Update:
Click
Changes in Our Practice to see how we are continually adjusting our protocols to more safely serve our community
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03/18/2020
Below are links to both national and local resources for helpful and up to date information on COVID-19. These links are regular updated by the hosting organizations.
CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019
Coronavirus--Maryland State Dept of Health
University of Maryland Coronavirus Update
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Johns Hopkins Medicine
Howard County Health Dept COVID-19
Should you have any questions that are not answered by the resources above, feel free to call our office or contact us via electronic message using the
patient portal.
Our practice wants you to stay up to date with appropriate and helpful information on the
Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Because of the state of emergency declared by our governor and the implementation of social distancing to protect every one, medical providers will have to practice differently. In order to limit the spread of novel 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is imperative that people who are showing signs of illness remain in their house and apart from other people. In order to achieve this, we will have to handle many more phone calls and even make medical decisions without the advantage of being able to examine your child. We will need to decide whether to use over the counter (OTC) and prescription medications based solely on information exchanged between parents/patients and our clinical staff. Unfortunately, this means that, if you are having respiratory symptoms or fever, you SHOULD NOT come to your doctor's office or visit an urgent care facility unless you are specifically instructed to do so. In accordance, until further notice, we are not allowing any walk-in visits; all visits will be by appointment only.
Though government officials have stated that tests for COVID-19 are available at local labs and health departments, the necessary protective equipment required for medical professionals to safely assess patients and obtain samples IS NOT readily available to primary care providers. We cannot get that equipment so we cannot test. Thus, mass testing is not possible at this point in time. This is one of the reasons why the state of emergency was declared; so that we can limit spread of the virus since primary care doctors cannot easily determine who has been infected or exposed
We want you to remember that the treatment for COVID-19, as it is for most viral infections, involves supportive care that matches the level of the person's distress. There is no treatment that will specifically be used if your child has COVID-19. There is no known medication or homeopathic substance that can stop someone from becoming infected. Please only follow the advice of certified medical professionals and understand that there is plenty of false/misleading information available on the internet.
We ask that you refer to the purple "Is Your Child Sick" toolbox, that appears on every page of our website, to find helpful information on COVID-19. You can also view info on treating fever, cough, and other types of symptoms. There are also useful tips that alert parents when specific symptoms are concerning and warrant contacting your child's doctor.
What you should do:
* Wash hands frequently
* Keep your hands away from your face
* Frequently wipe down doorknobs, handles, and other frequently touched areas
* Avoid visiting a medical facility if you have had fever and respiratory symptoms in the prior 14 days, without calling the facility first; be honest and upfront about your symptoms
* Avoid going to social events with more than 25 people
* Avoid being around at risk household members (heart, lung, kidney disease; diabetes; and conditions that suppress the immune system) if you have respiratory symptoms or fever
We appreciate your cooperation during this very challenging time. Our hope is that these measures will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and help protect everyone from suffering significant morbidity from this new infectious agent.