Health News

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COVID-19 Updated Guidelines

While we try our best to accommodate all our patients for visits and testing, here are some general guidelines:

-Our office is currently experiencing an unprecedented number of requests for sick visits and Covid testing.  Please be patient with us as we try navigate taking care of our sickest patients.  We do not have in office testing.

— We are trying to reserve the state’s limited testing supplies for patients who are symptomatic with a known or possible exposure. We currently cannot accommodate asymptomatic patients for clearance purposes.

— If your child is symptomatic and tests positive on a home test, that is considered a true positive and there is no need to repeat it.

— If your child tests positive at an outside testing facility, that is considered a true positive and there is no need to repeat it.

— If your child has a known exposure and symptoms, you can presume them to be positive and there is no requirement to test.

— If your child is sick without a known exposure, we are happy to see them as a telemedicine visit.  Sick visits requiring in person evaluations car-side or in office are determined on a case by case basis.

— If your child tests positive or is presumed positive, but has MILD symptoms, they do NOT need to be seen in the office urgently.  We are happy to schedule a telemedicine visit to discuss quarantine and follow cardiac clearance guidelines after we prioritize our sick patients requiring care.

** Provide supportive care with Tylenol & Motrin (the latter only if >6m).

** Ensure good hydration by encouraging fluids in any form your child will tolerate. Monitor for urine output.

** Continue symptomatic care for congestion and cough with saline & suctioning, honey for children >1 year, and a humidifier/steamy shower.

** Do NOT use OTC cough & cold medications for children <6y, as the side effects outweigh any potential benefit and they are not recommended.

CALL OUR OFFICE if your child has a fever that does not respond to medications, has persistent fever for > 5 days, has fever in the setting of a sore throat or ear pain, has a barking cough, has wheezing or increased work of breathing, or decreased urine output.

POSITIVE CASES must stay home (isolate) for a minimum of 5 days, and then can only go out if fully masked for another 5 days. If your child is too young to wear a mask or does not mask reliably, please stay home for 10 days.

QUARANTINE in the event of an exposure will vary based on vaccination status and age of the child/ability to mask. For those fully vaccinated, it may be 5 days isolating at home and another 5 days masked fully in public spaces.  For children who cannot reliably mask, it is still 10 days from last exposure. An ongoing exposure in the house means an ongoing quarantine as well.

Please feel free to use our patient portal to ask any other questions, but be patient in waiting for a response as we are quite busy during office hours.

Thank you.