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Starting Feb. 29, masking is optional but encouraged in UPMC medical facilities and most patient care settings.
UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics is an affiliate of UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
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We offer care in 17 counties across Pennsylvania. Exceptional pediatric care is always close-to-home.
UPMC Children’s Express Care provides walk-in, after-hours care by board-certified pediatricians on evening and weekends.
Review FAQs and articles on common illnesses and medical conditions.
Some things are difficult to talk about. We are here to help.
Read helpful advice on managing your child’s social and emotional side.
Learn more about how you can protect your child from the flu this season.
After a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy, Sophie found the courage to compete at a gymnastics event with the help of her care provider.
Dr. Friedlander did not discredit our concerns and we are incredibly thankful to have a pediatrician who listens.
New to having a child with disabilities, Lori became educated and confident in caring for her daughter by listening to Dr. Gotkiewicz’s explanations and expertise.
UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics is asking our patients and their families to share their best stories of care with us.
UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for ambulatory health care and primary care medical home.
UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics is part of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, ranked 8th in the nation overall by U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Honor Roll for Best Children’s Hospitals.
An important part of wellness in children is nutrition. Parents and pediatricians alike are always telling kids to eat right and drink their milk. Truth be told, even with that good advice most of our children are not receiving the amount of vitamin D that they need to be healthy. Kids, on average, would have to drink a quart of milk daily to receive the amount of vitamin D recommended. We don’t want them to do that because this would reduce their intake of other foods that are good for them and give them too many unnecessary calories.
Vitamin D is found naturally in only a few foods — they include oily fish, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, and some mushrooms. Most children are not going to fill their plates with these foods. An additional way to get vitamin D is through exposure to the sun. The widespread use of sunscreen reduces this benefit. However, sunscreen is absolutely necessary for children 6 months and older to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen use coupled with the lack of sun exposure in the winter makes the sun an unreliable way of increasing vitamin D levels. Many foods are supplemented with vitamin D including orange juice, cereals and yogurt. Trying to include these in your child’s diet will help them get the D they need.
Vitamin D is necessary for healthy bones. Since children and adolescents are growing rapidly, vitamin D is essential for bone growth. Loading our bones with calcium with the help of vitamin D is an important way to reduce osteoporosis as we age. There are other benefits of vitamin D. A recent study was performed looking at the association of children with low vitamin D levels and respiratory infections (cold and flu). Children with low vitamin D levels were twice as likely to get these infections than those with normal levels. Supplementing with vitamins is a quick and easy way to reduce these infections. Adequate levels of vitamin D are also shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers and type 1 Diabetes in adults.
Until recently, many pediatricians felt that vitamin supplementation was not needed. We believed that ideally our children should receive all of their nutrition from the foods that they eat. Since most of us do not live in the ideal world, but more likely a world that is fast paced, busy and lacks perfect dietary intake, vitamins in general and vitamin D more specifically are necessary.
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends vitamin D supplementation for all children from infants to teens. Breast feeding is great nutrition for babies. Unfortunately, breast milk does not have enough vitamin D for babies to completely fill their need. Infants should start a vitamin D supplement in the first week of life. There are many brands on the market and the target amount is 400 IU (international units) daily. It is supplied as a liquid formulation that is easy to give. Formula fed babies also require supplementation. Unless they are drinking a quart or more of formula a day, they require the same supplement of 400 IU a day. Older children and adolescents often don’t meet their requirements through diet. Look for a vitamin that has the 400 IU that is recommended for them as well. Vitamin D is a complex nutrient that is required by the body for healthy functioning. Bone health, immune functioning, cancer and Diabetes prevention are the known benefits from normal D levels. Dietary sources of this vitamin are important, but every child should be supplemented to ensure adequate levels.
With our Patient Portals, you can easily manage your child’s health online with 24/7 access to their medical record.
Learn more about UPMC Patient Portals.
By visiting UPMC Children’s Express Care, our after-hours clinic, your child will receive the same specialized pediatric care you’ve come to expect from your UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics pediatrician. Open conveniently on evenings and weekends, your child can receive care for minor injuries and illnesses when your pediatrician’s office is closed for the day.
Learn more about our services or find a location near you.
In the case of a serious emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Paying your bill has never been easier. UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics offers you an easy and secure method for paying bills online for well and sick appointments as well as behavioral health visits.
Pay Your Bill Online
For questions regarding your billing statement, please call the UPMC CCP Billing Office at 1-888-857-7646 or email CCPBilling@chp.edu.
Are you passionate about caring for children? UPMC Children's Community Pediatrics offers the opportunity for you to apply your unique skills in pediatric medicine and to make an impact on children’s lives.
We are seeking candidates for full-time, part-time, casual, and temporary positions at our locations throughout 12 counties in western Pennsylvania.
To apply, visit the UPMC Careers website.
UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics Stonewood Commons II 103 Bradford Road, Suite 200 Wexford, PA 15090
For administrative inquiries, please call 724-933-1100 or 1-888-857-7646.
Should a concern about your experience at UPMC CCP arise, please discuss it with your child’s pediatrician. If the concern remains unresolved, please email your concern to our patient relations specialist at ccpconfidential@chp.edu. We will investigate your concern and provide you with a response. Contacting our patient relations specialist will not negatively affect your care.