COVID-19 Message from Palisades Pediatrics
Palisades Pediatrics cares deeply about the health and well-being of our patients, parents and families. During this unprecedented Ime, we remain open and will see patients for well visits, annual physicals, follow-ups and sick visits. However, we are offering telehealth for those individuals who don’t feel comfortable coming to the office for certain issues. We use a HIPAA-compliant program called Doximity so that your privacy is protected. Please understand that a video telehealth encounter does not take the place of a face-to-face encounter and may be limited in its scope. Dr. Ha is unable to do a thorough examination during a telehealth encounter but will address the concern to the best of her ability. However, it may be determined that an in-office encounter is necessary to provide the best and most appropriate care.
The following concerns may be discussed over telehealth:
• Behavioral and mental health
• Suspected or confirmed COVID-19 exposure without symptoms and wants testing
• Rashes or skin problem (if no other symptoms are present)
• Pink eye or allergy eyes
• Mild seasonal allergy symptoms
• ADHD
• Chronic care management
When scheduling the appointment with the receptionist, please provide the best phone number for us to use for the virtual connection and make sure you have an adequate internet connection. At the Ime of the encounter, you will receive a text message with a link to access the Doximity video call, and after following the prompts, you will be connected. In order to check in to the appointment, please have your insurance card and credit card readily available. Just before the encounter, please measure the patient's temperature and weight if you are able, and be prepared to provide that information during check in.
In-Office Appointments
We take every precaution in our office to prevent the possible spread of infection, but please be reassured that we are taking even more precautions than usual in order to protect our patients, their families and our staff from exposure to the coronavirus. In order to do that, the scheduling of patients will follow a new template in accordance with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Well visits, annual physicals, and routine follow-ups are schedule with the usual times allowed for the morning and early afternoon, and urgent and sick visits are scheduled in the afternoon. We are attempting to schedule patients so one family is in the office at a time, and we have allotted time to disinfect patient rooms and medical equipment in between each patient.
Waiting rooms are closed for the time being. When you arrive at the office, please:
• Limit one parent or caregiver accompanying the patient
• Wait in your car and call the office number- (845) 708-0400
• Have your insurance card and credit card readily available to start check in
• Credit card is the preferred payment method of balances and copays greater than $10, but if you only have cash or check, it will be collected by the medical assistant inside
• Wear a mask when you are escorted from the car to the exam room
The following appointments must be seen in the office as they require thorough examination and may require additional testing:
• Well visits and annual physicals
• Flu-like symptoms, ear pain, severe seasonal allergy symptoms, breathing difficulty, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion with headache, cough, abdominal pain, vomiting
Any suspected COVID-19 visits will be scheduled for the end of the office day. Nasal swab testing for active infection is done using materials supplied by Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp and sent out to the laboratory after collection. Results may take 3-21 days.
COVID-19 antibody testing is available, either by drawing blood at Quest or Labcorp or a fingerstick rapid COVID-19 antibody test is available in the office. The rapid test is not covered by insurance at this time and costs $75 per test.
In order to protect everyone in the office, we are wearing masks with every patient and any additional PPE as is deemed appropriate for each visit (ie. nitrile gloves, face shield, isolation gown, booties). We will bill your insurance for these supplies.
