The short version. Pick a practice before delivery so the hospital knows where to send records and you know who to call. Bend's main choices are COPA (four clinics and a 24/7 nurse line), Summit Health at the Old Mill (meets with expecting parents, Saturday hours) and Mosaic Community Health. Confirm insurance and newborn openings by phone.
Compare on what you will use at 2 a.m.
A doctor’s biography matters less than how the practice works when your baby has a fever on a Saturday.
| COPA | Summit Health Pediatrics | |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | Four, including the west side and Redmond | Old Mill District |
| Nurse advice | 24/7 pediatric nurse line | Call the clinic. Video visits by MyChart |
| Evenings and weekends | Urgent visits 7 days a week | Saturday mornings, plus walk-in urgent care daily |
| Before the birth | Resources for expecting parents | Meet the pediatricians |
| Good fit if | You want a pediatrics-only group near home | Your family already uses Summit Health |
Questions to ask on the phone
- Are you taking newborns right now?
- Do you take my insurance plan? Give them the exact plan name.
- Which clinic would we normally go to?
- How do same-day sick visits work?
- Who answers the phone at night and on weekends?
- Do you have lactation help in the office?
- How and when do we schedule the first newborn visit?
- If our doctor is out, who sees the baby?
How the handoff from the hospital works
- Tell the birthing center staff which practice you chose.
- A hospital pediatrician or family physician examines the baby before you go home.
- You book the first office visit, usually for a few days later. Some practices want a call from the hospital room.
- Bring the discharge paperwork to that visit.
If you are on the Oregon Health Plan, report the birth so your baby’s coverage starts, and expect the first checkup within days of the birth.
If you live outside Bend
COPA has a Redmond clinic, which saves north county families the drive. In Sisters, La Pine, Sunriver and Prineville, a local family medicine clinic may be the practical choice for routine visits. Ask where you would go for after-hours care.
While you are deciding
Save the number you settle on in both parents’ phones, along with the Oregon Poison Center, 1-800-222-1222. Then see newborn classes and the free nurse home visit.
This guide helps you compare practices. It is not medical advice, and it cannot tell you who is taking new patients today.
Common questions
When should we choose a pediatrician?
By about 34 to 36 weeks. The hospital will ask who your baby's doctor is, and the first office visit comes quickly after you go home.
When is the first pediatrician visit?
Usually within a few days of leaving the hospital. Ask the hospital team before discharge, and ask your chosen practice whether you should call from the hospital to book it.
Can we meet a pediatrician before the baby is born?
Often, yes. Summit Health says expecting parents can meet with its pediatricians, and COPA publishes resources for expecting parents. Call and ask about a prenatal visit.
Who examines the baby in the hospital?
St. Charles has pediatricians and family physicians on its birthing center team who examine newborns. That is separate from your baby's ongoing office care, so ask how records get to your practice.
What if we have not chosen by delivery?
Tell the hospital team. They will explain when the baby needs to be seen and help you make a plan, but you will still need to call a practice yourself.
Pediatrician or family doctor?
Both are fine choices. Pediatricians specialize in children. Family doctors see all ages. Insurance, drive time and how easy it is to get a same-day appointment usually matter more than the title.
Where these facts come from
Last checked October 8, 2026. Classes fill, schedules shift and prices change, so confirm with the provider before you go. This is local information, not medical advice.