Divorced/Separated Parents Policy

At Forest Lane Pediatrics, our goal is to partner with parents for healthy kids. We appreciate that child(ren) with divorced or separated parents may present unique challenges, and we require parents to work with us through those challenges. This policy was developed to avoid any misunderstandings going forward.

• The physicians, medical assistants, nurses, office, and billing staff will not be put in the middle of domestic issues or disagreements over the phone or in the office.
• Please make decisions regarding appointments, vaccinations, and/or any office procedures prior to visiting our practice.
• If there is NOT a court order on file with our office, either parent or legal guardian can sign a “Consent to Treat” form that authorizes any named individuals (like grandparents, nannies etc.) to bring your child to our practice, be present during the visit and consent to any treatment during that visit. We will not be involved in any disputes regarding named individuals on the consent forms unless instructed by the court. Either parent or legal guardian can schedule an appointment for their child, be present for the visit and/or obtain a copy of the visit summary.
• Only in situations where there is a documented court order will one parent be denied access to the minor’s health record or visits at the office. Forest Lane Pediatrics must have a copy of the court order on file in the minor’s electronic medical record.
• It is both parents’ responsibility to communicate with each other about the patient’s care, office visit dates, and any other pertinent information relevant to the patient. It is not the responsibility of our providers or staff to communicate visit information to each custodial parent separately.
• Our physicians or staff will not call the other parent prior to an appointment to gain consent regarding appointments scheduled, nor will they take a call from the other parent following an appointment. We will not restrict either parent’s involvement in the patient’s care unless authorized by law; however, we also will not duplicate information delivery unless directed by law.
• We will send reminders of upcoming appointments by text and/or phone call. We can send this reminder to only the primary phone number listed on the patient’s account. It is the responsibility of the parents to decide on who should receive these communications. Our system is not able to send out duplicate reminders.
• All copays, deductibles, coinsurances, and any other fees are due at the time of the visit and are the responsibility of the parent accompanying the patient to the appointment. If there is an arrangement between the parents about split payment, it is the responsibility of the parent attending the appointment to collect from the other parent. Should the issues that come between parents become disruptive to our practice or there is non-compliance with this policy, we reserve the right to discharge the family from our practice.