FAQs
General Practice Questions
Why should I choose Southdale Pediatrics?
Our team of health care providers are focused on giving your family the very best health care possible each and every day. From well-child visits to allergy consultations, our pediatricians and allergists are board certified experts, and all of our nurses are experienced in pediatrics. We have convenient evening and Saturday morning hours, laboratory and X-ray services on site, and are committed to and passionate about caring for infants, children, adolescents, and allergy patients of all ages.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment if my child is sick?
We strive to provide same-day appointments for ill children. If this is not possible, our doctors and triage nurses will work with you to arrange an alternative to receive prompt and appropriate care.
What are your hospital affiliations?
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital
- Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
- Fairview Ridges Hospital
- Fairview Southdale Hospital
- University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, all of our pediatricians are accepting new patients.
What should I do if my child is sick after hours?
We have extended clinic hours weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. We also have an after-hours nurse line.
How do I get a referral?
If you have questions about a referral to see a specialist or having an imaging study done, please call our referral department at (952) 278-7000. We recommend that you first speak with your insurance company to learn about their requirements—this will help our referral department meet your needs more quickly.
How do I go about finding a pediatrician for my child?
Expectant parents may choose to schedule a “prenatal appointment” where they’ll have an opportunity to meet one of our providers, be introduced to our staff, and familiarize yourself with the office.
Parents who are new to our clinics are invited to meet with a provider and learn about our clinic as well. Call the office where you plan to go (Edina, Burnsville, or Eden Prairie), explain that you’re new to our clinic, and ask to make an appointment to meet a provider.
Some families like to make decisions based on recommendations from friends, family members, or neighbors; feel free to ask around about us, we’re confident you’ll like what you hear!
We recommend, in addition to your child’s primary health care provider, that you get to know one or two other pediatricians in our practice for ease and comfort with same-day care appointments. This way, if your child is ill and your primary physician is unavailable, your family will still see a familiar face at the office.
How do I transition from pediatric to adult care?
What is transition?
Transition is a process of moving from pediatric health care to adult health care. Somewhere between the ages of 18 and 21, most of our adolescent patients will leave Southdale Pediatric Associates and begin seeing providers who care for adults.
Why must I change doctors?
As you become a young adult, your responsibilities increase, you become more independent, and you need to learn how to care for yourself to remain healthy as you grow older. A first step in taking a more active role in your health care decisions is to transition from a pediatrician to an adult primary care doctor, such as a family medicine physician or an internist.
Your pediatrician can assist you in finding an adult primary care doctor who meets your needs or your family and friends might have a recommendation. Choose a new doctor you can trust and feel comfortable with. You can also make an appointment to talk about a health concern and meet your new doctor before making your final decision.
All patients will be encouraged to transition to an adult primary health care provider between the ages of 18-21. If you have a chronic illness or complicated medical history, talk with your current doctor about when to transition.
How will medical records and information be transferred to a new provider?
You can work with your pediatrician and a care coordinator to prepare a medical summary and plan of care to be shared with new providers. Work with your care team to determine which records need to be transferred to the new providers.
Questions About Immunizations
At what ages does my child need certain vaccines?
We follow the recommended schedule from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. Recommended immunizations begin at birth and continue through the adult years. Please don’t hesitate to ask your provider if your child’s vaccines are up to date.
How can I obtain a copy of my child’s immunization record?
To receive a copy of your child’s immunization record, email our medical records department at medicalrecords@southdalepeds.com and they will be happy to mail a copy to you.
*PLEASE NOTE:
- Medical Records cannot be emailed.
- The Medical Record department cannot respond by email.
- Please provide a contact phone number where you can be reached.
When will you have the flu vaccine available?
We have flu vaccine available in late summer-early fall. Continue to check our website to receive the latest updates: Schedule My Flu Shot
Questions Regarding Insurance and Billing
What health insurance do you accept?
We accept most major insurance plans. Please check with your health plan to ensure Southdale Pediatric Associates is an in-network provider. We currently accept:
- America’s PPO
- Aetna
- Blue Cross/Blue Shield Of Minnesota
- Blue Plus
- Blue Plus PrePaid Medical Assistance (Blue Advantage)
- Coventry Health Care
- Health Partners
- Hennepin Health – SNBC (formerly MHP)
- Medica
- Medica Prepaid Medical Assistance (Medica Choice Care)
- Minnesota Medical Assistance/Minnesota Care
- Multiplan
- Preferred One
- Select Care
- Tricare (Champus)
- UCare
- United Health Care
For more information, please contact our billing department at (952) 831-1944.