Elliot Physicians Network
Elliot Pediatrics & Primary Care at Riverside

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you accepting new patients?
Yes, our practice is gladly accepting new patients. Please call our office at 641-5386 for more information.

Can your doctors see children and adults?
Yes! We can see both children and adults in our practice.

How many physicians are at your practice?
We currently have three physicians (Gus Emmick, MD and Candide Camacho, MD, Caryn Wertheim, DO)
as well as our Nurse Practitioner, Elizabeth Mitchell who are available to meet your healthcare needs.

How easy is it to schedule an appointment?
If you are looking to schedule your annual physical we can accommodate that with in 2 to 8 weeks. If you are sick and need to be seen today, give us a call and we can have you speak to one of our nurses who will evaluate your needs and schedule an appointment if needed. We also strongly suggest that you make your next appointment with us before you leave your current visit.

What if I get sick after hours?
Call our office number (641.5386) and our nurse after hours is available to access your need and have the ability to reach the on call physician at any time. We also utilize the Elliot Hospital Emergency Room,
when needed.

Do you accept most Insurance?
Our practice, as well as all other Elliot Physician Networks locations, participates with most insurance companies. We can provide you with a list of participating insurance entities at your appointment. You may also click here for a complete listing of the insurances accepted at Elliot Physician Network offices.

Physician on-call groups FAQ's

What is the Med/Peds Call Group?
The Med/Peds Call group represents the Med/Peds physicians within the Elliot Physician Network. These offices include: Elliot Primary Care at Raymond, Elliot Pediatrics and Primary Care at Riverside, and Elliot Primary Care at Londonderry.
              - Dr. Gus Emmick or Dr. Candice Camacho (Riverside)
              - Dr. John Klunk, Dr. Nancy Husarik ,or Dr. Jason Emmick at PMC (Raymond)
              - Dr. Andy Rosen, or Dr. Jack Alexander

Although each adult or pediatric patient has a primary care physician, one of these physicians will help provide 24-hour or weekend on-call advice or treatment for urgent medical issues or emergencies. This physician will facilitate communication with the patient’s primary care physician, other physicians, and will have access to the patient’s electronic medical record if required for continuity of care.

Who will I see at my Med/Peds Office?
Typically, we try to schedule all routine appointments, well-child and routine follow-ups with the patient’s primary care physician. At times, however, the patient may see the primary care physician’s partner for urgent issues, unscheduled follow-ups, or times of physician absence due to other urgent medical responsibilities, administrative responsibilities, or vacation.

Who will I see if I am hospitalized or my child is hospitalized?
Pediatric patients will be followed by either their own primary care physician or by one of the other
Med/Peds physicians.

Adults may be followed by either the Med/Peds Call group or by the Elliot Hospitalist Service. The Hospitalist Service is composed of Board Certified Internal Medicine specialists who work closely with your primary care physician to provide the highest standard of care. The Hospitalist Service can often provide superior care when minute-to-minute decisions need to be made regarding patient care. In case of a hospital admission, your physician will determine which service is more suitable. This decision is often made on a case-by-case basis. In regards to admission decisions, you are welcome to discuss your preferences or concerns with your primary care physician.

What is a Med/Peds specialist?
It is not surprising patients are confused about what a Med/Peds physician does, as many physicians and other healthcare professionals are also confused about this topic as well.

Simply put, Med/Peds means Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. In other words, Med/Peds Physicians are trained in both Internal Medicine (Adult Medicine) and also in the care of children and infants (Pediatrics). Like other specialists, Med/Peds physicians complete additional training after medical school during their internship and residencies. During the four years of a Med/Peds residency and internship, Med/Peds physicians meet the training requirements of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics.

What is the difference between a Family Practice Physician and a Med/Peds physician? If both groups of physicians see all age ranges of patients from the infant to the elderly, what is the difference?
The difference lies more on emphasis of training than on length of training.

Both specialties Med/Peds and Family Practice have their own unique advantages. In general, the main difference is that Family Practice has an emphasis on obstetrics (care of the pregnant patient) and surgical training, and Med/Peds has an emphasis on critical (intensive) care, pediatrics and subspecialty care (i.e. cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology etc.) Both Med/Peds and Family Medicine physicians spend slightly less than half of their training in the outpatient (office) setting.

During residency while family physicians are spending a significant amount of time training in obstetrics and surgical procedures ranging from delivery of newborns to removal of skin lesions, Med/Peds physicians spend significant amounts of time training in intensive care settings including Neonatal, Pediatric, and Medical Intensive Care Units.

In the field of pediatrics, both family practice physicians and Med/Peds physicians receive extensive training in care of the newborn, child, and adolescent patient. Once again, Med/Peds training emphasizes subspecialty experiences, and in the field of pediatrics this ranges from infectious disease in children to complex growth and development issues.

When it comes to routine gynecologic care (i.e. Pap Smears and Pelvic Exams, prescribing of oral contraception etc.), both Family Practice and Med/Peds physicians perform these services. However, many family practice physicians do more advanced gynecologic care such as colposcopies and endometrial biopsies.

What is the difference in the training between a Med/Peds physician and a pediatrician or an Internist?
Med/Peds physicians by virtue of their training are Pediatricians. They have completed the same core requirements as a pediatrician in managing care of the infant, child, and adolescent patient. Additionally, they are recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics as pediatricians and also can be board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Med/Peds physicians by virtue of their training are Internists. They have completed the same core requirements as an Internal Medicine specialist in managing care of the adult patient. Additionally, they are recognized by the American College of Physicians as internists and also can be board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

What types of patients do Med/Peds physicians see?
All the Elliot Med/Peds physicians see the whole age range of patients from infants to the elderly. We enjoy routine well-child and adult physicals, but also deal with a variety of complex infants, children and adults. Med/Peds physicians often manage complex pediatric and adult patients in close consultation with pediatric and adult subspecialists including cardiologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists etc.
Med/Peds Physicians often manage complex patients with the following problems or combinations
of problems:

Pediatrics:
Former premature infants
Children with significant asthma
Children with congenital heart disease
Children with Juvenile (Type I) Diabetes
Behavioral Issues (ADHD/ADD)
Neurologic and Developmental Issues
Adolescent issues (behavioral, contraception, substance abuse etc.)

Adults:
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia
Coronary Artery Disease
Diabetes (both Adult Onset (Type II) and Juvenile (Type I)
Depression and Anxiety
Obesity and weight Issues
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Thyroid problems
Cancer survivors

Do I need both an OB/GYN and Primary Care physician?
As primary care physicians our doctors provide all aspects of your preventive healthcare needs including gynecological screenings, ensuring that you are up-to-date with recommended immunizations, monitoring your risk factors for heart disease or cancer and more. However, our physicians do not provide obstetrical care during a pregnancy, but would be happy to care for your newborn.