COVID-19 UPDATE
Terrace Pediatric Group is monitoring the current outbreak of the new Coronavirus, (COVID-19), on a daily basis. We will continue to follow the standard infection-transmission precautions for healthcare facilities and follow any recommendations that the Tennessee Department of Health may have to help decrease any possible exposures to our patients and patient's families, as well as , our staff. We are hoping to keep everyone safe and healthy.
There are still many unknowns about this virus and the recommendations seem to change as we learn more. We will continue to stay informed and share information with you.
We are not currently testing for COVID-19 in our office. If you feel you are at risk, please call the Vanderbilt Health COVID-19 Hotline at 888.312.0847. There are many places that are doing testing at this time. Here is a link of the different testing center locations.
https://carbonhealth.com.coronavirus/covid-19-testing-centers/Tennessee
Our office protocol was changed early in the Pandemic as we adopted the "Safer at Home" recommendations with trying to avoid any unnecessary office visits. As those recommendations have relaxed a bit, we have still decided to have certain safeguards in place.
- Well, Child Checkups will be done between the hours of 9-10:30 and 1-3:30.
- Sick visits will be done from 10:30-11:30 and 3:30-4:30
- Try and limit the visits to only 1 parent and child, if possible, but we know that may be hard for some families
- All physicians and nurses with direct contact with any patients will wear a mask and adhere to strict handwashing and wearing gloves, if necessary
- We are trying to get patients back into the designated well and sick rooms within a few minutes of their arrival but may ask some patients to wear a mask or wait in the car until they are called back to a room, so as to not expose others in the office.
- We are also trying to use TeleMedicine, where we may handle any illnesses or chronic issues over the phone and prevent you from having to leave your house.
- We will continue to remain open on Saturday mornings for a limited number of well-visits and any sick visits needed.
- Sick visit appointments will be made ahead of time and there will be no walk-in appointments at this time. Patients that walk-in will be instructed to return to their cars and call the office to discuss symptoms with a nurse and schedule a same-day appointment for the next available time.
- We do not have masks to give to patients and their families, but do recommend anyone over the age of 2 should wear one while out of their home.
Helpful links:
The TN Dept. of Health 877.857.2945
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
The Center for Disease Control
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/protect/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
The Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also has useful information