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March 23, 2020 -- More helpful articles on adjusting to home/work changes for COVID-19 for families with children:
Working and Learning from Home During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Positive Parenting & COVID-19: 10 Tips to Help Keep the Calm at Home
Tips for Coping with a New Baby During COVID-19
A pediatrician and mom shares 5 things parents shouldn’t do during the coronavirus outbreak and 10 things they should do
March 20, 2020 -- Changes at our office in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak
- We are temporarily shifting all well checks to the morning and all ill visits to the afternoon in order to further separate well children from ill children. This new scheduling will be in place at least for the next month and possibly longer depending on the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. If your child has a well check scheduled in the afternoon, you will be receiving a call from our office to reschedule your appointment time to a morning slot.
- We are postponing non-urgent well checks at this time. A non-urgent well check is one where a child is not due for any vaccinations and does not have some other urgent reason for a well check. Patients who already have well check appointments scheduled but do not need vaccinations will be called by our office to reschedule their well check to a later date. If you are not sure whether your child needs vaccinations at this time, please call our office and we will be happy to tell you. If your child is due for vaccinations, KEEP YOUR WELL CHILD APPOINTMENT.
- All patients will be asked screening questions to assess for risk of COVID-19. Parents can expect to be asked these questions at the time an appointment is scheduled, upon arrival to our office, and again in the exam room. Please be patient if you are asked the questions more than once, as sometimes answers can change.
- If your child is ill, CALL OUR OFFICE FIRST before coming in to the office. If your child has a cough, or is showing symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing, you will be asked to have your child wear a mask to the office. Based on your child’s symptoms, you may also be asked to wait in your car and call our office when you arrive for your appointment; a staff member will come out to your car and make sure anyone coughing is wearing a mask before entering the office to reduce exposure to others.
- Regarding COVID-19 testing, at this time our office has a VERY limited number of test swabs available. Per the recommendations of the Sacramento County and State of California Departments of Public Health, COVID-19 testing is being advised only for patients who are significantly ill, or patients who are ill and have a history of exposure COVID-19. Due to the extremely limited number of tests, testing necessity is being determined on a case-by-case basis at this time. If your child is mildly ill or has no symptoms, testing is NOT recommended at this time.
- What should you do if your child is sick? If your child is showing signs of illness but can be cared for at home, please keep your child at home unless they are completely symptom-free and do not go out in public to avoid exposure to others who may be vulnerable. If you are not sure what you can do to care for your child at home, please call our office and our doctors will be happy to advise you. If your child is not very sick, we may recommend advice over the phone from one of our doctors rather than an office appointment. Staying home when sick is the best way to limit the spread of the virus through our community. If your child is healthy, practice social distancing in public by maintaining at least 6 feet between your family and others and help your children avoid touching surfaces that could be contaminated with the virus, including playground equipment. Wash your hands and your children’s hands frequently or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Teach your children to cough into their arm and avoid touching faces. Do not get together in groups of 10 people or more. If you or your family members are sick, even with mild symptoms, stay home until the symptoms are completely gone.
- COVID-19 information is changing on a daily basis. Please call our office if you have questions, or check the CDC website for the latest information on COVID-19. If we all do our part, we can “flatten the curve” and reduce the number of people with this virus. We’re all in this together!
March 9, 2020 -- Information on COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) for parents:
Updated Healthychildren.org article: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
Check out these new and updated articles from HealthyChildren.org:
Inclined Sleepers and Other Baby Registry Items to Avoid
Poison Prevention: One Pill Can Kill
Driving While High: Why Marijuana and Driving are a Dangerous Mix
Five Ways to Help Your Child Remember and Celebrate Loved Ones
Childhood Grief: When to Seek Additional Help
Migraine Headaches in Children & Teens: Parent FAQs
Fast, Slow and Irregular Heartbeats (Arrhythmia)
Is it OK to buy imported formulas online?
We have flu vaccine available for children 6 months and up! Click here for information on scheduling an appointment for a flu shot.
September 25, 2019 -- Flu vaccine is now available for all children 6 months and older (either private or Medi-Cal insurance).
1) If your child is due for a well child visit between now and the end of November, he or she can receive the flu vaccine at their well child visit. If your child is not due for a well visit before December, please call our office to schedule OR self-schedule a flu vaccine appointment on the Patient Portal for your child to receive a flu vaccine.
2) To make an appointment online for your child to receive a flu vaccine, log in to our Patient Portal, select your child’s name, and click on the “Flu Clinic” tab to self-schedule an appointment during our flu clinic hours (offered on most Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:15PM). If you are having trouble scheduling an appointment through the Portal or need a time other than during our flu clinic hours, please call our office to schedule a flu vaccine appointment.
3) Please remember that a flu vaccine appointment allows only enough time for your child to receive the flu vaccine. If your child needs to be seen by the doctor for any issues other than simply receiving a flu vaccine, please call our office to make a regular ill visit or well check appointment instead.
4) A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all kids aged 6 months to 18 years old.
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