plateaupediatrics

Plateau Pediatrics Welcomes Ms. Laura Core, CPNP-PC

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:03 GMT

Ms. Laura Core, CPNP-PC join Plateau Pediatrics

Laura Core is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with a passion for caring for children and their families. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, at the age of nine. From an early age, Laura knew she wanted to work in healthcare, especially with children.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville , where she also met her husband. After graduating in 2009, Laura moved to Nashville and began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital . While working at Vanderbilt, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and became a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2013.

In January 2014, Laura and her husband returned to Knoxville, where she joined Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center. During her nearly 13 years there, she cared for infants, children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of allergy, asthma, and immunology conditions. In 2016, she became the manager of the practice's Immunodeficiency Department.

Laura is thrilled to be a part of the team at Plateau Pediatrics, where she can care for children of all ages and partner with parents to help their children grow, thrive, and stay healthy.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children, and their energetic puppy. As a family, they love being outdoors and staying active together.

2026 Patient Satisfaction Survey Frequently Asked Questions

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:29:28 GMT

Frequently Asked Questions on Our Patient Satisfaction Survey

PDF Version of this article

We conducted our annual patient satisfaction survey during April and May 2026. Thank you to all who shared their feedback with us. Your comments help us understand what matters most to our families and identify ways we can continue improving your experience. Several commenters asked about the following, so we wanted to share those questions here.

Why are sick and well children able to play on the same pegboards in the waiting room?

We understand your concern about keeping children healthy while they're in our office. This continues to be a top priority for our practice as well. We intentionally keep toys, books, and other shared items in our waiting room to a minimum to help reduce the number of surfaces that can harbor germs.

The pegboards and Lite-Brite-style pegs we provide are made with antimicrobial materials. Throughout the day, the pegs are routinely exchanged for clean ones, and the used pegs are washed with soap and high-temperature water. The pegboards themselves are also disinfected regularly.

These measures allow us to offer children something engaging while maintaining a clean environment and reducing the risk of germ exposure as much as possible.

If you prefer, you may check in for your appointment and wait in your vehicle instead of in the waiting room. After calling to check in, we will call you when your child is ready to be brought directly to an exam room.

Why do we sometimes see a different provider instead of our child's regular doctor?

We understand that seeing your child's primary care provider (PCP) helps build a trusted relationship, and we make every effort to schedule appointments with your child's regular provider whenever possible.

However, there are times when seeing another provider allows your child to be cared for sooner or at a time that works best for your family.

Saturday appointments: Our providers rotate Saturday coverage. If your child needs to be seen on a Saturday, you may see a provider other than your PCP.

Appointment availability: Depending on the day and time you are available, your PCP may not be in the office or may already have a full schedule.

Provider absences: Your child's PCP may be on vacation, attending training, or out of the office for another reason.

All our providers have access to your child's complete medical record and health history. Our team works closely together and follows the same evidence-based guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), helping provide consistent, high-quality care regardless of which provider you see.

Whenever possible, we are happy to schedule well visits and routine follow-up appointments with your child's PCP so you can continue building that important relationship over time.

Why do I sometimes have to wait in the lobby or exam room?

We know your time is valuable, and we also know that waiting with a child can feel especially long! We make every effort to get patients checked in, seen, and on their way as efficiently as possible, while never sacrificing quality care for quick care.

When looking at the amount of time spent in our office, it can be helpful to understand the difference between wait time and elapsed time.

Wait time is the time spent in the reception area or exam room when no part of your child's care is actively taking place.

Elapsed time is the total amount of time from check-in until check-out. This includes wait time, but it also includes all the time spent completing the different parts of your child's visit.

Because every child's needs are different, elapsed time can vary considerably from one visit to another. Some things that may add to the total time spent in our office include:

Patient forms and health questionnaires

New patient paperwork and well-visit questionnaires can take some time to complete, especially when you're trying to do it with children in tow. Completing these before your appointment can help make your visit more efficient. New families can pick up a new patient packet before their appointment, request that one be mailed or emailed, or access new patient paperwork on our website. Established patients can use the patient portal to complete well-visit questionnaires before arriving.

In-house testing

If your child needs testing during the visit, such as a strep, flu, or other in-office test, we may need to wait for those results before your provider can determine the next step in your child's care. Processing times vary depending on the test.

Your child's individual needs

Some visits simply require more time than expected. A child may need additional evaluation, testing, treatment, or conversation with their clinician. Just as we don't want to rush another child's care when they need additional attention, we don't want to rush yours.

You can help make your visit more efficient!

Our patient portal can help reduce the amount of time you spend completing tasks while you're in the office. You can complete well-visit questionnaires before your child's appointment, send requested information, ask non-urgent clinical questions, access visit summaries, lab results and growth charts, request prescription refills, and send non-urgent messages to our staff.

Please remember that portal messages are not intended for urgent medical concerns and may not be reviewed until the next business day.

Our goal is always to respect your family's time while providing every child with the attention and quality of care they deserve. We continually evaluate our processes and appreciate your feedback as we work to make your experience in our office as efficient and comfortable as possible.

New patient forms and additional resources: www.plateaupediatrics.com

NEXPLANON Update

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:24:35 GMT

NEXPLANON is now approved for up to 5 years!

NEXPLANON ® (etonogestrel implant) is a prescription, long-acting, reversible contraceptive that is placed just under the skin in the inner arm. Once in place, it releases a continuous, low dose of hormone to help prevent pregnancy. Previously, it was approved for use for up to 3 years.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the duration of use of Nexplanon for the prevention of pregnancy in women to up to 5 years.

If you already have a NEXPLANON in place, there is nothing that needs to be done. Rather than needing to be replaced at the 3-year mark, if can now remain for up to 5 years. Our office has updated our recall process and will reach out to you prior to the end of the 5th year to remind you to schedule the removal or replacement of your NEXPLANON.

Please feel free to contact our office at 931-707-8700 if you have any questions.

Community Compass

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:23:37 GMT

Search for free or reduced cost services on https://communitycompass.tn.gov/ by entering your zip code and clicking search . You will find community resources for

Food
Housing
Transportation
Clothing
Health services
Legal Aid
Education
Work
And more!

TennCare/CoverKids Diaper Benefit

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:21:09 GMT

TennCare and CoverKids members under the age of two qualify for up to 100 diapers a month at no cost.. Confirmed, local participating pharmacies are Food City and Kroger. For a list of additonal partcipating pharmacies across the state, click here .

Key information about the benefit:

Diapers are available at participating pharmacies across the state. You can find a participating pharmacy at TN.gov/TennCare/diapers .
You don’t need a prescription; simply present your child’s pharmacy ID card at the counter. If your child is a newborn without a card, the pharmacy can use the mother’s pharmacy ID card or Social Security number.
TennCare will cover popular diaper brands and offer a variety of diaper types to meet your family’s needs. Current brands are Huggies, Pampers, and Cuties. For more information on diaper brands and types, visit TN.gov/TennCare/diapers .
Your pharmacy may not stock all the brands covered or have a stocked supply of your preferred brand. You may want to call your pharmacy ahead of time.
There is no cost or copay.

Learn more about the benefit: TN.gov/TennCare/diapers

Los miembros de TennCare y CoverKids menores de dos años califican para recibir hasta 100 pañales al mes sin ningún costo.

Información clave sobre el beneficio:

Los pañales se entregan en farmacias participantes en todo el estado. Puede encontrar una farmacia participante en TN.gov/TennCare/diapers .
No necesita receta de su doctor; simplemente preséntele al cajero la tarjeta de identificación de farmacia de su hijo. Si su hijo es un recién nacido sin tarjeta, la farmacia puede usar la tarjeta de identificación de farmacia o el número de Seguro Social de la madre.
TennCare cubre marcas populares de pañales y ofrece una variedad de tipos de pañales para satisfacer las necesidades de su familia. Para obtener más información sobre marcas y tipos de pañales, visite TN.gov/TennCare/diapers .
Es posible que su farmacia no tenga en existencia todas las marcas cubiertas o que no tenga en existencia su marca preferida. Sería conveniente llamar a su farmacia para preguntar antes de ir.
No hay costo ni copago.

Averigüe más sobre el beneficio: TN.gov/TennCare/diapers

2025 Patient Satisfaction Survey Results

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:18:36 GMT

Our annual Patient Satisfaction Survey ran during a three week time span in April and May 2025. We are pleased to provide the results of the survey, accessible here . Should you have additional feedback, or would like to speak with a member of our administrative team, please contact our office at (931) 707-8700.

Plateau Pediatrics Offers Sliding Scale Discount

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:10:48 GMT

Did you know Plateau Pediatrics offers a sliding scale discount to uninsured and under-insured families?

Plateau Pediatrics offers sliding scale discount to uninsured and underinsured patients.

Plateau Pediatrics serves all patients, regardless of the ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered to uninsured or under-insured patients depending upon family size and income (sliding scale discount). Uninsured or under-insured patients may apply for a discount by filling out and returning a service discount application . Discounts must be approved prior to services.

For questions about the sliding scale discount, please call our office at (931) 707-8700 x 4.

TennCare Mileage Reimbursement Program

Sun, 17 May 2026 05:07:08 GMT

TennCare offers mileage reimbursement to non-emergency medical appointments.

If you have access to transportation and your child has TennCare, you could be eligible for mileage reimbursement for trips to and from non-emergency medical appointments under the TennCare Mileage Reimbursement Program . This program is voluntary and pays members $0.50 per mile for eligible medical trips.

To request reimbursement, you will need to fill out the Mileage Reimbursement Program Trip Log and Claim Form . Your medical doctor must sign the form on the day of your appointment and the form must be submitted within 180 days from the date of your appointment. Submitted forms should be sent to Tennessee Carriers. For additional informaton, including where to send the form, read the Tennessee Carriers Mileage Reimbursement Instructions .

Members without access to transportation can still get rides to and from non-emergency medical appointments by calling Tennessee Carriers at least 72 hours prior to the appointment. Amerigroup members, please call 866-680-0633 . United HealthCare members, please call 866-405-0238 .

Cumberland County Schools Child Find Program

Sat, 16 May 2026 16:45:08 GMT

Is your child struggling in school or at home? Cumberland County Schools offers a Child Find Program that may help your child.