At Cook Children's, we do it all for kids. But taking care of kids means including the whole family. We take the time to listen to you and your child, answer questions and help you navigate the "perils" of parenthood.

We're here to help you with well-child visits, illnesses, behavior problems, learning disorders, or just to answer the questions that all parents have at one time or another. Together we'll get your kids on the path to good health and help you raise happy, well-adjusted children.

Cook Children's Pediatrics – Fort Worth

1129 Sixth Avenue
Fort Worth,TX 76104
817-336-4896 phone
817-347-6859 appointments
Driving Directions

M-F: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday

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Wellness care

Check-ups and physicals

• Well-child visits should be scheduled so your physician can evaluate your child's growth, development and diet.
• Preventive health services include immunizations, lab tests and screenings for hearing, vision and blood pressure. Information and education regarding your child's health and well being is also available.
• In order to have the best selection of appointment times, we recommend that you schedule check-ups and physicals four to six weeks in advance.

Illness and injury

When your child is sick or hurt

• Call for an appointment as early as possible and let the receptionist know if your child's problem is urgent.
• We will make every effort to see your child the same day you call.
• Priority will be given to the most urgent problems.

Emergencies

• If your child's injury or illness is an emergency, call our office immediately. A physician will be contacted. Please keep your phone line clear so that we may return the call as soon as possible.
• If your emergency is severe, dial 911 for an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Refills and re-checks

Medication refills

• Call for medication refills during regular office hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Please allow 24 hours for your child's refill to be completed.
• Plan ahead for refills needed during holidays and vacations.

Re-checks/Follow-up visits

• Re-checks are for a previously treated illness or injury.
• Ask your doctor if and when a re-check is needed.

Urgent care locations

• Cook Children's Medical Center
• Cook Children's Northeast Hospital
• Cook Children's Southlake Urgent Care and Pediatric Specialties

Cook Children's Emergency Department is supported by one of the country's largest pediatric transport programs. More than 2,000 children are transported to Cook Children's Medical Center annually, most for critical care.

Meet our doctors

Our doctors play an integral role in helping children stay healthy and caring for them when they become ill. Cook Children's primary care physicians and their staffs have direct access to other pediatric specialists and services at Cook Children's Medical Center, as well as Cook Children's Specialty Clinics throughout the region.

Our doctors are specialists in the health care of infants, children and adolescents. Our team includes board certified pediatricians.

• Well and sick care for children from birth to age 18
• Routine immunizations
• Consultations on outpatient and hospitalized patients
• Patient and parent education
• Prenatal consultation

	Frank McGehee, M.D. Frank McGehee, M.D., continues a Cook Children’s legacy that began more than 70 years when took over the office at 1129 Sixth Avenue in Fort Worth, near the medical center. Dr. McGehee replaced John Richardson, M.D., who had practiced out of the same office for 43 years. Prior to that Edwin Schwartz, M.D., for whom the Health Sciences Library at Cook Children’s is named, made 1129 Sixth Avenue his home. But since 2007, Dr. McGehee has followed those legends nicely. As you walk into his office, you feel comfort and long-time patient families trust Dr. McGehee adamantly. They say he’s like part of their own family. Dr. McGehee, who has a child with Down Syndrome, works with patients with DS and other special needs children. In his role as primary care physician he treats a wide variety of children and helps them with everything from the common cold to complex issues. Dr. McGehee stresses at well-child visits the two most important things a mother can do for a child remain breastfeeding and making sure the baby’s car seat is properly fastened. View physician biography.
	Vanessa Charette, M.D. Vanessa Charette earned her medical degree and completed her residency at the University of California, San Diego. She joined Cook Children’s 10 years ago. She first worked as a hospitalist, caring for children in the hospital. She moved to the Neighborhood Clinics four years ago to focus on pediatric care and caring for children with special needs. “The Neighborhood Clinic at McCart has become my home. I enjoy teaching parents about infant care, child development and how to care for their sick child. The best part of my job is being able to care for all of the kids in a family and watching them grow. I love that I get to know not only siblings but also cousins, aunts, uncles and grandchildren within the same family. The McCart Clinic is truly a medical home, where our goal is to keep your child healthy not to only see your child when he or she is sick.” When she is not at work, Dr. Charette is trying to keep up with her two young boys. She spends her time taking the kids on hikes and running. View physician biography.

Office hours and appointments

• Call between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon – Fri. We are better able to answer your questions and give you advice when we can have your child's medical records on hand.
• A nurse will take your call, or if one is unavailable, leave a message with a receptionist and a nurse will return your call. Rapid responses are very important to us.
• Routine office visits are by appointment only; we will make every effort to accommodate your needs when your child is ill.
• Please call as soon as possible if you must cancel or reschedule your appointment.
• Our office is closed most holidays, including New Year's Day, July Fourth, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  

Fees, payments and insurance

• Fees, insurance co-payment and deductibles are due at each visit.
• Please bring insurance identification to every appointment.
• Let us know when there are changes in insurance coverage, address, employment or phone numbers.
  

Exchange messages, review and pay bills, request appointments and insurance information through mycookchildrens.org (patient portal)

Patient forms

We know that filling out forms can be time consuming, however, they are a required part of your child's care. For your convenience, we've provided patient information and consent forms here. Just print them out, fill in the information, sign them and bring the completed forms with you when you come in for your appointment.

• Acknowledgement of privacy practices (Reconocimiento de la práctica de privacidad)
• Consent for treatment (Consentimiento para el tratamiento)
• Non-parental consent (Sin parentesco y consentimiento)
• Immtrac (Spanish)
• Voice mail consent (Voz consentimiento correo)
• M-Chat (Spanish)

Cook Children's specialty care services

At Cook Children's, we provide more than 60 pediatric medical and specialty clinic offices throughout Texas.

Continued care

Referrals

• Referrals to a specialist may be made by your doctor. However, no referrals are made until your child has been seen by his or her primary care physician.
• If you are a member of a managed care plan (HMO), a referral form is required for treatment by a specialist. Allow five to seven working days for the referral to be completed and mailed.

After-hours calls

• After office hours, your call will be answered automatically by our answering service. A message will be taken and transferred to the Cook Children's Health Care System nurse triage system. A nurse will return your call as soon as possible, usually within the hour, to offer input about your child's symptoms. In cases of emergency, your pediatrician will be contacted.
• Please limit after-hours calls to those that you feel are truly urgent. Feeding questions, prescription refills or appointment requests are not considered appropriate after-hours calls. Colds, congestion and constipation generally do not warrant after-hours calls.
  

Checkup resources for you

• Asthma? Check out your air quality and environment conditions in Fort Worth.
• The flu season is upon us. Do you know what to do?
• School lunches. Healthy doesn’t have to be boring.
• After-school snacks made easy.
• Need answers on kids' health?
• Read stories by parents and doctors, and tell us what you think.
• Do your kids really need to bundle up on chilly days?