Physician-in-Chief's Message
March 18, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
 
Dr. Zwemer, Associate Pediatrics Residency Program Director, shared a bright spot and great example of making the best of an unfortunate situation.

Of the many unexpected cancellations in light of COVID, Carolina for the Kids had to cancel their annual Dance Marathon. Given their hard work all year long, this was very upsetting. Rather than wallow in sadness, they’re planning a virtual Dance Marathon!
This short video shares more and more details are linked below.
 UNC COVID Updates
 Inpatient
  • Inpatient COVID service busy with a number of rule outs, no positive results yet.


  • Ped Covid Acute, ICU and ID pagers all live.

Peds Emergency Department
  • There is a triage tent outside of the emergency department now. If any pediatric patients screen at risk for COVID the Peds ED attending will be called to evaluate before they are sent to the RDC.

  • Reminder, please call the Ped ED attending hip phone (984-215-5405) before sending any pediatric patient to the PED for care. This helps manage flow and plan and can help you as referring provider.

Pediatric Specialty Care Team (Pediatric Sedation Service)
  • The UNC Health Surgical Services has moved to ‘Level C’ which means some reduction in elective procedures and surgeries. This will potentially affect almost ALL Children’s providers because of either surgeries or procedures you do, outpatient sedation cases like MRIs that you ordered, etc.

  • The sedation team will be reaching out to ordering or performing providers that may require cancellation. If you get an EPIC inbasket please respond ASAP so they can work with you to determine if procedures can safely be delayed. Contact Sara Pittenger is specific questions arise.

Campus Access
  • Please be aware that SOM buildings will move to card-access for exterior doors starting this afternoon, Wednesday, March 18, at 12pm.
 
Finally, this pandemic has highlighted for me why I returned to UNC Children’s in 2018. The compassionate, mission-focused, selfless approach to the care of children has been palpable.
Together, we will get through this crisis.
 
Gratefully,
 
Stephanie
Cell: 919-417-3130