A Message from the Physician-in-Chief - COVID-19 Update

Physician-in-Chief's Message

March 16, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

I am grateful for all the COVID-19 initiatives that have been implemented throughout Children’s. I have been so impressed with the teamwork and dedication as we prepare for this health threat.

I do want to acknowledge the stress and anxiety many are feeling during this time. Common triggers to anxiety include work stress, change in living arrangements, change in routines, and the unknown associated with these stressful events!

Please understand that people around you deal with stress and uncertainty in different ways. Please pay close attention to your own feelings and seek support. There are numerous resources available on the Department of Pediatrics COVID-19 site , including:

Handout for Parent/Caregiver Guide to helping kids cope with COVID-19 from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Handout with tips for mental health during social isolation from SAMHSA
Information from WHO on psychologically coping with an outbreak

Updates about COVID-19

All clinicians MUST watch https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WB3g3m3hQeFzHn. Many of the cases in Italy from healthcare workers were related to misuse of personal protection equipment (PPE).

Please link to our department site for current inpatient, outpatient, and ED pathways https://www.med.unc.edu/pediatrics/covid-19-clinical-resources/

The Respiratory Diagnostic Center (HUB) is set up today. It will be open during the day and during the week. There will always either be a family medicine or pediatrics provider there to help test and triage children.

Reminder that we should NOT be rounding as a whole team in the rooms for now (family centered rounding style). Students are NOT to be involved in care of any patients that need PPE. At this time, attendings should be the primary providers for persons under investigation or COVID positive patients.

Key Phone Numbers

888-850-2684: Healthlink COVID Phone Triage for patients
984-974-7500: pager 919-216-2935, UNC Infection Control Phone line - for providers to call with patient care concerns.
984-974-4480: Medical Center Occupational Health, for questions from providers about personal illness or exposure.
919-966-9119: University Occupational health.

Thank you to everyone for all that you are doing to prepare and care for these patients. Thank you for this extra work that will be well invested as we begin seeing children and families infected with this novel virus.

We are aligning what we do in Children’s with overall medical center guidance, but policies have been adjusted when needed for children and families. If you have concerns, please directly contact Benny Joyner (inpatient), Tom Belhorn (outpatient), Cheryl Jackson (ED), Andrea Hayes-Jordan (OR) or myself if you have specific questions about our clinical pathways.

Gratefully,