Advice Line Nurse
We have both registered nurses (RN’s) or licensed practical nurses (LPN’s) staffing our advice line. Our nurses are educated with years of experience in providing pediatric phone advice, for common childhood concerns. A physician is consulted whenever a nurse may have a question and all calls are reviewed by our physicians. When you call, please refer to your child using his or her legal name. Whenever possible, please have the following information available if applicable before you call:
- Temperature – duration
- Symptoms – duration
- Medication – type, dose, how long
- Chronic illnesses (for example, diabetes)
- Allergies, including drug allergies
- Name and phone number of preferred open pharmacy
Certain symptoms almost always require an appointment, such as: ear aches, sore throat, cough with difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, frequent or painful urination and extreme lethargy.
Please understand that we have a policy not to call in prescriptions for antibiotics without seeing your child first. We are concerned about both over-and under-treatment of illnesses. If you feel an illness is severe enough to require antibiotics, we will need to examine your child in the office.
To talk to an advice line nurse, please call 616.393.0166.
Our advice line is typically available:
Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-12:15 pm and 1:30 pm -5:30 pm
Friday 8:00 am-12:15 pm and 1:30 pm -5:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am until 12:00 pm.