New Office Hours beginnning January 2022

As we approach the end of 2021, we want to thank you for entrusting the care of your children to Sanford Pediatrics. We are thankful for partnering with you to provide care for your child during another unprecedented year.

Due to work-force shortages across the health care sector, we have experienced staffing challenges like many other service providers.  Our dedicated staff have worked many extra hours and have graciously stepped up to fill shortages within our practice.  We have appreciated your patience and understanding, as we have adapted.

We continue to value your ease of access to us at Sanford Pediatrics but due to staffing, we are implementing the following changes effective January 3, 2022:

– Regular office hours will be 8am-4pm Monday-Friday.

– After hour appointments for same day sick concerns will be from 4:30-5:30pm Monday-Thursday.

– Office doors will close (for dropping off and picking up forms, prescriptions, etc.) and normal phones turned off for appointment scheduling/non urgent questions at 6pm Monday-Thursday. We will continue to close at 4pm on Fridays as we have previously.

– We will continue to keep our office doors and telephone lines open during weekday lunchtime hours for access.

– We will continue to provide telemedicine appointments on Saturdays from 8:30am-12pm for acute issues.

– We will continue to provide our 24 UNC nurse triage line and doctor on call 365 days a year.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate 2022.

Covid Vaccines available by appointment.

Vaccinating children is the greatest defense we have to protect our children.  We are offering COVID VACCINES by appointment for our patients.  Covid Vaccines are recommended for patients 6 months of age and older including BOOSTERS for children 5 years of age or older.  Call to schedule a time for your child’s covid vaccine.  If you child is being seen for a visit otherwise, talk to your physician about receiving the vaccine during your visit.  We are excited about being able to provide this vaccine in our office for our patients. Check out one of our pediatricians, Dr. Mindy Marlowe reminding you of the importance of vaccinating against Covid. https://www.dropbox.com/s/jf4hu5u28rv8a66/PSA%20Vaccine%20-%2060%20sec.%20%28Spanish%20White%20Subtitles%29.mov?dl=0

 

Home Page Alert

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News Post Details

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Telehealth and Parking Lot Visits available

Sanford Pediatrics is continuing to look for ways to provide the best care for our patients even in the midst of Covid.  To ensure the safety of all of our patients and staff, we are carefully screening all of our patients’ needs via phone.  Of course, the preferred method of evaluation and treatment is to see your child in the office, face to face.  During the Covid pandemic that may not always be the safest way.   Your child’s health is of utmost importance to us and we do our best to keep everyone safe.  We are offering a couple of additional options for children if they are sick and need to be evaluated by a physician.  We may suggest a “TELEHEALTH VISIT” or a “PARKING LOT VISIT” if you child is having an symptoms that may be Covid related.

WHAT IS TELEHEALTH AND WHEN SHOULD I USE IT?

Telehealth is the ability to evaluate your child and determine a plan of treatment by using modern technology.  You do not have to have any specialized equipment.  It can be done by your cell phone if you have an I phone, or via your home computer if you have a camera and speaker.  Many homes have this ability due to virtual school.  Using a phone or computer with a camera allows the doctor to actually see your child and assists in performing the evaluation.  If you do not have an I phone or access to a camera, Telehealth can also be provided with a simple phone call. If your child has or has had in the past 48 hours symptoms of fever, cough, congestion, or known exposure to anyone who has tested positive for Covid in the past 14 days,  we may recommend you visit with the physician via Telehealth.  Keeping your child at home for their initial evaluation if indicated protects everyone.  If your child has a medical need, call our office and we will help you determine the best plan of treatment for your child.  If we recommend Telehealth for your child, we will help you through the process to do that.  Most insurance companies consider Telehealth to be covered the same as they do for your in office visits.  The co-pays and deductibles apply the same as they do in the office but they do consider it a “covered service”.  Please feel free to contact your member services representatives if you have questions about your individual benefits.

WHAT IS A PARKING LOT VISIT AND WHEN SHOULD I USE IT?

A Parking Lot Visit, is available when you child needs to be seen in person, but has possible Covid symptoms but has not had a negative Covid test. To ensure the safety of your child and the other patients we have reserved spaces in our staff parking lot for Parking Lot Visits.  If this is a good option for your visit the staff will direct you to come to the parking lot and where to park and call to check in on arrival.  These appointment much be scheduled.  We cannot see patients on a unannounced drive in basis. Once you arrive and park in your assigned space, the physician will come to the parking lot to evaluate your child, provide tests if needed and treat based on the exam and evaluation.

We look forward to being able to see all of our patients back in the office.  Until we can safely do this we hope these additional options will be an acceptable alternative. Telehealth visits and parking lot visits are covered by your insurance based on your benefits.  Insurance wise, parking lot visits are treated the same as an in office visit as you are seeing the physician, in person, face-to-face.  Please ask a member of our staff if we can be of any further assistance.

 

Seeing your doctor and COVID-19 recommendations

We are carefully evaluating our patients by phone prior to scheduling appointments to ensure your safety.  We will continue to provide routine wellness visits and immunizations as it is important that we continue to protect your children against other communicable diseases that we have vaccines to protect against.  If your child is due for a well child visit or immunizations, please give us a call and we will be happy to assist you.

We understand that many of you are concerned about the spread of COVID-19.  At Sanford Pediatrics, you and your child’s safety is our top priority and we are taking every precaution to keep your child and family safe.

As COVID-19 continues to be an issue,  we urge all families to practice good hand washing and “social distancing” by staying 6 feet away from people outside the home, and by not attending large group gatherings.  The primary goal of our country needs to be to slow the spread of the virus so that our healthcare system is not overwhelmed, and our vulnerable patients are not at risk.

Any patient with a COUGH or FEVER or other potential “covid symptoms” will be directed to our triage nurse to assess symptoms.  We will assess your individual situation and give you recommendations for your specific case.  The CDC has very specific recommendations for testing for Covid 19 and we are working hard to adhere to the recommendations.  We may be able to provide what you need in our office, but we  may need to offer alternative measures for evaluation and care.  If your child has symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19, we may suggest beginning your visit via a “parking lot visit” or telehealth.

In the interest of providing the best care for all patients, please be very upfront and inform our staff of all your symptoms when scheduling.

If you have an appointment we ask the following:

  • When you arrive for your appointment call before entering the building.  We will do check in from your vehicle and have the nurse meet you at the door when your room is ready for your visit.
  • Only one adult per child for visits.  Only bring the child with the appointment for the visit.
  • All persons in the building over the age of 5 years old are required to wear masks.
  • Leave siblings at home or have someone come and sit in the car with them while you are seen for your visit.

IMPORTANT: Medicaid Managed Care Plans for Sanford Pediatrics

Sanford Pediatrics is participating in the following Medicaid Managed Care Plans:

  • Carolina Complete Health Network
  • WellCare
  • United Healthcare

If you select one of these plans, you CANNOT be a patient at Sanford Pediatrics:

  • HealthyBlue
  • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina

The decision is yours. But if you do not decide, a doctor and plan will be chosen for you. Let them know your choice.

Media Details

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