Are pediatricians offices less busy because of SD

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amother

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 7:58 pm

For anyone that is or works at a pediatric office. Are you less busy now due to social distancing- kids are not exposed to germs? I am asking because I had wanted to discuss something with the pediatrician but have been pushing off since before this whole thing started.

amother

Puce

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:03 pm

I imagine they are doing teleheath and the office is much less busy.

seeker

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:03 pm

Also curious. I was thinking the same thing, originally I thought why would I want to go anywhere near a doctor's office with stuff going around, but then I wondered if they're doing a good enough job on distancing then maybe this is the perfect time for those waiting issues.

amother

Powderblue

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:06 pm

And I'm deciding whether to go for my baby's 9 month well visit next week or to push it off. I haven't been going to any indoor places besides my own home since Shushan purim, not sure I'm ready to start yet.

amother

Rose

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:07 pm

Our pediatrician is doing well visits for babies (until 2 or 3- when they're still getting lots of shots) only in the morning, and sick visits in the afternoon. They're also doing televisit (that's what we got when baby had coronavirus).
They're spacing out appointments more so that no one waits in the waiting room, but we got stuck with the patient before us having a very long visit because the dr didn't want to send them to the ER or a specialist given the circumstances, so it took a long time to solve in the office.

Notsobusy

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:16 pm

seeker wrote:

This was the scene at my pediatrician this week. You must wear a mask and gloves. A nurse was waiting in the lobby to take the temperature of every parent. If the parent has fever you have to wait by a side door where they will deal with you appropriately. They said if possible the doctor would check the child there.

Only one family is allowed in the lobby at a time. Then you enter the waiting room. There is a row of chairs turned backwards blocking so you cant get close to the receptionist. Most chairs had duct tape in an X over the chair so no one could sit on them, only every 5th or 6th seat was available for sitting.

They brought us into a room speedy quickly so that we wouldnt have to wait in the waiting room. All nurses and doctors were wearing masks and gloves. Nobody came close to anyone else besides the doctor who had to physically check my child.

I felt very safe there.

ETA there was hardly anybody there. I don't know if it's because there are less sick kids or they're only taking urgent appointments. My child's appointment was pretty urgent and I told them that as soon as I called, so I don't know if they were only taking urgent appointments

amother

Beige

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:24 pm

How about, a month and a half with a sick baby and shlepping between clinic and random doctors offices with RN and PA because no doctor in the community is seeing anyone

mig100

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:45 pm

amother [ Puce ] wrote:

I imagine they are doing teleheath and the office is much less busy.

This my pediatrician is doing one well visit in the ofice a day and sick visits in the car only

Last edited by mig100 on Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

mig100

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:47 pm

amother [ Beige ] wrote:

How about, a month and a half with a sick baby and shlepping between clinic and random doctors offices with RN and PA because no doctor in the community is seeing anyone

Really?? I feel the opposite. My Dr is much more available now. He actually called me and asked that I come in THAT day for vaccines since I missed an appointmenr. Normally I have to schedule in advance

tweety1

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 8:58 pm

My baby hasn't had a well visit ever yet. I mean she had at 2 weeks but the Dr I ended up seeing didn't do a real thorough one. I'm too scared to go. She's almost 5 months old.

amother

Khaki

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 9:05 pm

I went to the doctor for a minor sick visit. Not a single soul was there throughout the visit aside from office staff, nurses, and doctor. If my kids would be due for well visits, I would go now. Alas, we need to wait till August.

silverlining3

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 9:06 pm

Of course they're less busy. Drs office usually has the most germs. Tho I believe they're much more ontop of sterilizing and disinfecting. But don't know.
I know of a Drs office that mainly does over the phone. But for throat swabs or wtvr sick visit they come out and do in car.
A neighbor of mine went with her toddler for shots at 4pm. Nurse told her, you're good, 1st patient today.

Supermom#1

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 9:15 pm

tweety1 wrote:

My baby hasn't had a well visit ever yet. I mean she had at 2 weeks but the Dr I ended up seeing didn't do a real thorough one. I'm too scared to go. She's almost 5 months old.

Is she feeling well? Gaining weight? Feeding well? reaching developmental milestones? If yes, she's bh fine. You have nothing to worry about. If you're in doubt, check with a more experienced mother. Hatzlacha!

flowerpower

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 9:16 pm

I am sure they’re much quieter. I won’t go for well visits until it all passes. I am sure many have the same thoughts.

tweety1

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 10:02 pm

Supermom#1 wrote:

Tnx. I'm BH an experienced mother myself. She's actually reaching milestones much faster than her siblings did. Oh you bet she's gaining weight. She fits into 9months stretchies and has the cutest chubbiest feet and cheeks. But I'm an avid vaccinator and I never started giving shots later than 5 months.

tweety1

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 10:03 pm

flowerpower wrote:

I am sure they’re much quieter. I won’t go for well visits until it all passes. I am sure many have the same thoughts.

Yea. I'm sort of not comfortable going now. I wanna wait.

thriver

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 10:05 pm

tweety1 wrote:

Call your doctor and speak to them to discuss.

Amarante

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 10:14 pm

All doctor's offices are much less busy now - some are so idle that they are in danger of becoming bankrupt.

If you have a question for your pediatrician, definitely call him or her. If possible, many of them are doing teleconferences - especially if you can Skype if necessary. My understanding is that reimbursement for teleconferences by insurance has been loosened in terms of reimbursement so many doctors are doing this if at all possible.

As others have posted, the actual visits are being done with extreme attention to safety of both the patients and the medical personnel. I would certain trust my doctor to use the best means possible versus a grocery store. Very Happy

amother

Ecru

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 10:51 pm

amother [ Powderblue ] wrote:

Me too. I think I am going to skip it. I do have a question for her doctor so I'm going to try to see if I can speak with her by phone or video chat but I don't really like the idea of taking her anywhere right now. I am so curious what my baby weighs though...but unfortunately that can't be done over the phone (and I'm not curious enough to buy a scale).

amother

Lawngreen

Thu, Apr 30 2020, 11:38 pm

I work in a busy pediatric practice. It is VERY quiet now in the office. Many people are afraid to come in. For a while we were only doing televisits, but we are now seeing patients as well. This week, we also started doing well visits for infants and up to the age of 2, so they can start to catch up on their vaccines (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics). We space each visit and have only well visits in the morning and the sick kids in the afternoon. Everyone gets their temperature checked at the door. Those with fever come in a separate entrance. All staff are wearing PPE.

Honestly with all the extra sterilizing and the spacing between patients, it's probably safer to go now with your babies for well visits, than at a typical time with a full waiting room full of sick kids.

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