, Basketball and other active games to play while waiting or after the visit. Each child will receive free tokens for their visit to use on the games. Please don’t be irresponsible and leave children in the playroom unattended, this is a quick way to get discharged from the clinic permanently.

My child has a fever, should I bring him/her in?

A fever is the body’s way of fighting against an infection. Over 90% of fevers are caused by viral infections, most of which are treated symptomatically. If your child is under 3 months of age, a temperature of 100.4 or higher must be evaluated immediately (ER/urgent care visit recommended if clinic is closed). If your child is older than 3 months and has a fever over 104.5 with concerning symptoms, he/she should be evaluated (ER/urgent care visit recommended if clinic is closed). We also recommend an office visit if your child has fever over 3-5 days.

The main concern with fever is associated symptoms, not the fever itself.  We recommend an office visit if your child has the following symptoms.

  • Fever, ear pain, and not sleeping or eating well – this could be a sign of an ear infection.
  • Respiratory distress (difficulty breathing or shortness of breathe) regardless of temperature.
  • Any seizure like episodes associated with fever.
  • Fever with vomiting, abdominal pain, but no diarrhea – this could be a sign of an urinary tract infection or strep throat.
  • Confusion, personality or behavior change, excessive irritability, not moving head or neck with high fever – this could be an associated symptom of a serious neck infection or meningitis.
  • Decreased fluid intake, especially associated with vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Any other associated symptoms that are concerning should be evaluated by a medical provider.
Here are some helpful hints on how to treat your child’s fever.
  • Medications such as Acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (commonly known as Motrin). Never give your child Aspirin.  Acetaminophen can be given every 4-6 hours whereas Ibuprofen can be given every 6-8 hours.  Click here to download medication dosing chart.
  • Encourage your child to drink more fluid.
  • Lukewarm baths (never cold water).
  • Dress your child lightly.

My child has been diagnosed with a bacterial infection such as strep throat, and other children have similar symptoms. Or same symptoms have resumed after antibiotic treatment finished. Will you call in antibiotics for siblings or another prescription for the affected child?

The answer is NEVER. It is irresponsible to prescribe antibiotics without evaluation. Your child must be examined in order to receive a prescription for any medications. Also our practice tends to use antibiotics VERY conservatively due to resistance, opportunistic C. Diff infections (symptoms include bloody stool, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain) and yeast infections caused by inappropriate use of antibiotics. If you are concerned about your child’s symptoms, please give us a call to schedule an appointment.  Click here to schedule an appointment.