WHY HAS MY PEDIATRICIAN BEEN SO BUSY?

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 AT HOME:

• Birth rates have increased since 2020.  The last time there was an increase in the number of births was 2014.  That means a lot more babies for us to care for!
• Daycares, schools, camps and other institutions are requiring a doctor’s note almost any time a child has a fever. This has resulted in a drastic increase in the number of phone calls and sick visits needed.
• Everyone is playing catch up with sports physicals, annual check ups and vaccines needed for school.
• Anxiety and depression have increased by over 30% in kids of all ages in the last 2 years.  The need for mental health appointments has skyrocketed.
• RSV, influenza and other viral illnesses are at an all time high and we are seeing these illnesses earlier in the season than normal.

IN THE OFFICE:

• Precautions for the safety of our patients and families take longer. We are committed to maintaining this standard of sterilization and cleanliness.
• There has been a tremendous increase in phone time and portal messages by staff and providers due to the increase in the number of appointments needed, questions asked by parents and communicating results.
• The amount of paperwork required for staff to fill out for schools, daycares, etc. has increased.  In most cases, this requires a patient to be seen in our clinic.
• As soon as the COVID vaccine became available for the pediatric population, we have seen an increase in the number of vaccine appointments requested by our families.  
• Our office has often been understaffed due to our employees having to care for themselves and their families.  

WHAT HASN’T CHANGED 

We are still here for you and your children!  Our focus continues to be quality, comprehensive care for our patients.  

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Please bring positivity and patience to your appointments.  We ask that you respect our office policies and understand many of our policies are in place for patient safety and quality reasons.  

Please come on time and be prepared for your appointments…complete any pre-work such as developmental and other CHADIS screening questionnaires; complete self check-in so you can verify demographics such as address, phone number and insurance as well as take care of any outstanding balance you may have.  

Please sign up for the patient portal so that you can communicate with our office and obtain medical history, lab results and immunization records.