Physician-in-Chief's Message
April 27, 2020
Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for all that you are doing to assure we continue taking excellent care of children and families through this pandemic. UNC Children’s has been leading across the system to maintain care in new ways during this time. See below for updates from the weekend.

UNC COVID Updates
Inpatient Care
  • Things have been running smoothly. 
  • We have discharged 2 of our COVID positive inpatients and our processes are being refined and improved with each admission. 
  • Thanks to everyone for their efforts.
Ambulatory Care
  • Three medical students, with interested in Pulmonology and ID, are starting an outpatient pediatric telehealth rotation in the continuity clinic and adolescent specialty clinic this week.
  • Students are able to participate by performing activities such as, pre-charting, scribing or outreach after video visits.
  • If other specialties are interested in having medical students participate in video visits please contact Martha Perry.
Virtual Care
  • CHANGES TO BILLING FOR VIDEO VISITS! CMS has stated that video visits billed on time can be billed on total visit time needed, NOT just the ‘face to face’ time like outpatient time-based billing.
  • Please keep using .pedvirtual and you will notice that the attestation includes time on video with patient/family, and then other time it takes reviewing records, documenting, etc… for patient care. 
  • The healthcare system and the Faculty Practice recognize that Children’s has been a real leader in implementing video visits! Some services lines are at 10-20% outpatient volume and you all getting close to usual visit volumes as a group!
Your COVID-19 Questions & Answers
Response from Tom Belhorn

Q: I have heard there are more cases of COVID in the community now including people who have no symptoms. I am sure some will present to the ED and clinics. Do I have to be on quarantine if I encounter an infected person with no symptoms?
 
A: Individuals in an active early stage of infection with respiratory symptoms, especially coughing, are most likely to infect others. However, there is the chance (much less) that an asymptomatic individual may spread infection to others, especially if there is prolonged close contact. When such an encounter is identified, occupational health (for faculty and staff) and infection prevention (for patients) use an algorithm established through the guidance of the CDC and current literature to assess the degree of exposure and make decisions regarding the need for quarantine. Therefore, quarantine is not automatic, but dependent upon this risk assessment. 
UNC Football Tight Ends Coach, John Lilly, & family express their thanks for everyone in the healthcare community and offer a few shelter in place suggestions!
It has been great to have acknowledgement of healthcare workers from videos like above and other shows of appreciation from across the nation. What you do is an incredibly hard job normally and especially challenging recently. I am so proud to work with all of you.

With gratitude,
919-417-3130 (cell)