CDC recommendations on how to protect yourself

COVID-19 RESOURCES AND UPDATES

Your providers at Helena Pediatric Clinic continue to follow and adjust our care based on evolving CDC, AAP, and WHO guidance. 

CDC recommendations on how to protect yourself 

CDC self quarantine guidelines

• Wellness Visits: We are currently postponing wellness visits in children over the age of two. We will continue to see children under the age of two for their routine immunizations. If you have questions about whether to keep your appointment, please call the office. If a family member is ill, we ask that person to stay home, or if needed to reschedule appointments. Please limit the number of family members at appointments.

• Routine appointments:
  • Most non-urgent appointments are being cancelled or converted
  • We are now offering Telehealth (video/audio virtual appointment with your doctor from the safety of your home) for many types of appointments including but not limited to:
    • Follow-up appointments for: ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, and many chronic conditions that require routine medication checkups
    • Mild illness in children over the age of 2
    • Some rashes (at doctor’s discretion)
    • Parental concern and you are not sure if an in-office visit is needed

If your doctor feels your child’s condition requires an in-office visit for further testing or full physical examination, your telehealth visit may be converted to an in office visit.

• What to do if your child is sick: If your child is mildly ill (cough, runny nose, sore throat, drinking fluids well, not having troubles breathing) monitor and treat supportively at home with fluids and rest. Most colds will start to improve in 5-7 days, but may take up to 10-14 days to resolve.
  • Schedule an appointment for your child if they have any of the following:

• Troubles breathing (when not coughing)
• Rapid/fast breathing
• Fever >100.4F in child less than 3 months of age (needs to be seen at time of finding fever. If after hours, call on call provider)
• Poor fluid intake and concerns for dehydration
• Your child has cough and is:
  • Under the age of 6 months of age
  • Immune compromised
  • Has chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, immune deficiency
  • Has Asthma and cough is worsening or not responding to albuterol
• Or you are concerned about how your child is doing. 

• How are we keeping you and your child safe when you need to come to the clinic?
  • Currently both waiting rooms are closed. 
  • We are asking families to call from the parking lot (406-449-5563), and if well, you and your child will be escorted directly to a patient room.
  • For children with respiratory symptoms, fevers, or other signs of contagious illness, we are seeing these patients in their car or in our outdoor examination tent. 
  • We are following CDC infection control guidelines including thoroughly cleaning all rooms and equipment between visits. Staff are wearing masks to protect our patients, our families, and ourselves. 
• COVID-19 testing
  • There remains a shortage of test kits and testing is at doctor discretion based on current recommendations. If your doctor feels a test needs to be done, this will be performed in our parking lot tent clinic and will depend on availability of supplies.
  • CDC Current Testing Recommendations:
    • Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever¹ and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing). Priorities for testing may include:
      • Hospitalized patients
      • Individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes
      • Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographical areas within 14 days of their symptom onset.
      • Mildly ill patients should be encouraged to stay home and contact their healthcare provider by phone for guidance about clinical management.
      • Patients who have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek care immediately.
      • Individuals who have underlying medical conditions or are immunocompromised should contact their physician early in the course of even mild illness.
• Please follow all social distancing recommendations. Stay home at home with your family. Do not have playdates or sleepovers. Do not attend group social events in public or in HOMES.

If you have any questions or concerns about this information, what to do, or need clarification; please do not hesitate to contact our office at 406-449-5563.

We are in this together. Be calm. Be safe. Wash your hands.