COVID-19 Information

Dear Patients,

West Plano Pediatrics is here to help you care for your child.   We are monitoring recommendations from the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), CDC (Center Disease Control), Children’s Medical Center and are in contact with the Collin County Health Department. Please know that we will continue to closely monitor the situation and evaluate additional measures to support your family as needs arise.

Based on what we know as of March 13, 2020, the following are answers to frequently asked questions:

1. My child has a routine check up. What should I do?
   1. Arrive on time for your appointment.
   2. Reschedule your appointment if your child has a cough or a fever
   3. Please know that our well child appointments have always been scheduled at separate times from our sick visits.
2. How do I know that my child won’t get sick going to your office?
   1. We have always used hospital grade disinfectant to wipe down surfaces between patients, provided alcohol dispensing units throughout the office and sanitized the waiting room during the lunch hour. We have taken the additional step of removing books from the exam rooms.
   2. Please bring your own entertainment since the well-loved books will no longer be available.
   3. Our goal is to allow you to wait mostly in an exam room and minimize wait time in the waiting room. Please notify the front if you have been waiting longer than 20 minutes.
   4. Arrive on time to minimize wait time
3. My children are frightened by what they are hearing about COVID-19. What should I tell them?
   1. Please refer to our blog https://westplanopediatrics.com/doc-blog/covid-19/
4. What should I do if my child has a cough or fever and we have been in contact with a suspected case of COVID-19 or recently traveled to an area affected by COVID-19 and got sick?
   1. Please DO NOT schedule an appointment at our office, instead; inform the staff and a nurse or doctor will return your call. Fortunately, in children, COVID-19 is mostly a mild viral illness that can be managed at home.  Our nurses and doctors are happy to help you care and support your child at home.
   2. Avoid telehealth. Our nurses and doctors know your child’s history and are knowledgeable about the local situation and are in contact with the local health department and hospitals.
5. How do I protect myself and my children from catching COVID-19?
   1. Act as if you have a newborn at home or that you are visiting a newborn. Remember those days:  no crowds, no big events, no going out to malls, church or synagogue, busy restaurants, no one comes over with a runny nose even if they say it is “allergies” …
   2. The CDC recommends people wash their hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; cover their coughs and sneezes; disinfect surfaces regularly; stay home when sick and avoid others who are sick. The general public does not need to wear facemasks.
6. For more answers to common questions, please refer to the helpful CDC site about children and COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/children-faq.html

As always, the doctors of West Plano Pediatrics wish you good health.