Expecting?

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of babies, children, and teens. All medical doctors complete four years of medical school. To become specialized in the field of pediatrics, they must complete three additional years of training. Then, a pediatrician can become board-certified, which means he or she has passed a comprehensive test given by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Many pediatricians work together in a group practice with other pediatricians and nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Other members of the health care team  may include office nurses, laboratory technicians, and staff who handle the administrative details and billing.

Pediatricians care for children from newborn to adulthood, providing routine care, including immunizations. Pediatricians can also help parents with issues, such as growth and development, feeding, and discipline. Nearly all children have illnesses or injuries as they grow, and pediatricians provide this care, too.

Choosing a pediatrician is an important part of preparing for a new baby. There are many things to consider including a pediatrician's training and experience, as well as the office location, hours, and routines.

Finding a pediatrician is not hard, but you need to begin as soon as possible. You can ask your obstetrician for names, and talk with other parents about their pediatrician. It is often a good idea to meet with two or three prospective pediatricians before your baby is born. Many pediatricians offer a special time for parents to come and visit the office, learn about the doctors and staff, and ask questions. There may or may not be a charge for this visit.

The most important factor to consider when choosing a physician is trust.  You must have confidence in your physician and trust him/her to help guide you toward the best decisions for your child.  Dr. Roach feels that this is the most critical aspect of the relationship between a pediatrician and parents.  When choosing our practice, you are placing your most precious possession in our care and we take that responsibility seriously.  We will treat your children in the same way that we would treat our own.

Bluegrass Pediatrics is conveniently located and easily accessible.  Parking is convenient and there are no elevators or stairs needed to access the office.  Dr. Roach is in the office 5 days a week from 8am-5pm with extended office hours one or two nights a week.  He sees babies born at Lourdes Hospital, but is happy to accept babies born elsewhere at their 2 week check-up.  There are currently no weekend hours, but a plan is in place to see patients on weekends in the future.  We make every effort to see your child the same day if an illness occurs and have convenient appointment times available for well child and other office visits.  Appointments are taken by our friendly, helpful office staff.  Phone triage is provided by pediatric-trained medical assistants and discussed with the physician when needed during office hours.  Phone calls after hours are fielded by nurses trained in triage of children and teens and discussed with the on-call physician when necessary.  We accept all major insurances and will gladly contract with any for which we are not currently listed as a provider.

Our waiting room is child friendly and divided for both sick and well children.  When laboratory studies are needed, they can be provided by our full-service office laboratory.  Blood can be drawn by our pediatric phlebotomist.  X-ray services are also available in the office provided by Lundberg Medical Imaging.

Overall our goal is to make doctor’s visits as pleasant as possible – and maybe even fun – while providing as many services in one place as possible.  Our office is designed specifically with children and parents in mind.  We strive to provide patients and parents with a superior experience in a welcoming environment.