Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is integrative pediatrics?
• What is a medical home?
• What is ecologically sustainable healthcare?
• What is the "whole child" blog?

• I would love to visit the Whole Child Center, but I live too far away. How can I find an integrative pediatrician near me?

While we wish you could join us here, we understand it can be difficult if you live far away. There is a listing of self-identified integrative pediatricians on the AAP's Section on Complementary and Integrative Medicine's site at http://www.aap.org/sections/CHIM/ParentResources.html .

• Where are you located?

For directions, click here.

• What are your hours?
  
  We are open by appointment for both well child and acute and chronic illness care, Monday through Friday. The office will be open from 8am-8pm Monday and Thursday, 8am-6pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 8am-5pm Friday. The best time to call regarding same-day appointments is 8-9am. The office is closed for lunch between 12:30pm-1:30pm daily. Office hours on Saturday are for emergencies only and will be variable based on the doctorsÕ availability. We will be available through our answering service when the office is closed.

• What ages of children will you see?
  
  From birth through age 21. We welcome infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

• What insurances do you accept?

We are currently out-of-network for all insurance plans except for Oxford/United Healthcare. Our fees, effective January 1, 2010, are posted here.

• Why are you making these changes?

In order to provide the highest quality, personalized integrative care to our families, we must spend significant time with you. Unfortunately, standard insurance reimbursement rates do not adequately cover the level and type of care we provide at the Whole Child Center. We believe our fees provide excellent value for a true partnership dedicated to optimizing your child's health and wellness.

• What hospitals are you affiliated with?

We maintain full admitting privileges at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. This is the only hospital at which we regularly round and see newborns. Dr. Rosen has consulting privileges at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ.

• What is your "typical" visit schedule?

We like to begin working with families prenatally, and we begin seeing infants either in the hospital or within 1-2 days of birth in our office. Although we tailor our schedule to each specific baby and family, we typically see babies 2-3 times in the first month and then monthly for the first 6 to 12 months. After that, the visits are generally every 2-3 months until 2 years old and then we plan together our schedule from that point forward. Some families prefer yearly or bi-yearly visits from 3 years old on, others like to come in more frequently. We will work with you to facilitate a schedule that is best for you and your child(ren).

• Do you see families in consultation, including prenatal visits?
  
  Absolutely. We encourage parents to consult with us prenatally to ensure the baby (or babies) an optimally healthy beginning and to discuss our unique approach to child health care. Additionally, for some families with children with special health care needs, it is ideal to meet first with parents in consultation before meeting with the child. We can discuss this with you if you feel this is appropriate. We typically advise this approach for children with autism or other significant medical/neurodevelopmental concerns.

• Can I e-mail the doctors?
  

  Yes. We provide secure e-mail access via a partnership with athenahealth, accessible via a link on the Center's homepage. Please use e-mail only for non-emergent questions. If this is your first time using the e-mail service, you will have to complete a very short registration process.

• What integrative/holistic services do you currently offer?


• Integrative primary care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults
• Integrative Consultations: Developmental/Behavioral, Nutritional, Academic/Athletic/Arts performance, Chronic Illness, Pain/Stress-related, Peri-operative, Prenatal (group and individual), Parenting (group and individual)
• Integrative Family Services
Please contact us for more information.

• Vaccine questions
  
  One of parents' most common concerns today is about vaccination. We welcome open dialogue about immunization and seek to support an individualized, respectful and child-centered approach. We are happy to discuss your concerns at any point and work with you to establish a relationship that we are both comfortable with. Dr. Rosen has worked with the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center to develop their Greening Vaccines initiative.

• I notice you make your own hand sanitizer for use at the Whole Child Center. What is your recipe?

  We have adapted Young Living Essential Oils "Thieves" blend to make our own all-natural, alcohol-free hand sanitizer. This neat video, narrated by Dr. Rosen's kids, will teach you how to make it yourself. You can also find the recipe here.