Office Policies

  • General Articles & Information
  • Office Policies & Procedures
  • Appointments

We see patients, by appointment, seven days a week. If you arrive without an appointment, you may not be able to see the physician. Walk-in patients (outside of walk-in hours) and late arrivals greatly decrease the efficiency of our physicians and are unfair to patients who are on time and have scheduled appointments.

We encourage patients to arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visits. For families with multiple children, each patient must have a separate appointment.

It is best to schedule non-urgent appointments, such as well check-ups, sports/camp physicals, and parent consultations at least two weeks in advance.

As a courtesy to our patients, we provide an automated phone call and text message appointment reminder two days prior to the scheduled appointment. Standard text message rates may apply.

  • Late Arrivals/Missed Appointments

Your timeliness affects our ability to provide our patients with efficient medical care. Thus, our office has little tolerance for late arrivals and missed appointments.

You will be charged a fee for all missed appointments. If you arrive late for a non-urgent visit, we may have to reschedule your appointment.

Excessive late arrivals and missed appointments could result in dismissal from Southwest Children’s Center, P.A.

  • Weekend and After 5 Appointments

Weekend appointments and appointments after 5 p.m. are available for emergencies and acutely ill established patients.

On weekends, we open and begin scheduling appointments at 8 a.m., and the office closes at 12 noon or after the last scheduled appointment (whichever comes first).

We DO NOT accept walk-ins on weekends secondary to limited physician staffing. All patients must have an appointment to be seen.

On the weekends and after 5 p.m., there will be a convenience fee billed to your insurance. If the fee is not covered by your insurance, you may be responsible.

  • Holiday Appointments

Our office is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Our office is usually open for emergencies and acutely ill established patients on all other holidays.

On select holidays, we are open and begin taking appointments at 8 a.m., and the office closes at 12 noon or after the last scheduled appointment (whichever comes first). On holidays, there will be a convenience fee billed to your insurance. If the fee is not covered by your insurance, you may be responsible.

We DO NOT accept walk-ins on holidays secondary to limited physician staffing. All patients must have an appointment to be seen.

  • Nurse Triage

Our experienced phone triage staff is available to you during office hours to answer medical questions or concerns.

  • After Hours Call

After the clinic closes, our phone calls are triaged through Methodist Children’s Hospital Nurse Triage Service. One of our physicians is always available if they cannot address your concerns.

  • Immunizations

Southwest Children’s Center, P.A. follows the immunization guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Advisory Committee on Immunization, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State of Texas. To provide a safe medical home for our patients and their families, Southwest Children’s Center will not accept new patients whose parents choose not to vaccinate. Please review Southwest Children’s Center’s Immunization Policy Update.

  • Ear Piercing

Ear piercings are available for children ages 3 months and up. Patients must be up-to-date with their immunizations prior to piercing. Southwest Children’s Center, P.A. utilizes the Blomdahl® Medical Ear Piercing System, a system only available to physicians, which offers sterile equipment and nickel-free, hypoallergenic earrings to minimize the health risks associated with ear piercing. All ear piercings are performed by physicians within the office.

*NOTE: Our policies and procedures are subject to change at any time.
  • Walk-in Appointments

Walk-in appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for your convenience.

Your child will be seen by one of Southwest Children’s Center’s dedicated providers with morning availability. This is intended to eliminate unnecessary urgent care visits, avoid fragmented medical care and ensure appropriate follow-up for our patients.

We DO NOT accept walk-ins on weekends and holidays secondary to limited physician staffing.