>Thanksgiving: November is the start of the holiday season. This year it will be a little different. We will be having smaller more intimate affairs. Perhaps we will be more creative. We might eat outdoors or sit apart in different tables. We may have ZOOM dinner parties with our family members. No matter how we celebrate, remember that LOVE is the most important part of day. We will share our love for our families and friends by making small sacrifices in order to keep them safe. Take a look at the AAP recommendations:
AAP RECOMMENDATIONS for Thanksgiving during COVID-Keep Safety On the Table
>College Students: With our older children coming home from college for the holidays, we ask they follow CT state recommendations regarding COVID tests and quarantining. College students must be tested within 72 hours of entry back into the state or quarantine for 14 days. Almost all of the students will be completing their last few weeks of college from home. This has not been the normal college experience and they may be under a great deal of stress. Remember to be supportive and to check in with them. They may need to contact their university mental health services and or contact us for mental health supports in our area.
>Secondary schools, Elementary Schools: Every town is handling the COVID pandemic crisis differently. Each family has made choices regarding what type of model they will follow. Our students may be struggling with this new way of education. Communication with your children is very important. They may need additional support this academic year. If you have any concerns about their mental well-being, please make sure to contact your school social worker, guidance counselor, or us. We can provide you with additional resources in the community.
>Sports: As per the Governor's Executive order, starting Monday November 23rd, all team sporting activities except collegiate and professional are prohibited until January 19, 2021. This includes all team scrimmages, competitions, camps, clinics and tournaments including interscholastic "pick-up" games and other informal athletic activities. This is to help keep our schools stay open for those districts still participating in person classes. The COVID positives we are seeing in students, are the result of activities they have been participating in outside of school. Please be respectful of this decision by our state's leadership to keep our COVID rate in check
>COVID Testing: We only use Yale for COVID testing. They use the PCR method which is more reliable than the antigen testing done at Urgicenters. The turnaround for results vary. In order to make the process easier, you must set up your own YALE MY CHART account if not done so already. Then set up a proxy chart for your child. MY CHART PROXY ACCESS With this, you will have direct access to test results when they become available. If you need help setting up the proxy MY CHART, call 203 688 5101. If your child has symptoms (chills, fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, loss of smell or taste, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea), we will first need to do a Telemedicine video visit prior to ordering a COVID test. For asymptomatic patients, pre-procedure patients or patients exposed to COVID without symptoms, we will put the order into the Yale EPIC ordering system. Unless we tell you a specific time, please wait 2 to 3 hours after the request was made to call the Yale hotline 203 688 1700 or 833-275-9644, to schedule the test.
>The Flu Vaccine: We have been so pleased by the increased number of families getting the flu vaccine early this year. It’s not too late!! We have been offering the flu vaccine to every child 6 months and older at their physical exam appointment. We are also offering it to patients with no fever who are seen in the office for an Acute visit. If you would like to have your child receive the flu vaccine outside of these visits, please call as soon as possible. We will allow multiple children per family to be booked together for flu shot visits. We have certain protocols in place to make the visit a quick and easy one. Our goal is to get as many children as possible vaccinated before the start of the flu season which is now round the corner.
>Masks: We are following CDC mask guidelines. Anyone 2 years and older must wear a mask. The masks that are permitted in the office are disposable surgical or 2 ply cotton masks. Masks with valves, gaiters and bandanas will not be permitted in the office. These masks are not protective to the user or to others. We still are following our strict protocols to protect you and your families. The physical exam appointments are in a separate part of the building from our same day acute visits or special appointments such as medication re-evaluations and mental health visits. We also will be enforcing one parent with the child at all visits except for babies 2 months and younger.