Coronavirus Cancellations & Changes
- We had to cancel annual Learning Session scheduled last month.
- The May UCCCN Meeting tour of Shriners won’t be able to happen, but will be rescheduled
Update - Shriners Hospitals for Children - SLC
Shriners SLC is still open, but all elective surgeries cancelled. They are still accepting new patients - priority given to time-sensitive care. The club foot clinic still running, very busy. Don't forget about the fracture care Shriners can provide. There is no ER on site; M-F.
Dora and Jill are available to answer any questions related to our service lines and assist with new patient referrals. Our contact information is as follows:
- Jill Conner, Director, Business Development; 801-536-3550 office | 801-657-8818 cell, jconner@shrinenet.org
- Dora Requena, Professional Relations Coordinator; 801--536-3623 office | 801-889-7219 cell, drequena@shrinenet.org
Congratulations
!
Natalie: Noemi Gay with Wasatch Peds just finished her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) program through the U. Fantastic! Congratulations, Dr. Gay!
Brainstorming
Discussion about how everyone is coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natalie Allen, ISP - trying to use some telehealth options, having discussions in their org about how to help families. She says it’s not as hard as it may seem. They just want support. Mentioned “how about using a timer.” Is working from home … making calls using a cell phone.
Noemi - Wasatch Peds… things change daily. All well visits are in the mornings - try to get patients bak very fast. Sick visits in the afternoons. Car visits … providers start visit by phone, go outside and child sits in the parents lap, do physical exam. They use a portable box for tools and are in full PPE. Lots of telehealth visits; in Willowcreek, all the mental health providers are doing all their appts via telehealth (2 platforms). Many well visits have been put off. All Wasatch practices are open. It’s been quite a bit slower. May be doing Covid-19 testing eventually … likely in the next month. Gina Money: wonders if there are restrictions on who can come to the visit - both parents allowed? Noemi: no one with any coronavirus symptoms, and no extra siblings.
Support for families … includes careful listening, reassuring parents, helping approach issues "one bite at a time." Families not getting OT, other IEP services. Parents are tired. Hopes that the expansion of telehealth is here to stay. Chuck: an effort to get telehealth to expand ongoing for years but many strategic players have been resistant. Technology may come up to the job with privacy, bandwidth. The U seems to be recognizing the value. Hoping for leadership to see this happen. Lennea - seeing that other kinds of visits may be able to go to telehealth (ABA for example). How insurance providers will respond … always concerned about fraud and abuse. Commercial payers approaching this? Noemi - commercial payers are paying for telehealth during the crisis. Said that her providers were very resistant to do telehealth before the crisis but are now doing many and triaging this way. Noemi doesn’t know the rates payers are paying. Eric: CPD codes have telehealth modifiers, but are relaxing many requirements. Noemi: she checked: during Covid, telephone visits and telehealth visits are being reimbursed at the normal rate.
Eric: Tip - be sure to get up and move during the day. Let the Apple Watch boss you around. Gabi: sets reminders to get up, move around. Tania: at noon, takes a walk around the block with family. Tania's boss is doing a call twice weekly with whole team. Has a virtual lunch on Fridays - no work talk. Heidi - a big shout out to teachers. Her child is struggling emotionally and academically. Understands what teachers go through now! Erin: Friday nights talk with friends using the House Party app. Lennea: special Passover shabbat via Zoom. Chuck: finished a 1500 piece puzzle! Tania: kids are doing small service projects for friends to help deal with the stress. Facetiming to feel connected.
Great suggestions everyone!
Case #1:
Katie, University Pediatric Clinic - a
family needs a spacer for inhaler; it’s $30 out of pocket. Heidi suggests calling Brittany Parry with the Asthma Program if the family is in SL County - she should be able to provide that for free.
Disclaimer: These resources come from our members as part of the meeting brainstorming session; please check with your providers to make sure they are appropriate for your patient/families.
