Paperless billing is coming to Sunset. Starting June 1st, our billing statements will be available entirely online! When you have a balance with our clinic, you will receive an email with a link and a unique access code to be able to view your new statement online as well as your billing history.

The access code allows you to log in for 30 days, but you are always able to view this information on our patient portal. The portal also gives you the ability to view after visit summaries and immunization records, request prescription refills, message your doctor’s medical staff and more! Sign up for access by filling out the forms found here.

Once you have placed a card on file with our office and your child comes in for a visit, we will bill your insurance. Once your insurance company processes the claim, they will send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) notifying you of your share of the financial responsibility.

Your insurance company also sends us a copy of your EOB and we process their payment.

On Tuesdays, a statement is electronically sent to you which contains a detailed breakdown of the charges. The remaining balance owed by you will then be charged to your credit/debit card on file and you will be emailed a receipt. If you have any questions about the information contained on your EOB, would like to use a different card to make payment, or would like to be set up on a payment plan, call our office as soon as you receive your EOB and we are happy to make payment arrangements with you!

Please keep in mind that if you unsubscribe from statement emails, you will no longer receive notification when you have a statement available. To view your statements you will have to log in to the patient portal.

Sleep needs vary from one person to another, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) endorses the guidelines put out by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) regarding how much sleep children need at the different stages in their development.  These recommendations are for a 24-hour period so if your child naps, be sure to take that into account when adding up their typical sleep hours.

Children thrive on a regular sleep routine. Side effects of regular sleep deprivation can include irritability, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, obesity, headaches and depression.  Children who get enough sleep have a healthier immune system, better school performance, behavior, memory and mental health.

Help your child develop good sleep habits with these tips from the AAP:

Keep to a regular daily routine – the same waking time, meal times, nap time and play times will help your child feel secure. Start early with bedtime routines. An easy one for younger children is brush, book, bed. Read more here.

Be active during the day – keep kids physically active and make sure they have interesting and varied activities throughout the day.

Monitor screen time – the AAP recommends keeping all screens out of children’s bedrooms. Turn off all screens at least 1 hour before bedtime.

Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice, milk or formula – water is okay but anything else can cause tooth decay.

Avoid over scheduling – children and teens have lots of scheduled evening activities like sports, appointments, music lessons, etc. in addition to homework that can make getting a good night’s sleep hard. Be sure to take time to wind down and have downtime for your children.

Learn to recognize sleep problems – the most common sleep problems include difficult falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, snoring, stalling/resisting going to bed, sleep apnea and loud/heavy breathing while sleeping.

Read more information on healthy sleep habits on the AAP’s Healthy Children website here.

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.

Summer is an important time for children and teens to keep reading and improve their language skills.  Kids who don’t read over the summer see their reading abilities stagnate or decline.  As they get older, they are more at risk of falling behind their classmates.

Why is it important to read over the summer?

Summer reading is critical to a child’s ability to not only retain information learned the previous year, but also to grow in knowledge and retain critical thinking skills.  Studies have shown that children who don’t read over the summer lose at least two months of reading development, often called the “summer slide” or the “summer learning loss.”

Keep your child reading over the summer with these tips:

• Encourage your children to read a book they enjoy for at least 30 minutes a day.
• Provide incentives for reluctant readers. For example, if your child enjoys swimming, agree to take them to the local pool if they do their daily reading.
• Make reading a social act. Many local libraries have summer reading programs for children, teens and even adults! Establish a time during the day when all members of the family gather and read together, or take turns reading the same book aloud.
• Connect reading to your family outings. If you take your kids to the zoo, consider reading a book about one of the animals you saw there later that day. The outing can help place the reading into a broader context.

Don’t forget to keep reading fun! Give your child the opportunity to choose books on their own as well. This can help keep reading interesting and inviting.

Check out the links below for summer reading programs at your local library or contact them directly to see what programs are available:

Beaverton City Library

Washington County Cooperative Library Services

Multnomah County Library

This blog is not a substitute for medical advice. Be sure to talk to your child’s medical provider with any questions.

In the fall of 2017, many of you took time to complete our patient satisfaction survey. We received many compliments and suggestions for improvement.  We’ve acted on a few that we would like to share with you:

“Please set up online scheduling.  The only improvement to your office is the ability to schedule appointments online.”

This year, flu shots can be scheduled online through our patient portal. Patients log in to the portal, view available times and select what works best for their schedule!

“Develop direct electronic communication between you and your child’s medical staff.”

Parents can communicate directly with their child’s medical staff through our patient portal! Upload forms, pictures and ask non-urgent questions. For emergencies, always call 9-1-1 immediately.

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If you are interested in filling out this year’s survey, please click the links to complete either the English or Spanish versions.  Here at Sunset, we value your opinion and appreciate honest feedback.  We want to continue to provide our families with the best care possible and your feedback helps us to do that.

All families that complete a survey will be entered to win a $100 Target gift card drawn on May 31^st.