This Month's Newsletter
The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. We know this year is different, and we hope you find ways to enjoy every moment with your family. It's a great year for getting everyone involved in the cooking, creating new traditions and sharing everything you are grateful for this past year.
In this month's newsletter, we remind you of our in-house rapid Covid-19 testing - available to all patients and their families. We discuss how to handle your college child coming home from college in the new Covid-19 environment. Further, we address the weighing question of whether or not children can contract Covid-19 and the impact on your child. We also include best practices on taking care of your baby's (and your) skin as we move into the colder, winter months. We continue to include information on our Covid-19 office procedures and free new mom and baby classes.
The Pediatric Center is here for all of your urgent medical needs, even when the office is closed. There is always someone available from our practice. All you have to do is call: 908-508-0400.
Our goal is to further develop our relationship with our patients and create an open forum. We welcome your comments and ideas. If you would like to see something included in this newsletter, please email us at pedcenter.com@gmail.com with ideas only, please no medical requests.
As always, we welcome you to share your experience with our practitioners with an online review.
Sincerely,
The Pediatric Center Staff
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In-House Covid-19 Testing
The Pediatric Center offers Covid-10 testing for all patients and their families.
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In-House Covid-19 Testing & Guidelines
There is important information to consider with Covid-19 and recommended guidelines. Below, we highlight the different types of tests along with information on isolation and quarantine.
The COVID-19 Antigen Test
The antigen test is a nasal swab that tells you in a short period of time if you have been infected with COVID-19. The accuracy of this test is limited, meaning that while a positive result means that there is a high likelihood that you have COVID-19, a negative test does not eliminate the possibility of infection.
The COVID-19 PCR Test
In some cases, a confirmatory PCR test will be performed if your rapid antigen test is negative. A PCR test is a nasal swab test that will be sent to an external lab for further study. PCR tests take longer to produce results, typically 24 – 72 hours, but they produce more accurate results.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19
If you have been exposed to someone who is test verified positive for COVID-19 or if you have traveled outside of the state of NJ to any hotspot states or countries please quarantine and stay home for 14 days after your last contact or starting with the day of your return to NJ.
You cannot test out of quarantine!
Regardless of testing results, including a negative PCR test, and no matter if you have no symptoms, you should stay home and quarantine. Symptoms may and can appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.
Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines
Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have COVID-19. Isolation separates confirmed COVID-19 patients from people who are not sick. Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to COVID-19, for a period of time, to see if they become sick.
If you are in a 14 day quarantine period, do not go to work, school or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing and taxis. Do not have visitors come to your home. As much as possible the person in quarantine should stay in a specific room in your home. If possible, use a separate bathroom or clean bathroom surfaces after each use. Practice frequent hand washing and cleaning of high touch surfaces in the home.
If you are in an isolation period (starts 10 days from the onset of symptoms OR on the day of testing if asymptomatic). Do not go to work, school or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing and taxis. Do not have visitors come to your home. As much as possible the person in isolation should stay in a specific room in your home and should when possible wear a mask. If possible, use a separate bathroom or clean bathroom surfaces after each use. Practice frequent hand washing and cleaning of high touch surfaces in the home.
This information can be found on our Covid-19 page of our website. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a test, please call the office: 908-508-0400
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Coming Home from College
This year definitively looks a little different as we approach what is typically a very anticipated day - Thanksgiving. Many college kids are coming home to be with their families. How do you handle bringing your child back into the house in these times of Covid-19? Should you all wear masks?
Both kids and parents have similar concerns - bringing the virus into the home, where some family members might be at a higher risk. It can be incredibly heart-wrenching to not be able to hug and kiss your child when they arrive for this much anticipated holiday.
Some students have decided to stay on campus and not risk it for their family members. If your child is coming home for the holidays, there are a few steps in place. Many colleges are testing students before they leave campus to assure family members they are safe to come home.
It's important to remember, "a test is just a snapshot of the day it is taken, says Dr. Judy Guzman-Cottrill, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Oregon Health & Science University. 'One negative test does not mean that you are home free.' And even if a test is negative, it's not a guarantee the person taking it is not infected." So what do you do then? The recommendation is to have your child get tested again when they get home and wear a mask and remain 6ft distance in the home until the results come back. This may seem overly cautious, but with the surge of infections lately, it is a safe step to take until you receive reassurance the test comes back negative.
We understand this year is different, and we empathize with the current challenges and the disappointment in this holiday season. Keep in mind, there is a silver lining in the future and this is all temporary. Safety is the most important right now.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child coming home from school, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office. As a reminder, we offer the rapid and DNA PCR test right in our office.
Source: NPR.org
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Can My Child Get It?
We are no doubt facing a tumultuous time, many living in fear of contracting the notorious Covid-19 virus.
Even from the onset of the virus, it was believed children could not get it, or if they did, it was rare. The American Academy of Pediatrics published a news release last week highlighting that more than 1 million children in the US were diagnosed with Covid-19.
The AAP points out, "As of Nov. 12, a total of 1,039,464 children have tested positive for Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic. In the one-week period ending Nov. 12th, there were 111,946 new cases in children, which is substantially larger than any previous week in the pandemic."
The urgency to protect everyone in our communities remains a priority.
The news release continues, "In addition to children infected with the virus, the pandemic has taken a toll on children’s health in numerous ways:
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Family stress and mental health: According to a national survey, 27% of parents reported worsening mental health for themselves, and 14% reported worsening behavioral health for their children. The Centers for Disease Control stated there was a 24% increase in emergency room visits for mental health problems during the pandemic.
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Disruption in education: Children's academic performance, family stability and equity from lost wages caused by school closings has been disruptive.
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Reduced access to health care: Compared with the same time period in 2019, there were 22% fewer immunizations for children 2 and younger against other infectious diseases like measles and whooping cough and 44% fewer (3.2 million) child screening services. The AAP is concerned about children missing developmental and other screenings that normally take place during these visits.
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Children are also at an increased risk of child maltreatment. Increased stress and isolation place children at immediate risk of severe harm, neglect and even death.
Severe illness due to Covid-19 remains rare in children, however the many other implications are real and should be addressed in the short term."
If you have any immediate concerns, or need support for issues you or your family may be experiencing, please reach out to our office to speak to a practitioner immediately.
Source: AAP
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Skincare Tips
As the weather gets colder, our skin starts to react to the change in temperature. Washing our hands in abundance, drier air and indoor heat can reek havoc on our skin. Babies have especially senstive skin and may need some extra TLC.
Following are 10 tips for keeping your baby's skin soft as we segue into the winter months. Some of these tips can also apply to older children and adults:
Swaddle with Warm Clothes
Babies have not learned to properly regulate their own body temperatures yet, so it’s important to make sure they get neither too hot not too cold in the winter. Dressing baby in layers will allow you to add or subtract clothes as necessary. Even in chilly climates, babies can still get heat rash if they are too heavily swaddled. Heat rash leads to diaper rash, and irritation around the folds of your child’s skin. That can lead to crankiness and sleepless nights, which are no fun for anyone.
Protect Their Lips
Babies are always drooling. In the cold weather, this can cause their noses and lips to get chapped and raw. Gently rub some petroleum jelly onto your child’s mouth before taking him out into the cold. This will protect that little mouth from everything except your kisses!
Avoid Overbathing
Babies’ skin is prone to getting dried out, and frequent bathing can exacerbate dryness. The best approach to baby skin care in winter is to keep them clean with gentle sponge baths and wipe downs with damp washcloths. It’s OK to bath your baby once day, but make sure the water is only warm, not too hot. Avoid any products with perfumes or other additives. Warm water and baby shampoo are all you need to keep her clean and soft.
Use Products Made Specifically for Babies
Baby skin care in winter, or any time of year, means using the purest, most natural products available. Unfortunately, many products made for adults contain lots of unnatural ingredients which can irritate your baby’s gentle epidermis. It’s too early to know if your baby has allergies, or if he or she will react to something in your shampoo or bubble bath. Even bath products made for older children may not be right for infants. Err on the side of caution with baby shampoo, oil and liquid soap.
Sunscreen All Year Round
You know to slather the sunscreen on your child’s skin under the hot summer sun, but the winter sun also can expose your family to damaging UV rays. Sun reflecting off of the snow can be especially bright and can even cause sunburn. Practice effective baby skin care in winter by keeping your little one well-protected. Because sunscreen may contain chemicals if your baby has extra sensitive skin you may want to ask your pediatrician about which brand of sunscreen is best. Avoiding sunburns early in life has been proved to be effective in preventing skin cancer later on.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Like adults, some babies have dry skin which requires moisturizing. For children under one year and for those with extra sensitive skin, try to avoid products made for older children or adults. These could contain irritating scents or colors. Baby oil or coconut oil are natural and pure options. They can be massaged into your baby’s skin to help keep dry skin at bay. Massage has also been known to help babies go to sleep, soothe colic and strengthen bonds between parent and child – so, enjoy!
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Our strict CDC guidelines continue, Our office is completely sanitized and treated before each appointment. We continue the following protocols:
- Phone screening prior to a visit
- No patients in the waiting rooms
- Suspension of walk-in visits - all appointments must be scheduled
- Patient clearance prior to entering the office
- Car visits, when needed
- Virtual telemedicine, if requested
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Please continue to limit your visit to one adult per family, wear a face covering/mask while in the office and maintain social distancing (at least 6 ft apart). Please do not make an appointment or come to the office if you have, or show any symptoms of COVID-19.
We look forward to seeing you!
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Virtual New Mom Support Group
The Pediatric Center offers a weekly Virtual New Mom Support Group every Friday at 10 am. The classes are facilitated by our own Dr. Mckegney via Zoom. Simply register here. The support group is open and free to the public.
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On-Site Lactation Support Center
The Pediatric Center's Lactation Support Center and lactation suite are available to you to support breastfeeding your child.
We offer complimentary lactation consultations and are now offering virtual visits.
To schedule your lactation consultation, attend our free prenatal class or make an appointment please call us at 908-508-0400.
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Find More Topics On Our Blog |
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The Pediatric Center's blog is an invaluable resource for pediatric and parenting topics. The blog is right on our website. It includes topics such as "12 Super Foods for Lactation Aid", "Best Winter Skincare Tips" and so much more.
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Patient Portal
The Pediatric Center's patient portal provides personal access to your family's medical records.
You can access information such as immunization records, visit summaries, request appointments, view dates for upcoming appointments and pay your bill.
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Do You Need A Pediatric Specialist?
The Pediatric Center works with a wide network of doctors we can refer to a pediatric specialist if you need one.
As part of our practice, we specialize in developmental & behavioral health and focus on positive parenting practices. We can offer guidance on depression, eating disorders, developmental concerns and many other issues. You are not alone.
Please call to make an appointment to meet with one of our physicians: 908-508-0400.
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The Pediatric Center Online Bill Pay
Online Bill Payment
Payments Over The Phone
If you prefer, you can still make a payment over the phone by calling The Pediatric Center's billing department,
Office: 908-508-0400
Billing Department: 786-249-1234
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Vaccine Education Center
Did you know our website includes a Vaccine Education Center where you can find the immunization schedule for your child?
Reminder - we offer all students going to college the Meningococcal B vaccine. This vaccine is covered by insurance. It is recommended it be administered to all students starting college as part of their pre-college physical. Please also discuss the new Gardasil vaccine with your practitioner. View all the details here.
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We Love Your Feedback!
Your feedback is very important to us! We would love to hear about your positive experience with our doctors and nurse practitioners. You can write and post a review right on our website or on our Facebook page. Thank you for your kind words!
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Free Virtual Prenatal Class
Join our free, virtual prenatal class on the 3rd Thursday of every month with our own
Dr. McKegney!
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For Parents
Resources for breastfeeding, immunization schedules, what to do if your child is sick, online references & much more!
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New Mom Support Group
Are you a new mom and want to connect with other moms while learning about your newborn? Join our weekly support group.
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Follow Us On Facebook!
Keep up to date with pertinent news information and important announcements on Facebook including time sensitive topics and office closings, etc.
Simply like us
by clicking on the button to the right!
Announcements will also be posted on the home page of our website under "What's New".
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The Pediatric Center
556 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
908-508-0400
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