Legacy Pediatrics COVID 19 Update 3/27/2020

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We are nearly 2 weeks into the changes implemented due to the COVID19 epidemic and want to update everyone on the office and how we are managing our patients’ visits. Walk-in hours continue to be on hold indefinitely and all visits require a phone call to schedule. Well child checks that are considered “essential” continue for newborns, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 month-old’s in the morning.  All other ages who are due for a physical exam, are on hold for now. 

For well child checks, we are doing a combination of a brief in office visit for height/weight, vital signs, physical exam, and immunizations along with a telemedicine visit at home for the “talking” part of the physical. It has been so fun to see the kids in their “natural environments” and be able to assess development while they are in their homes.

We are doing telemedicine visits for all sick visits and bringing a small number of kids into the office after 3:00 if a hands-on exam is needed. All consultations and medication visits are occurring as telemedicine visits. We are very lucky to have had telemedicine visits well established at Legacy Pediatrics prior to the needed changes for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The kids have been out of school for about 2 weeks now, and we are continuing to see more and more kids with fevers. At this point, as the number of cases of COVID19 skyrockets in Monroe and surrounding counties, we have to assume any fever illness is COVID19 and requires the ill person to stay in isolation from family members until all symptoms are resolved for at least 7 days AND 3 days after the last symptom resolves. If one person is ill in the home, everyone else in the home must then quarantine for 14 days to determine if anyone else becomes ill. These are the CDC and Health Departments’ guidelines. We implore our families to stay home; keep your kids at home, play dates and outings with friends is spreading the infection which will lead to our hospitals being overwhelmed with patients.

Everyone has a role to play and a responsibility to do what is best for the community. Thank you so much for your help and partnership as we navigate this difficult time.