FAQs

Yes, same-day pediatric appointments are available at all SouthernMED Pediatrics locations for illnesses and other urgent health concerns. Whenever possible, we’ll schedule your child at their usual SouthernMED office.

Pediatric telehealth visits may also be appropriate for certain symptoms. If you’re unsure whether to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment, our team can help determine the best care option for your child.

Yes, SouthernMED Pediatrics offers telehealth appointments for established patients with certain illnesses and health concerns. Virtual pediatric visits allow your child to meet with a provider from home when an in-person examination is not required. Telehealth may also be available for select behavioral health follow-up and medication management visits.

Families can schedule a telehealth appointment online or by calling or texting their SouthernMED office. If you’re unsure whether virtual care is appropriate for your child’s symptoms or appointment type, our team can help you select the best option.

Your child must be present on video and physically located in South Carolina during the appointment. If these requirements are not met, the visit may need to be rescheduled.

Some conditions require an in-person pediatric evaluation, lab work, or diagnostic testing. If additional care is necessary, your provider may recommend visiting a SouthernMED Pediatrics location or another appropriate facility.

Yes. Appointments can be scheduled online, over the phone or via text message.

• Online: Visit our Online Scheduling page and follow the prompts that line up with the type of appointment you’re trying to schedule.
• Over the phone: Call the Sweetgrass location nearest to you and any of our team members can assist with getting an appointment scheduled.
• By text message: Send a text message to (843) 416-3333 and follow the next steps provided.
• When closed: While appointments can’t be scheduled over the phone after normal operating hours, you can still reach our pediatric nurse triage line for medical guidance.

Your child should be feeling well on the day of their school, sports, or camp physical. Symptoms such as fever or fatigue may affect the examination and prevent the provider from accurately clearing them for participation. If your child is sick, the physical may need to be rescheduled after they have recovered.

If your child becomes sick on the day of their wellness visit, please contact our office before the appointment. Depending on their symptoms, we may recommend rescheduling the well-child visit or converting it to a pediatric sick visit so their immediate health concerns can be properly evaluated and treated.

This allows your child to receive appropriate care for their illness while keeping the wellness appointment focused on preventive care, growth, and development.

Yes, SouthernMED Counseling provides both in-person counseling and secure virtual therapy appointments for children and families. Availability varies by provider and location, so please contact our team to explore the appointment option that works best for your family.

It’s common for children to feel nervous before beginning counseling. Our pediatric counseling team provides a warm, welcoming environment and uses age-appropriate therapy approaches to help your child feel at ease, develop trust, and become more comfortable with each session.

To begin counseling services, schedule an initial evaluation by calling the SouthernMED location nearest to you. During this first appointment, our counseling team will discuss your concerns, learn more about your emotional and behavioral needs, and recommend an individualized treatment plan.

Pediatric counseling sessions are confidential, creating a safe and supportive setting where your child can speak openly and build trust with their counselor. Our team respects each child’s privacy while involving parents or caregivers when necessary for the child’s safety and care. For questions about counseling confidentiality, contact one of our locations or speak with our scheduling team.

During pediatric counseling sessions, your child will have a safe, supportive space to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Each appointment is tailored to their age and individual needs and may involve conversation, therapeutic play, or activities that build healthy coping skills. To begin counseling services, contact one of our locations or schedule an initial evaluation online.

Call (803) 520-9380 and follow the instructions to access nurse triage support, or submit an online support ticket to request a callback. Include your child’s information, a brief description of your concerns, and the best phone number to reach you.

Keep your phone nearby so the nurse can contact you. Visit our After-Hours Support page for more information.

Several of our locations provide extended hours care. You’ll be seen by SouthernMED Pediatrics providers you know and trust, ensuring continuity and high-quality care.

If you don’t see your location listed as having extended hours, you can either request an appointment at a different location or call your preferred location and speak with our nurse triage line.

Pediatric care services are available after normal operating hours at the following SouthernMED Pediatrics locations:

• North Augusta + NiteOwl Extended Hours

We also offer Saturday sick visits at:

• Rock Hill (Amendment)
• Lexington (Lake Murray)

If none of these options work for you, please visit our After Hours Support page to learn more about our offerings.

Extended-hours care is available at several SouthernMED Pediatrics locations during select evenings and weekends:

• Monday–Thursday: 5:00pm–8:00pm (Lexington–Lake Murray and North Augusta + NiteOwl)
• Saturday: 9:00am–1:00pm (Lexington–Lake Murray), 9:00am–12:00pm (Rock Hill–Amendment), and 10:00am–3:00pm (North Augusta + NiteOwl)
• Sunday: 12:00pm–5:00pm (North Augusta + NiteOwl)

SouthernMED’s Lexington–Main Street Counseling location also offers counseling appointments beyond normal operating hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 5:00pm–6:00pm

To help your child prepare for vaccinations, stay calm, positive, and reassuring before and during the appointment. For younger children, bring a favorite toy, book, or comfort item to provide distraction and help them feel secure.

For older children, explain what to expect using simple, honest language. Let them know the vaccine may feel like a brief pinch that will pass quickly. Offering physical comfort and praising your child afterward can also make the vaccination experience feel more manageable.

If your child is behind on recommended vaccinations, their pediatric provider can develop a safe, age-appropriate catch-up immunization schedule. This plan follows current vaccine guidelines and helps your child receive the necessary protection as quickly and safely as possible.

If your child is behind on recommended vaccinations, their pediatric provider can develop a safe, age-appropriate catch-up immunization schedule. This plan follows current vaccine guidelines and helps your child receive the necessary protection as quickly and safely as possible.

Childhood vaccines help protect your child from serious, preventable, and potentially life-threatening diseases. Immunizations strengthen the body’s defenses, lower the risk of infection, and reduce the likelihood of health complications. Staying current on recommended vaccines also helps limit the spread of illness among families, schools, and the broader community.

If your baby is having difficulty latching, our lactation consultants can observe a feeding and evaluate positioning, latch technique, and other possible contributing factors. They’ll provide practical, hands-on breastfeeding support and recommend adjustments to make feeding more comfortable and effective for you and your baby.

Yes, lactation support can help determine what may be causing pain or discomfort during breastfeeding. Our lactation consultants will evaluate your baby’s latch, feeding position, and technique, then recommend practical adjustments to improve comfort and create a more positive feeding experience for you and your baby.

Yes, our lactation consultant can provide infant feeding support even if you are not breastfeeding. They can assist with pumping, formula feeding, and combination feeding while offering practical recommendations to help ensure your baby receives adequate nutrition and grows appropriately.

You can schedule a lactation consultation before your baby arrives or anytime after birth. While many families seek lactation support during the first few days or weeks, appointments can be helpful whenever feeding concerns develop, including latching difficulties, low milk supply, breastfeeding discomfort, pumping questions, or preparing to return to work.

For your child’s first appointment, please bring your insurance card and photo ID. Complete all Phreesia pre-visit forms before you arrive so our team can review your child’s medical history, current health needs, and other important information in advance.

For a newborn appointment, please also bring any hospital or birth records, feeding details, and discharge instructions you received. If your child is transferring from another pediatric practice, arrange to have their medical records sent to us ahead of the visit or bring a copy to support a smooth transition of care.

We recommend scheduling your newborn’s first pediatric appointment within 48–72 hours after hospital discharge or a home or birthing center delivery. During this initial newborn visit, your SouthernMED Pediatrics provider will evaluate your baby’s weight, feeding, and overall health while addressing your questions about the first days at home.

Whenever possible, arrange the appointment before leaving the hospital or soon after your baby is born. Visit our Expectant Mothers page to learn how to establish your newborn as a patient at SouthernMED Pediatrics.

SouthernMED Pediatrics provides comprehensive pediatric care for children from birth through age 18. Our experienced providers see:

• Newborns and infants (birth–12 months)
• Toddlers and preschoolers (1–4 years)
• School-age children (5–12 years)
• Teens and young adults (13–18 years)

To help your child’s pediatric sick visit go smoothly, please bring the following information and materials

• Your insurance card and photo ID
• A current list of medications, vitamins, and supplements your child takes
• Notes about symptoms, including when they began and any recorded temperatures
• A copy of your child’s medical history or records if you are seeing a new provider

SouthernMED Pediatrics offers same-day sick visits to help your child receive prompt pediatric care when they’re not feeling well. To make an appointment, call one of our locations or schedule your child’s sick visit online. Our North Augusta location offers sick visits 7 days a week. Additionally, our Rock Hill (Amendment) and Lexington (Lake Murray) locations are open on Saturdays exclusively for sick visits.

Pediatric wellness visits begin soon after birth, usually within the first few days after your newborn comes home. Well-child appointments are scheduled more frequently throughout infancy and early childhood to monitor growth, development, and overall health. As children get older, these preventive visits typically continue once a year.

Well-child visits are recommended throughout childhood to track your child’s growth, development, and overall health. Babies and toddlers typically need more frequent appointments during their first few years, while children ages 3 and older generally receive an annual wellness exam.

Your pediatric provider will follow the recommended well-child visit schedule and let you know when it’s time to arrange your child’s next checkup.

If your child is not cleared during their school, sports, or camp physical, the provider has identified a health concern that requires further evaluation before they can participate safely. Our pediatric team will explain the findings and recommend next steps, which may include testing, treatment, or a follow-up appointment. Once the concern has been addressed, your child can return for another evaluation and possible medical clearance.

If your child has an existing medical condition, our pediatric care team will review their health history, current symptoms, and overall health during the school, sports, or camp physical. The provider will determine whether your child can participate safely and discuss any necessary precautions or restrictions. Additional testing, evaluation, or follow-up care may be required before medical clearance is provided.

Most children should receive a physical exam once a year. Schools, sports programs, and camps often require an annual physical to confirm that a child can participate safely. Even when an exam is not required, yearly pediatric checkups help monitor your child’s growth, development, and overall health.

Yes, school, sports, and camp forms can often be completed during your child’s annual wellness visit. Because a well-child appointment includes a comprehensive physical exam and review of your child’s health history, it is an ideal time to address participation requirements.

Please bring all required paperwork to the appointment so your pediatric provider can review and complete the forms during the visit.

Yes, warts in children are contagious. They can spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with items and surfaces carrying the virus, including towels, shoes, and shared equipment. Picking or scratching a wart can also spread it to other areas of the body. Encourage your child to avoid touching the wart and keep it clean and covered whenever possible.

Your child can typically return to school or daycare after a sick visit when their symptoms are improving and they are no longer considered contagious. Their pediatric provider will offer specific return-to-school guidance based on the diagnosis, treatment plan, and your school or daycare’s policies.

In general, children may return when they:

• Have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication
• Feel well enough to participate in their usual activities
• Have improving symptoms, such as a cough, congestion, or sore throat
• Have not experienced vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours

Certain illnesses, including strep throat, pink eye, and other infections, may require at least 24 hours of treatment before your child can safely return to school or daycare.

Consider pediatric urgent care when your child needs prompt medical attention, especially outside regular office hours, but their symptoms are not life-threatening. Many common illnesses can be treated during a routine sick visit, while injuries or rapidly worsening symptoms may require more immediate care.

Urgent care may be appropriate for:

• Persistent fever that is not improving with appropriate medication
• Frequent vomiting or diarrhea with signs of dehydration
• A deep cut, suspected broken bone, or significant injury
• Severe ear pain or symptoms that suddenly worsen
• Hives, swelling, or another allergic reaction without breathing difficulties

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately if your child experiences severe trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, unresponsiveness, a seizure, or other life-threatening symptoms.

SouthernMED Pediatrics offers same-day sick visits to help your child receive prompt pediatric care when they’re not feeling well. To make an appointment, call one of our locations or schedule your child’s sick visit online. Our North Augusta location offers sick visits 7 days a week. Additionally, our Rock Hill (Amendment) and Lexington (Lake Murray) locations are open on Saturdays exclusively for sick visits.

No, we do not offer circumcisions for children of any age.

Medical ear piercing is now available at select SouthernMED Pediatrics locations! This service is performed by pediatric providers trained in sterile technique and wound care, giving families a safe, professional option for their child’s ear piercing.

We use the Blomdahl® system, which is designed specifically for medical ear piercing. Single-use cassettes help reduce the risk of infection and prevent patient-to-patient cross-contamination because only disposable components touch the skin. The medical-grade plastic piercing studs are also nickel-free, minimizing the risk of a nickel allergy.

Age requirements: We recommend medical ear piercing for children ages 2.5 months and older. By this age, most infants have received their first routine vaccines, and their ears have grown enough to support accurate earring placement. Eligible patients should be current on all recommended vaccinations.

Appointments are required: Medical ear piercing must be scheduled as a separate appointment and cannot be added to a sick visit or well-child appointment. A dedicated visit gives your provider enough time to perform the procedure safely, explain aftercare, and answer your questions.

What areas can be pierced? Our providers pierce earlobes only, with no more than one piercing per lobe during each appointment. We do not perform second or third ear piercings or pierce ear cartilage, noses, belly buttons, or other areas.

How much does medical ear piercing cost? The cost is $75 for up to two earlobe piercings. This fee includes the procedure and piercing studs, which should remain in place for six to eight weeks. Full payment is due at check-in on the day of the appointment.

Age guidelines for pediatric ear piercing may vary, but SouthernMED Pediatrics offers medical ear piercing for infants and older children with parental consent. Some families choose infant ear piercing, while others wait until their child can help with aftercare. Your child’s pediatric provider can explain current age requirements and help determine the right time for the procedure.

Yes, pediatric telehealth appointments are safe and secure. Virtual visits take place through a HIPAA-compliant platform designed to protect your family’s personal and medical information while maintaining your child’s privacy throughout the appointment.

Yes, a pediatric provider may prescribe medication during a telehealth appointment when medically appropriate. After evaluating your child’s symptoms and health needs, the provider can send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy and explain how to administer the medication safely.

For a pediatric telehealth appointment, you’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone, as well as a stable internet connection. Choose a quiet, well-lit location where the provider can clearly see and hear your child throughout the virtual visit.

Pediatric telehealth is a convenient care option for many non-emergency health concerns, including minor illnesses, rashes, allergies, and follow-up appointments. A virtual visit may be appropriate when your child’s symptoms can be safely assessed through a conversation and visual examination.