WELCOME
Here at West Seattle Natural Medicine, we believe in holistic quality care and look forward to providing this care to you over the years. Starting early with proper nutrition and a clean environment help pave the foundation for optimal health in the years to come. We hope to help you along this journey and serve as a resource and educator to you along the way as well.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
West Seattle Natural Medicine provides healthcare for the whole family. During the newborn period, parents have many questions about their babies. Dr. Gray will take time to help you understand the normal growth and development of your baby. Throughout your child’s care, you will be introduced to a naturopathic way of viewing children’s health, including “healthy” illnesses, promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle for your growing child. We will utilize “low force” interventions when your child needs treatment, and strive to avoid the use of chemicals, drugs and surgery whenever possible.
Some unique aspects of choosing naturopathic pediatric care include a focus on breastfeeding, smart introduction of solid foods and an open, ongoing discussion about vaccination choices. We will work with you to guide your child toward healthy choices as he or she grows, and will always honor your child’s innate ability to heal her/himself.
SCHEDULING:
We recommend the standard schedule of well child check ups. These visits are scheduled to help your doctor assess your child’s growth and development over time. They also present an opportunity for you to ask questions about concerns like breastfeeding, immunizations, sleeping, teething and social skills. We advise you to schedule your well child check ups a month in advance.
Well child visits in the first year are at the following ages: Between 1-2 weeks of age, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months. During the second year of life routine visits are scheduled at 12 months, 15 months and 18 months. Beginning at 2 years, visits occur yearly. Additional visits may be scheduled to follow up on concerns about growth, development or physical complaints.
Every effort is made to schedule same day visits for sick kids. If your child is sick, please call early in the day to schedule a visit. Babies under 3 months of age always need to be seen if they develop a fever or if they are lethargic and uninterested in eating.
Pediatric First Office Visit Form
FEES:
Routine well child visits generally cost about $100, with the first visit being slightly more expensive. If your child is seen for another reason, fees depend on services provided. Generally, these visits can vary from $50- 100.
If you have health insurance, you will need to notify your health plan when your baby is born. Most newborns are covered under their parent’s insurance for 21 days or more, but every plan is different. It is also useful to find out your insurance plans’ coverage for “preventive health care”, or “well child visits”.
VACCINATIONS:
Our philosophy regarding vaccinations is that parents must become informed and make their own decision about whether to vaccinate their children. We provide extensive information and frequent discussions regarding the diseases for which we have vaccines, the controversies and concerns about those vaccines, common and uncommon side effects and vaccine efficacy. You will neither be pressured to vaccinate or not to vaccinate your child. Our advice to you about vaccinations will be individualized to your family’s lifestyle, health status and philosophy or spiritual beliefs. You will be offered all routine vaccinations for your child. Attend one of Dr. Gray’s immunization classes for more information- call the clinic to register.
REFERRALS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS:
When a child becomes acutely ill and needs specialized care we often consult with, and refer to, physicians at Children’s hospital or other pediatricians in the community. We can arrange care with a staff hospital physician if hospitalization should be needed.
AFTER HOURS CARE:
We expect that you will have many questions. Most parents find it reassuring that our practice is covered 24 hours a day by one of our physicians, or occasionally a back up ND. It is our intention that you feel well supported in your parenting journey.
The Children’s Hospital after-hours clinic is located on site at Children’s Hospital at 4800 Sand Point Way N.E. in Seattle. The clinic is for emergent problems but not emergencies – which should go directly to their Emergency Department, located at the same address. The clinic is staffed by pediatricians at Children’s and is open evenings and weekends. The exact hours vary by day of the week and season of the year. If either you or the nurse consultant feels that your child’s illness/concern should not wait until our office reopens, please feel comfortable utilizing this opportunity for more timely care. (Please see the additional Urgent Care Clinic Options if Children’s is not convenient for you).
Children’s hospital also offers web based health advice to help determine when your child should be seen. These topics are intended to help you determine how sick your child is and if you need to call your child's doctor. Their second purpose is to help you treat your child at home when it is safe to do so. www.seattlechildrens.org (then choose child health advice). This is fantastic resource for determining if and when your child needs to be seen by a physician!
TELEPHONE ACCESS
Call the clinic during business hours. M-F 9am-6pm. We welcome your questions and are here to help you in your important task of raising a happy, healthy child. Non-urgent phone calls and emails will be returned within 24-48 hours.
URGENT MATTERS during business hours:
Call the clinic and ask the reception to have one of the doctors interrupted.
URGENT MATTERS after business hours:
Option 1) If a non-emergency medical problem arises after routine office hours, call our regular office phone number 206.938.1393 and it will direct you to the on-call physician. Please note there is a $40 fee for contacting the physician after-hours. Please respect our physicians and use this for urgent concerns only! This is a direct fee not covered by insurance.
Option 2) 24 hour free telephone advice is available from the Children’s Hospital Resource Nurse triage team at (866) 987-2500.