Welcome
CORONA VIRUS ALERT
Our office is functioning and here to serve our current families and new patients needing an assessment. Please know that your health and that of our office team is our highest priority. At the present time ALL patient visits are being conducted remotely as telehealth/virtual visits. For already scheduled appointments we will be contacting you directly as to the specifics of how this will work for your visit (phone call, face time, Vsee, Zoom etc.) as well as any updates or changes to your appointment date and time. Although patients and families coming to see us are generally healthy no patients will be offered in person visits for the present time per CDC guidance. Once it is safe to reopen our office we will do so immediately. For new patients it’s important to note that evaluations using telehealth can be accomplished with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness given the nature of our practice. I have considerable experience with telehealth as I have been performing assessments for families all over the world who do not have access to in person care in my specialty for many years. This is not new to our practice. Assessments can be performed remotely with a high degree of accuracy as long as parents actively assist in the process. You may be asked to complete a rating scale or questionnaire during your visit, and/or find specific toys and items to utilize during the consultation. To the best of our ability we will prepare in advance of your scheduled appointment time as much as possible. The key to a successful visit will be your flexibility and cooperation during your appointment. For follow up patients I will ask you for your child’s recent weight and height and of course you can email us any information you would like reviewed during or prior to your visit. If you have any questions please call or email us as usual. Together we will all get through this we will be here for you! Take good care. Please check the resources below which you may find helpful.
Guidance for Parents
- Child Trends: Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Common Sense Media: Resources for Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Early Learning Nation: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving COVID-19: 8 Strategies to Keep Children Healthy and Happy
- Harvard Graduate School of Education: Helping Children Cope with Coronavirus and Uncertainty
- National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
- ZERO to THREE: Tips for Families: Coronavirus
- Florida Department of Health https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Covid-19 Call Center 24/7 (866) 779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov
Suicide Prevention 1-800-273-8255
Domestic Violence 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
Crisis Text Line – text home to 741741
211 from any county for help with resources
Judith Aronson-Ramos, M.D., is a Board Certified Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrician. Her medical practice is devoted exclusively to the evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients with challenges in learning, behavior, development, and social-emotional functioning. Dr. Aronson-Ramos has been in practice for over 25 years and is acutely aware of the need for individualized and comprehensive care for children and families provided in a supportive and compassionate setting.
During your consultation if a definitive diagnosis is not evident, Dr Aronson-Ramos will focus on addressing the specific areas of need. Treatment supersedes finding the perfect diagnostic “fit”. If an individual has recently completed a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, she will focus on maintaining effective treatment, follow up care, and when indicated, re-evaluation. You will be provided specific recommendations and resources at each visit. The goal is for families and the patient, to be empowered from the moment they leave the office. To contact us to see if we are the appropriate fit for your child’s needs please feel free to call or email us at help@draronsonramos.com. New patients are required to complete a set of online forms and may require further screening to schedule the initial evaluation and determine if we are the right fit for you and your child.
If medication is indicated, it will be prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. We emphasize comprehensive as medications alone are ineffective in leading to a successful outcome. In an effort to provide the best possible results with medication we also perform pharmacogenetic testing (PGT) when indicated. This is a simple test using a saliva sample performed in the office to help determine the optimal medications for each patient. PGT analyzes your DNA to provide information to guide treatment so we can more quickly determine the best medication options for each patient limiting side effects and a purely trial and error approach. We discuss a range of treatments other than solely medication including exercise, nutrition, traditional and non-traditional psychotherapies, and therapeutic activities (yoga, meditation, hippo therapy, the arts etc.). Please read, The Five Most Frequently Asked Questions on our website which answers some of the most common questions we address everyday. It is also important for families to appreciate that medication management requires consistent follow up. If we are too far away for regular office visits or not the appropriate clinician to prescribe for your child these issues will be discussed at your consultation. Families should also consider these factors before seeking care with our practice. It is unethical to guarantee a medication will be prescribed, this is determined on a case by cases basis. Additionally there will be circumstances in medication management where once your child has been stabilized on medication, if sub specialist care is no longer indicated,we will refer you back to your primary care physician for follow up and refills when possible.
Dr. Aronson-Ramos will not replace your general pediatrician or primary care physician. She is a Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrician which is a sub-specialist. Additionally, there are cases when referral to a different sub specialist (psychiatrist, neurologist, etc.) is the indicated course of action and in these circumstances we will assist to make sure the referral is timely and specific. Though we appreciate you may feel our office is optimal for you and your child, if it is not be the correct clinical setting we will let you know and refer you to the appropriate clinician.
We are a fee for service medical practice and do not directly accept health insurance. To obtain reimbursement from your health insurance you will need out of network benefits and to submit the claim. We will provide you with an invoice which contains billable medical codes that you can use to submit your claim to your private health plan. This does not apply to medicaid and other government insurances. A Health Savings Account, Gardner Scholarship, or designated medical savings accounts may be used pay for your visit as well as cash, check or credit card. Our fees and this policy are explained in detail under the SERVICES tab. We are mindful of the escalating costs of health care and the burden on families. Our fees are slightly below the standard for the local private pay medical community. We provide you with the highest level of service possible in exchange for entrusting your child’s care with our practice . We recommend you view the RESOURCES tab and check listing for publicly funded local services and supports if you are unable to be a part of our practice.
On a personal note, my daughter would like to share her blog with families to provide hope and inspiration Sarah Ramos’ personal story of inspiration