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HOW WE PRACTICE PEDIATRICS
This material was compiled to give you an insight into the backgrounds of the staff and how we practice pediatrics in this office. The practice, opened in August 1997, is limited to primary-care pediatrics and is directed at establishing and maintaining a close and warm relationship with the children and parents who are seen here while providing up-to-date high quality medical care.
Age Limits: We see newborn infants, children and adolescents under age eighteen years providing health maintenance and treatment of those who are ill.
Referral: We refer patients to qualified consultant specialists when, in our opinion, it is in the best interest of the child to do so.
Hospitalization: We do not admit patients to the hospital or perform surgery in the office. On the rare occasion, when a child requires hospitalization, he/she is referred to pediatric colleagues or other specialists in whom we have confidence and who will keep us appraised of the status of our patients while under their care. We keep in close touch with parents during the time their child is in the hospital and pay personal visits when possible.
Staff and Biographical Sketches:
Patients and parents have a right and a responsibility to know of the competency of those entrusted with their care and the care of their children. The office is currently staffed by two physicians who limit their practice to pediatrics, a pediatric nurse practitioner, 2 nurses, 2 receptionists and a housekeeper. We also are fortunate to have a special relationship with a pharmacist. A little information about each is provided below. Complete resumes are available if more information is desired.
BLAISE E. FAVARA, M.D.
Blaise is the owner of the practice. Four years of pediatric training and an additional four years training in pediatric pathology. Board certified in pediatric pathology rather than in pediatrics and has spent most of 40 year career in children’s hospitals and related medical schools where active in the care of critically ill children, teaching and research as professor of pathology and pediatrics. Left academic medicine to enter primary-care pediatrics in 1995. Since primary care is very different from hospital-based tertiary care, retooled pediatric skills over a period of nearly three years by:
- Working in the pediatric office of Drs. Kay and Patrick Hanley, Clearwater, Florida.
- Working at the St. Petersburg , Florida Free Clinic for Children.
- Working with Dr. Ellyn Jones in Stevensville.
Maintains membership in the American Academy of Pediatrics, its Montana chapter and the Montana Medical Association. Takes more than 50 hrs of continuing medical education annually and frequently calls on academic colleagues and friends at several children’s hospitals in this and in other countries in order to stay abreast of recent developments that may affect our patients. A number of personal friends, who are renown in specific fields of pediatrics, are available for consultation in problem cases. On the staff at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, consultant to the International Heart Institute of Montana and is a clinical professor on the faculty of the University of Utah School of Medicine.
HARRY G. GILLIS, M.D.
Harry is a board certified pediatrician who practiced many years in Florida and more recently worked in an urgent pediatric care facility of the Children’s Hospital in Denver before moving to the Victor area in the spring of 2000. Harry sees patients Tuesdays and Thursdays and will occasionally take call for the practice when necessary.
MARIA HUMPHRY, P.N.P. (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner)
Maria works on Fridays with Blaise. She is trained specifically in pediatrics and she has a full-time faculty position at Montana State University. She teaches pediatrics and obstetrics to nursing students in Missoula when she’s not in the office. She began a doctorate program in nursing in early 2001, and continues on with South Valley Pediatrics. Maria will occasionally take calls as well.
Complete curriculum vitae are available on request.
In addition to Blaise Favara, Harry Gillis and Maria Humphry, you will meet Gerry, Lavon, Karren and Peggy in the office. All act as receptionist, are familiar with billing information and are here to facilitate the care of children.
Gerry Stanton, L.P.N., has been on the staff since the beginning of the practice in August 1997. She is a nurse and frequently responds to phone calls and assists with patients including the administration of vaccines. Gerry is the one with the funny accent.
Lavon Fair, L.P.N., joined the staff in the summer of 2001. She generally works one to two days a week.
Karren McLean joined us in March 1998 and serves as receptionist and accountant
Peggy Smith joined us in June 1999 and serves as receptionist.
Laura Byrne keeps our office clean and orderly.
Kathy Messer, R.Ph., Pharm.D., is a pharmacist with special interest and skills in the management of children with asthma. She works closely with us in the care of children with this common problem. Her services are available to children needing them without charge as a courtesy of Kathy and the practice.
For certain purposes we find it convenient to communicate with parents by e-mail. Some medical decisions require a visit to the office, but some information about a child can be conveyed very well by this medium. Ask about this if you are interested. If we are uncomfortable with an e-mail communication we’ll say so. If you are, please tell us.
PAYMENT FOR MEDICAL CARE
It is our policy to care for all children regardless of ability to pay. We hope that the matter of money will never deter a parent from seeking care for a sick child or defer well-child care and immunizations. We are providers for most of the regional health care plans and gladly accept patients covered by Medicaid. Please ask us about finances if you have any concerns about how to pay for your child’s medical care. We are fortunate to be in the position in which the financial aspects of pediatric care can be put in perspective and not influence the care of children. We often provide free care for those needing it. We realize that the financial aspects of health care can be troublesome so don’t hesitate to talk with us about any problems that we might help with.
©2002 South Valley Pediatrics
page updated April 7, 2002
