New Phase Update Effective 03.10.22

NEW PHASE EFFECTIVE Thursday, March 10th, 2022

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday, 7:45am until 4:15pm

For nearly two years, the ABC Pediatrics’ team has kept you informed of the ever-changing global COVID pandemic. We’ve monitored transmission and case rates for COVID-19 and its variants and made adjustments to our workflow while remaining committed to ensuring our patients received well care, immunizations, medication management, mental health care and allergy immunotherapy. Simultaneously, we invested in In-Office COVID PCR testing capabilities and COVID antibody testing capabilities as well as COVID vaccine administration as soon as the services could be made available to our area. We effectively processed sick patients and provided In-Office COVID related services in isolated areas of our office to mitigate the possibility of spread.


The last two years have presented us with extreme challenges. Every challenge was approached head on, analyzed and managed based on data and common sense. These challenges provided our team with increased knowledge and confidence. To you, our patient family, THANK YOU for trusting us and navigating through each phase of this pandemic cycle with us. Your kindness, support, and ability to conform to our various workflow changes have provided our staff with strength, courage, and reassurance.

With North Carolina’s transmission and positivity rates well under 5%, ABC Pediatrics will eliminate some of the strict protocols we have had in place for nearly two years.

● ALL PATIENTS will once again be welcomed through our front entrance.
● ALL PATIENTS will be processed face to face by our Front Office staff and directed to either the SICK or WELL waiting area.
● NEWBORN INFANTS will be prioritized and processed in a separate triage area and roomed in only designated newborn exam areas.
● Exam rooms will continue to be sanitized after patient visits.

New Phase Update Effective 02-07-22

NEW PHASE EFFECTIVE Monday, February 7th, 2022

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am until 4:15pm

ABC Pediatrics has evaluated and revised our approach in caring for the health care needs of our patients. We remain committed to ensuring patients receive well care, medication management, mental health care and allergy immunotherapy, while maintaining service for sick patients and testing during this ever-changing COVID pandemic. Our new process will go in effect Monday, February 7th, and is described below. 


Main Entrance

Our MAIN ENTRANCE, waiting areas and main clerical area will be utilized for WELL PATIENTS all day. Our health care team will respond to patients who need care for the following:

  • Well Physicals
  • Immunizations
  • Medication Management
  • Routine follow up care
  • Telehealth
  • Mental Health Services
  • Allergy Services

NO WALK-INS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

Second Entrance

NO WALK-INS ACCEPTED. Appointments can be scheduled at 910-892-1333.

Our SECOND ENTRANCE and processing area will be designated for SICK PATIENTS every morning from 7:45am until 11:15am. At the time of scheduling, instructions will be provided for arrival and check-in procedures. Lab results, school and work correspondence will be handled via our secure patient portal. Designated care providers will respond to patients who need care for the following:

● Exposure to Covid 19
● Change in sense of taste or smell
● COVID Testing
● Cold Symptoms
● Fever
● Sore Throat
● Cough
● Vomiting
● Diarrhea
● Shortness of Breath
● ER Follow Up
● Body Aches/Fatigue

New Phase Update from ABC Pediatrics (09-10-21)

NEW PHASE EFFECTIVE Monday, September 20th, 2021

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am until 4:15pm

As COVID continues to impact our community, ABC Pediatrics has evaluated and revised our approach in caring for the health care needs of our patients. We remain committed to ensuring patients receive well care, medication management, mental health care and allergy immunotherapy, while maintaining service for sick patients and testing during this ever-changing pandemic. Our new process will go in effect Monday, September 20, 2021, and is described below. 


Weekday MORNINGS will be designated for SICK PATIENTS. All available primary care providers will respond to patients who need care for the following:

● Exposure to Covid 19
● COVID Testing
● Fever
● Cough
● Shortness of Breath
● ER Follow Up

● Change in sense of taste or smell
● Cold Symptoms
● Sore throat
● Vomiting
● Diarrhea
● Body aches/fatigue

Weekday AFTERNOONS will be designated for WELL PATIENTS. All available primary care providers will respond to patients who need care for the following:

  • Well Physicals
  • Immunizations
  • Medication management
  • Routine follow up care
  • Telehealth 

Patients scheduled with our MENTAL HEALTH team and/or our ALLERGY team will be offered a different method of check in and welcomed through a side entrance for appointments from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. 

Also, effective September 20, 2021, the following services will ONLY be available via our SECURE PATIENT PORTAL

  • Medication refill requests
  • Lab results
  • COVID related school correspondence

If you have not requested and/or received your child’s Patient Portal invitation, please check with a member of our front office team to get this set up. 

NEW PHASE Update from ABC Pediatrics

NEW PHASE EFFECTIVE Monday, March 1st 2021

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am until 4:15pm

As we become more familiar with COVID-19 and the impact on our community, ABC Pediatrics is continuing the evolution of our approach in caring for the health care needs of our patients. We remain committed to ensuring patients receive well care, medication management, mental health care and allergy immunotherapy, while still maintaining service for our sick patients during this ever changing COVID-19 environment. Our process is described below.

ALL persons requesting entrance to our building are being screened by our clinical personnel utilizing COVID-19 CDC guidelines. A front entry screener will ensure the following questions are appropriately answered before a guest may enter the main entrance.  

Exposure to COVID19?

Anyone at home been TESTED for COVID in the past 14 days?

Fever in the last 72 hours?

Cough in the last 72 hours?

Shortness of breath?

Cold Symptoms?

Loss of Taste or Smell?

Sore throat?

Vomiting?

Body aches/fatigue?

Have you been to the ER for any of the above symptoms in the last 10 days?

  • ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE:  Patients who are cleared by the screening process will be directed to the front office for check-in processing. A specified waiting area will be reserved for newborns and infants. However, patients that DO NOT clear the screening process WILL NOT be permitted in the main entrance. Options for care include, changing the appointment to a sick or telehealth visit or rescheduling the appointment. All patients over the age of two will be required to wear a face mask.
  • SICK CARE: Provider/Nurse teams are designated daily for our SICK CLINIC. Call 910-892-1333 for an appointment time. Sick patients are processed through a different building entrance and isolated to a specific area of the building. All patients over the age of two will be required to wear a face mask.
  • TELEPHONIC & VIRTUAL CALLS: Patients needing provider advice and/or medication management but do not pass screening can maintain their child’s healthcare needs by scheduling a telehealth visit when appropriate. Telehealth (video call) appointments can be coordinated with the patient’s primary care provider by calling 910-892-1333. 
  • MENTAL HEALTH CARE: Our mental health department is fully staffed. Counselors are providing face to face sessions or connecting to patients via telehealth (video call). For scheduling, questions or additional information, please call our Mental Health Department directly at 910-892-1333, ext 2277 and speak with Maria or Victoria
  • ALLERGY DEPARTMENT:  We will continue to support our patients receiving IN-OFFICE allergy injections on your regularly scheduled visits. For scheduling, questions or additional information, please call our Allergy Department directly at 910-892-1333, ext 2241 and speak with Sandra or Jennifer.  

 

Your patience, support, and continued trust in what we do here at ABC PEDIATRICS are sincerely appreciated. 

ABC’s Rapid Covid-19 Testing is “Real-Time PCR”!

Let's Discuss Covid Testing at ABC Pediatrics..

Some of the more recent discussions regarding COVID-19 are centering around TESTING. Rapid testing. Antigen testing. Antibody testing. Molecular testing. PCR testing.

Has your employer or your child’s school or daycare presented you with questions or guidelines concerning COVID testing that has you scratching your head?

It is our hope that the following will provide you some general knowledge and clarification regarding COVID TESTING as we continue to work together to manage and conquer this ongoing COVID CHAOS!

Let's clarify:

  • Although originally meant to simply indicate that results would be available the same day as the test, RAPID TESTING can have different meanings in today’s discussions. In the past, RAPID TESTING generally referred to “antigen testing”. However, with today’s new technology, RAPID TESTING can also be used to describe MOLECULAR Testing.
  • With “Antigen Testing”, a nasal sample is used to determine if specific COVID 19 PROTEINS found on the virus’ surface are present in your nasal secretions. If this test is POSITIVE, it is likely that you currently carry the virus. However, if this test is NEGATIVE, most experts recommend that this test is “FOLLOWED UP or CONFIRMED BY A MOLECULAR TEST”.
  • MOLECULAR TESTING” is a more definitive test which looks for specific parts of the viral genome from a swab of your nasal secretions. MOLECULAR TESTNG is readily available in two forms: NAAT and RT-PCR. NAAT stands for Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique and is the methodology employed in the Abbott testing platform. This test utilizes a nasal swab and takes approximately 15 minutes to get a result. RT-PCR stands for Real Time - Polymerase Chain Reaction and is the methodology employed in the Cepheid testing platform. This test utilizes a naso-pharyngeal swab and takes approximately 45 minutes to get a result. NAAT testing recommends a RT-PCR test to CONFIRM any negative result whereas RT-PCR is the “Gold Standard” test for COVID and does NOT require any confirmatory testing. In the early days of COVID testing, it would take several days to get results back from MOLECULAR TESTING. However, advances in technology have resulted in “RAPID MOLECULAR TESTING” that can provide results in as little as 15 minutes for NAAT testing and 45 minutes for RT-PCR testing. ABC Pediatrics EXCLUSIVELY utilizes RT-PCR testing (The “GOLD STANDARD”) to evaluate, diagnose, and counsel our patients regarding COVID infections, and this testing does NOT require that it be followed up or confirmed by an additional test.(There is a link to the FACT SHEET for the RT-PCR testing that is performed at ABC Pediatrics which gives more in-depth information on this test.)
  • SEROLOGY TESTING”, also referred to as ANTIBODY TESTING, is a test that utilizes a fingerstick blood sample to look for your body’s response to the COVID virus or the COVID vaccine. If you have been exposed to or diagnosed as having COVID, or received one of the COVID vaccines, your body should respond by making ANTIBODIES to the virus. Antibodies come in two types: IgM or immediate and IgG which is delayed. IgM antibodies usually develop 7 - 21 days after exposure to the COVID virus (or vaccine) and only last a few weeks. IgG antibodies tend to develop after 14 - 28 days and stay around in your body for a lengthy period (months to years) to help protect your body and fight off any future exposures to the COVID virus. At this time, we do NOT know how long these IgG antibodies will be around OR how long they will offer protection in the future. More studies will be performed in the months ahead to give us a clearer picture of these antibodies.ABC Pediatrics is able to perform the test for COVID antibodies in our office lab with results available in 15 - 25 minutes.

At ABC PEDIATRICS, we have the technology, equipment, and the capability to perform RAPID RT-PCR COVID testing, MOLECULAR FLU and RSV testing and COVID ANTIBODY testing on our patients with results available within 15 - 45 minutes of the collection of the nasal sample OR fingerstick blood sample.

Our In-House testing methodologies and results have been verified by the NC Department of Health and Human Services to be acceptable for testing in children who have been or are at risk of  being excluded from school or daycare due to COVID exposure or illness.

If you are concerned that your child may have been exposed or may be infected with the COVID-19 virus (or FLU or RSV) and would like to have a RT-PCR TEST or Antibody test performed, please call our office at 910.892.1333 and schedule an appointment to be evaluated by one of our providers.

View the Covid 19 Fact Sheet.

Click here

Covid 19 Update- New Phase begins Monday

New Hours- Effective Monday, 07.13.20- Monday thru Friday, 8:00am until 4:15pm

SAME DAY sick and urgent visits are AVAILABLE daily in our MOBILE CLINIC. PLEASE CALL for a MOBILE CLINIC appointment time. Sick patients are isolated and necessary care is provided inside their vehicles. Services such as lab testing, nebulizer treatments and medication administration remain available for vehicle visits.

Provider/Nurse teams are designated daily for newborn infant care, well physical exams and chronic follow up care. Scheduled patients are brought into specifically designated and maintained areas of our office that are exclusively utilized for well patients and their families that pass screening. Enhanced cleaning and sanitizing measures are performed repeatedly after each patient visit to ensure the MAXIMUM protection for our patients. Segregated triage and lab collection processes are being employed that will also protect patients from exposure to other patients. Masks or face coverings are required for all non-infant guests seeking entrance to our building.

School plans remain uncertain but we want students to be prepared. School physicals, asthma maintenance, chronic medication regimen follow ups will all be a priority. Our mental health department also remains fully staffed. Our counselors are connecting with patients for counseling and ADHD testing. For questions or additional information, please request to speak with Maria or Victoria at ext 2277.

IN-OFFICE allergy testing and immunotherapy injections are also available. For questions or additional information, please dial ext. 2241.

As always, when our office is closed, our after hours service remains available for your convenience. Just dial our main number and follow the after-hours instructions.

THANK YOU! For your support and understanding as we move through the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic together.

Contact us:

Pediatric (Kawasaki-Like) Inflammatory Syndrome

Top Warning Signs and Symptoms

Consult Primary Care Physician Now if you see any/some of the following:

  • Patients less than 3 months of age- report 100.5 or higher temperature immediately
  • Patients 3 months and older, - report fever 100.5 or higher if persists beyond 3 days
  • Redness or bloodshot eyes (without pus or drainage)
  • Mouth changes- swollen, bumpy red tongue (“Strawberry tongue”)  Redness of mouth, lips and/or throat
  • Red, dry cracked or bleeding lips
  • Widespread Rash
  • Red palms of hands and/or soles of feet
  • Peeling skin (hands and/or feet)
  • Swollen hands and/or feet
  • Neck swelling- swollen lymph nodes/glands (usually one sign of neck) 
  • Severe Abdominal pain, Diarrhea or Vomiting
  • Joint pain
  • Fast heartrate, chest pain or pressure
  • Fast breathing, short of breath, trouble speaking, grunting or wheezing
  • Slow or Shallow breathing or retractions (tugging of skin seen, between each rib with each breath)
  • Pale, gray or blue skin, lips
  • Headache with fever, or neck stiffness (can’t touch chin to chest)
  • Irritability, confusion, lethargy
  • Limp like a rag doll, little or no eye contact and/or little or no movement
  • Not responding normally, doesn’t recognize caregiver, doesn’t follow commands
  • Feels faint or weak
  • Not drinking or drinks very little, trouble swallowing
  • Not urinating normally, change in frequency, amount or darker colored (less than 5-6 wet diapers per day) Has not urinated in over 8 hours
  • Seizure like activity
  • Worsening-Looking or acting sicker: ANY NEW, worrisome, changing or worsening symptoms, improved, now acting sick again, or resolved fever returned

 

Contact Us:

Call: 910-892-1333

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