Dear Patients:

It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my departure from Performance Pediatrics, effective October 29, 2015. As some of you know, my daily commute to Plymouth is long and stressful, prompting my decision to leave my Performance Pediatrics family.  I am joining a practice closer to my home and family but still within the same Boston Children's Hospital network Dr. McAllister is in.

It has been a great pleasure providing for your children's health care needs over the years, and it is not easy for me to leave.

Our front desk staff, Mary and Audrey, will reach out to patients scheduled with me after November 1 to reschedule you with Dr. McAllister.   

I have greatly valued the privilege of watching your children grow over the years. Best wishes for your future health.

Sincerely, Medical Home Care Coordinator

Starting in November, Performance Pediatrics will be open Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm. We will no longer have Saturday morning hours. To make up for the loss of Saturday well exams, Dr. McAllister has added many more after-school well exam slots. When we are closed and your child is ill, please use the Symptoms section of our website to determine your best healthcare option. You know, there is an old joke in healthcare about getting the patient into the doctor as soon as possible in case they get well before the doctor can get paid. At Performance Pediatrics, we know that not all symptoms have to be treated right away. When in doubt, utilize the nurse or doctor on call and, if you truly desire walk in care, we recommend urgent and retail-based clinics to supplement the care we provide in our Performance Pediatrics medical home. 

We currently have a four to six month waiting list for new patients with a few noted exceptions for established families and first-time parents. Please visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page of our website to learn more.

If you've visited Performance Pediatrics lately you may have noticed 11-year-old Andrew McAllister studying from a laptop computer or outside collecting toads. Although he attended Carver Public Schools for Kindergarten through 5th grade, Andrew started year-round homeschooling for 6th grade in June of this year. Although Dr. McAllister has every confidence in the public school system, homeschooling can be a good option for kids, like Andrew, who love to learn but don't do well in a traditional school environment. If you're interested in learning more about homeschooling we recommend contacting Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts (AHEM).

At Performance Pediatrics we believe that all children should attend school, whether public, private or homeschooling, on a regular basis. If your child is missing a lot of school, please contact us so that we can rule out any treatable physical or behavioral health condition that may be interfering with your child's learning and development. That said, it is also important that patients follow school, AAP and public health guidelines to stay home when you are sick so that you can get better and not spread disease to others. Check with your school nurse and follow the school's guidelines for when to stay home. Ultimately, the decision to stay home is the parent's. The parent is responsible for writing a note to the  school and for communicating with the school about the absence. Please review our school note policy to learn when Dr. McAllister, will, and will not, write notes to school.