Woodstock Pediatric Medicine

Building Lifelong Relationships Based on Trust and Quality Care

By Cyndi Braun

Twenty years ago, Woodstock Pediatric Medicine (WPM) opened its doors to patients. Over the years, families have built lifelong relationships with the practice. Providers now see second-generation patients, extended families and patients who travel great distances.

We pride ourselves on being a community fixture and providing care in a loving, compassionate environment, said Kelly Marulanda, practice administrator. We cherish the long-term relationships we have fostered with patients and their families.

Four board-certified pediatricians serve patients: Dr. Jordana Heaven, Dr. Adriana Rzeznik, Dr. Frini Shah and Dr. Ferdinand Yates. Two certified pediatric nurse practitioners also provide patient care: Shannon Dobson and Melanie Sprung. Providers treat childhood illnesses as well as promote good health, wellness and disease prevention for children, from birth through age 21. Nearly all insurance plans are accepted, including Tricare and Medicaid.

We are committed to providing high-quality care, said Dr. Yates, who recently joined WPM after a 34-year career in upstate New York. By building trusting relationships, we can ensure quality care through the years.

Since many parents are interested in meeting with providers prior to becoming patients, WPM offers free pre-natal and meet-and-greet visits. During these visits, parents can meet with the staff, tour the facility, ask questions about policies and just get a feel for the type of care that the practice provides.

Newborn Care
Newborn care focuses on prenatal visits, well-child check-ups and supporting caregivers in their role as parents. In order to prevent illness, providers keep patients up-to-date on immunizations, per recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control.

I especially enjoy seeing brand new babies because the parents have brought you their pride and joy. They are giving you the opportunity to get involved in their care, and theres a real trust. Getting to care for a young family with young children means we can be involved in parent education, training and skill development, said Dr. Yates.

Perhaps the most special new baby is the one brought to the practice by a former patient. The providers agree that the greatest compliment is when patients grow up, get married and return with their babies. This return of the second generation is indication that the former patients want to continue a positive relationship with their childhood providers.

School-Age Years
Just as parents watch their children pass milestone after milestone, providers enjoy seeing patients grow up.

Its fun to watch these kids grow up. Ive been here seven years, so now the babies I saw when I started here are going to school, said Shannon Dobson, CPNP. Ive seen them as newborns, toddlers, preschoolers, and now theyre in school. Its an honor to be part of their life.

Visits during the school years include well-child exams, vision/hearing screening and any necessary immunizations. The pediatricians also offer ear piercing for parents who desire that.

Summertime is when we do a lot of our well checks for school-aged children. Its sometimes my once-a-year opportunity to see kids who I have known since the day they were born, said Dr. Heaven. Its a measure of how much has changed when I walk in the exam room and see boys who are now towering over me. Its so nice to have that lifelong connection.

Extra Support
If a child is diagnosed with a chronic disease, the providers offer extra support, including the opportunity to discuss the condition at length and visit as often as they need. This caring attention goes beyond office hours.

Dobson says she thinks about her patients long after the office is closed. I worry about my kids. You dont just leave here and forget about them. When I have a child with a serious issue, I call back the next day. Sometimes parents are surprised to hear from me, but I need to make sure they are doing okay, said Dobson.

Teens and Beyond
In addition to well-child visits, WPM provides sports physicals for adolescents and help with issues such as weight management and ADHD. Some parents might think that their teenagers are getting too old to see a pediatrician, but WPM disagrees.

In pediatrics, we can take care of the kids all the way to 21. Adolescents are not miniature grown-ups. Developmentally, their brains are not adult brains, said Dr. Heaven. Pediatrics is geared to taking care of kids as they transition to adults and independence.

When teenagers come in for exams, they are not completely on their own. A parent is in the background or waiting in the hallway. This ensures that the young person has privacy, but the parent is still involved in their care. I tell the kids, this is your time, but I will be reviewing with your mom or dad because its still a team effort, said Dr. Yates. We also encourage the teenagers to have a good relationship with their parents. We want to empower that relationship for the benefit of everybody.

Once children graduate from high school, some consider going to an adult physician, but WPM says that is not yet necessary. The relationship a young person has with his/her pediatrician can provide a feeling of security in a transitional time. Pediatricians are also more knowledgeable about vaccines and paperwork required for college. However, once patients turn 21, they age out of the practice.

They often leave at 21, kicking and screaming, said Dr. Heaven, smiling. I tell them, I loved taking care of you. Ill see you when you get married and bring back your babies!

Woodstock Pediatric Medicine
2000 Professional Way
Woodstock, GA 30188
770-517-0250
WoodstockPeds.com

Office Hours: Monday Friday 8:00 am 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm 5:00 pm
Saturday starting at 9:00 am for sick appointments only