Frequently Asked Questions
Care Model
SOAR Pediatrics is a direct specialty care (DSC) practice serving pediatric patients and their families. We do not offer full scope pediatric care but focus on particular aspects of pediatric health and development. We provide counseling and guidance to parents of neurodivergent children and those who would like to learn more about relational communication and behavior.
Direct Primary Care (DPC) or Direct Specialty Care (DSC) is a model of healthcare that supports the doctor-patient relationship and removes third parties from our space. The framework is built around a membership, usually incorporating a monthly or sometimes annual fee, for professional medical services, such as preventative care, sick visits, vaccination, health guidance, basic labwork, and minor procedures. The membership also typically includes easy access to communicate directly with your doctor in a timely manner.
There are a handful of notably superior differences to a membership-based plan for physician care: Improved access to your doctor, less rushed appointments and transparent pricing, to name a few. Once the insurance and excessive administrative barriers are removed, more personalized care is restored.
Services
No, you do not need an official diagnosis to qualify for our services, either as a member or non-member! With the main ideas that each person/family may encounter struggles in their communication and relationships from time to time, and some people may never receive an official diagnosis, SOAR Pediatrics feel it is critical to welcome anyone wishing to learn more about brains and behavior.
Yes, every 1:1 session will be with Dr. Heather Machin, who is a board-certified pediatrician.
After our complimentary 20-minute phone consultation, you can decide if you’d like to join us. We hope you do! I’ll provide details on signing up for membership and you can sign up for the monthly 1:1 sessions through our website.
Membership payment will be prorated depending on the date you join, and charges will automatically recur monthly on the first of the month. We ask for 30 days’ notice for cancellation so as not to incur additional fees. Please view our Membership page for enrollment fee information. There will be a $25 fee for a late payment.
Relationships make the world go round. This style of medical practice under a membership model provides continuity of intimate, personalized care wherein we can establish more clarity in your needs as a parent and your child’s needs through their development and unique profile. The approach incorporates not just the child’s behavior, but the dynamics of the child’s relationships with their family members. It also recognizes the child’s unique strengths and abilities to learn about his or herself and develop a sense of agency in their life. Further, the membership provides opportunity for camaraderie through a “team” of other families who have similar desires to learn and grow in the same way. These relationships can prove invaluable over time as your specific situations evolve and new challenges arise.
The monthly membership provides you with two 60-90 minute long, virtual community sessions. These will alternate between formally lead discussions and informal, relaxed conversations and questions/answers. The goal of these meetings is to develop a sense of camaraderie while learning more about your child’s brain, breaking misconceptions, and shifting the lens in which you view behavior.
Membership also includes one monthly 45 minute private 1:1 session, where I help you navigate your specific situation with the aim of achieving a more authentic and peaceful connection with your child, and practicing skills that may serve to improve your quality of life. You can book your session from our website.
The 1:1 sessions will be self-scheduling and you will receive a reminder before the session begins, with a link to join the virtual meeting. Group sessions for members are at established times, two times per month. An email reminder will be sent before the community meeting takes place and you’re able to click a link to join the virtual session.
Dr. Machin can see patients in what is considered as the traditional pediatric age range: infancy through adolescence. The common ages/stages of families that tend to seek our services include toddler/preschool, young elementary and the middle school crew.
Yes. We feel that it is essential to build good teams around our growing children, and teachers are one of the main helpers in their lives. Therefore, having educational professionals understand your child is quite important. SOAR Pediatrics will be happy to provide letters to teachers and coaches after we have had time to get to know your child and their unique profile. Please contact me at contact@SOARpediatrics.com or complete our web form for additional information.
Yes. Dr. Machin is a board-certified General Pediatrician with additional training in assessment of Autism. She uses the CARS-2 diagnostic tool and TELE-ASD-PEDS tool, in addition to a parent interview, child observation, and additional questionnaires to assist in the evaluation process. Please email Dr. Machin for further information or complete our web form.
We love to talk with those who are curious to learn more about child development and relationship-based approaches to neurodivergent conditions! Please reach out directly via email or complete our contact form and I will provide additional information on speaking engagements.
SOAR Pediatrics is founded in evidence-based science, integrating neurobiology, principles of DIR Floortime, and aspects of psychosocial factors of health and family ecosystems. Child development is not a static and independent entity, and counseling parents and caretakers on how to explore relationships with their children is therefore an ongoing and interactive process. Our main objective is to help you shift your perspectives with the goal of fostering deeper connection to your child. Your relationship with your child is a crucial part to strengthening your child’s sense of self and lifelong potential for a sustainable and healthy quality of life. The growth in mindset looks different for everyone and is very seldom linear in its journey. It likewise is not easily measured, however as with many skills that we acquire throughout life, consistency in practice is key and the time this takes will be up to the individual.
An additional caveat: given the many domains that influence our development in life and the evolution of these areas over time, it may be worthwhile to view this process as moments where you need more support or less support.
Policies
No, we do not accept insurance for our services. We primarily operate under a membership model. Think: a gym membership or entertainment streaming subscription, but for parenting neurodivergent children! We do offer nonmember 1:1 sessions for a different price and additionally will soon offer autism evaluation, and these families will have an opportunity to enroll as members if they are interested in continuing care, after testing.
For autism evaluations only, we can provide something called a “superbill” which you may elect to submit to your insurance for reimbursement, however we strongly encourage you to check with your carrier about what is covered before testing, so you have clarity in what you may be required to pay out of pocket.
We continually strive for accessibility and ease of use. With this in mind, we will have two different days and times for our monthly meetings. However, sometimes conflicts arise, and you may not be able to attend the group meeting. These sessions are recorded, and although you won’t be able to participate in the same format, you will receive a link to watch at your convenience!
We understand that life happens. Honestly. We politely ask for 24 hours’ notice if you have to cancel a 1:1 session but also believe that everyone is entitled to one “miss” without penalty within a yearly membership cycle. Due to the time constraints of our practice and allowing time for other members, additional missed sessions will be charged $25. Nonmembers who miss a 1:1 session will be charged the full price of that session. You can login to your Charm account to make changes to your session.
1:1 sessions that are canceled at least 24 hours in advance may be able to reschedule if there is availability, but this cannot always be guaranteed. For non-members who cancel less than 24 hours before the session or who do not show up, will not receive a refund. Members will incur a $25 fee, charged to their credit card. You can make changes to your session by logging into your Charm account.
We ask for a 3-month commitment for initial membership in order to establish a sufficient foundation in understanding your needs and interests. However, our practice may not be the right fit for everyone. While our hope is to maintain an inclusive atmosphere where you feel understood and are given tools to make parenting a neurodivergent child a little easier and more rewarding, you should feel free to cancel after this period if you aren’t happy. We ask for 30 days’ notice and feedback is welcome!
At this time, due to state licensing restrictions and regulations regarding telehealth, we are only able to offer services in the state of Pennsylvania. We are hopeful of expanding access in the future!
At this time, we cannot offer discounted pricing for more than one child. We understand how challenging this can be on a personal level and are planning to arrange for adjustments to prices in the future as we grow and can accommodate.
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