Attached is a statement from the OH AAP that was released today encouraging families to make and keep well child appointments with their pediatrician.
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While many non-essential procedures, surgeries and visits were postponed in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials made it clear that those decisions were made to preserve personal protective equipment for health care professionals, NOT because hospitals or doctor’s offices are unsafe places to visit. Pediatric practices already had protocols in place to keep well visits and sick visits separate, and have further adjusted their operations, putting new policies in place to keep patients and families safe during office visits. Many practices are rooming patients from the car and even seeing ill patients in their cars, and all providers involved in patient care are wearing personal protective equipment and receiving temperature checks daily. Families should call their pediatrician to inquire about what their practice is doing during this time to accommodate well visits, vaccinations and visits for other concerns.
In addition to maintaining important wellness checkups and vaccine schedules for children two years old and younger, parents are also encouraged to use telemedicine appointments with their child’s pediatrician to discuss sickness, mental health concerns like anxiety and depression or general questions. Pediatricians can assess during a telemedicine visit if an in-person visit is needed based on each child’s individual situation
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