Frequently Asked Questions

Questions & Answers

How do I get my baby started at your practice?

We love new babies! Just give us a call during office hours to schedule an appointment after baby is born and we will get you set up with their first visit.

What are your office hours?

Our office hours are

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:45 p.m.
Office closed for lunch from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

What do I do if I call the office and it is closed?

If you have basic, non-emergent questions, our website is a great place to check for answers.

If you have an issue that you feel cannot wait, you can call the office and from there you will be connected with our nurse line. Please note that routine prescription refills or general questions should be addressed during normal office hours.

​If you believe your child’s situation is emergent, please dial 911.

Do you accept questions via email?

Dr. Gibson-Hull does not answer questions via email at this time. In the spirit of maintaining a familiar relationship with the patient and family, she would prefer to speak directly.

Are there well and sick waiting rooms?

No. Our practice is sensitive to the need to keep our well children “well” so we schedule our Well-Child appointments so that our sick kiddos don’t have to interact with the children coming in for regular check-ups.

When will I hear from the nurse instead of the physician?

Generally you will hear from the nurse first since Dr. Gibson-Hull spends the day seeing patients. But please be reassured that the nurse works in consultation with the physician in all things related to patient care. If a phone call with the physician is deemed necessary, the nurse will arrange for an appointment with the parent for their convenience.

Why do I have to show my insurance card at each visit?

So many things about insurance change regularly, and we want to make sure that the family is getting the coverage they are paying for. To that end, we want to review your insurance card to assure we have the correct information so you are charged correctly.

What is your cancellation policy?

We require a 24-hour cancellation for all appointments. We do charge a $50 fee for any missed appointments or last-minute cancellations. Please see our Insurance and Fees page for more information.

What if my child is sick in the evening or on the weekend?

Outside of regular office hours and the visit cannot wait we recommend the following options:

​Urgent Care for Kids – Multiple Locations

https://urgentcarekids.com/locations/dallas-fort-worth-area/

​Little Spurs Urgent Care – Multiple Locations

https://littlespurspedi.com/

Cook Children’s Urgent Care – Multiple Locations

http://www.cookchildrens.org/FindCare/locations/urgentcare/Pages/default.aspx

Do you provide school or sports physicals?

In order to reduce the number of visits that you have to arrange for your child, I encourage yearly Well-Child visits. These visits are good for a year and also count as physicals that can be used for school, camp or sports. We will gladly fill out your child’s sport physical form if they have had a Well Child Exam within the last 12 months.

How do I arrange for medication refills?

There are a few ways to arrange for your medication refills:

  • Call the office. The nurse will work with me to get a script ready for you to pick up or call in.

What insurances do you accept?

When should I call the doctor after-hours?

What should I expect at a well-child check up?

There are several parts to a well-child visit. For one thing, it’s an opportunity for Dr. Gibson-Hull to catch up with the patient and talk with them and their parents about how they are doing in school, how they are feeling generally and what is going on in their life.

Then there is discussions regarding growth, nutrition, sleep patterns, development happening now and what is to be expected, safety issues as it relates to developmental age and of course vaccinations if needed.

What is your vaccination policy?

It is our practice’s belief that vaccinations are vital to the overall wellness of the patient. We stand behind the science that indicates that age appropriate vaccinations are necessary for the safety of each patient and the community as a whole. As such, we do not accept patients that refuse to be immunized.

Here are some resources for parents to review immunization information:

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html

Every Child by Two

http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/

Vaccines.Gov

http://www.vaccines.gov/who_and_when/index.html

If I have an emergency, can I just walk in and be seen?

As a rule, we discourage walk-in visits. If you really think it is an emergency, call us first, or if you’re really worried, go to the emergency room which is best equipped to handle true emergencies. Patients with appointments (and that will be you, of course) deserve to be seen to as close to on time as we can manage. Walk-in patients will be triaged by the nurse, and if stable, will be given the next appointment. It is always best if an appointment has been made first.

When might one see a PNP (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner)?

We are privileged to work with an outstanding PNP. We utilize our PNP in order to see your child in a timely manner. There may be an occasion when your primary care physician is unavailable and in those instances, there is a PNP available to see your child. You may see a PNP for any well-child examinations or sick visits.

What is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner?

A Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is a nurse that holds an advanced degree, usually Master’s of Science in Nursing, to practice as a nurse practitioner. This advanced training allows a nurse practitioner to perform physical examinations, diagnose and medically manage common childhood illnesses, and teaching with a focus on disease prevention. A PNP holds a nursing license from the State Board of Nurse Examiners with a specialty designation that a PNP receives prescriptive authority and is allowed to prescribe medications to treat childhood illnesses. A PNP works in collaboration with a pediatrician in most settings. Many of the skills of a PNP straddle both the role of a nurse (assessments, histories, diagnosis, and teaching patient/families) and the role of a physician (order diagnostic exams, order medications, treat medical diseases and patient/family education). The scope of practice of a PNP:

  • Serve as a health provider for well and sick children from newborn through adolescence.
  • Perform wellness and health maintenance examinations.
  • Perform developmental screenings.
  • Diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses.
  • Provide anticipatory guidance regarding common child health concerns.
  • Provide childhood immunizations.
  • Perform school physicals.