HJBR Sep/Oct 2020

26 SEP / OCT 2020  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   Healthcare Briefs of the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly cautions parents against resorting to unproven advice related to children’s health and COVID-19. The CDC and AAP provide many resources for parents, which can help answer questions. Additionally, HealthyChildren.org can serve as a go-to resource for parents on a myriad of health topics. More than 740 healthcare providers participate in the Louisiana Vaccines for Children Program. In the United States, no child is unvaccinated because of a family’s inability to pay. Contact your healthcare provider or check the LDH web- page on how you can safely keep your family cur- rent with recommended vaccinations.  Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Opens Pediatric ENTClinic Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health has added a new specialty clinic to its offerings - pedi- atric otolaryngology, more commonly known as ear, nose, and throat - with Michael Dunham, MD, leading the clinic. The pediatric otolaryn- gology team will treat newborns through adoles- cents with head and neck disorders ranging from common conditions such as ear infections to rare and complex disorders including airway anoma- lies and tumors. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Michael Dun- ham to Baton Rouge and add this much needed specialty to our offerings to the Baton Rouge area,” said Dr. Trey Dunbar, president of Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health. “Dr. Dunham brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to serve our pediatric population close to home.” Dunham, who will also serve as the medical director for pediatric otolaryngology, received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans and went on to com- plete an internship in general surgery and resi- dency in otolaryngology with Tulane University Affiliated Hospitals. He completed a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Memo- rial Hospital, now known as Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Dunham is certi- fied by the American Board of Otolaryngology, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Pediatric LDH, LAAAP Encourage Parents to Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations, Wellness Visits The Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (LA AAP) are offering parents support and guidance during the uncertain and unprece- dented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to keep their children healthy through routine vacci- nations and wellness visits. State data as well as data from the federal Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a sharp drop in vaccine orders from Janu- ary through April. This drop in routine vaccina- tions and wellness visits is not unexpected due to the threat of COVID-19 and necessary mitiga- tion measures to control the spread. However, it is important to keep routine checks and vacci- nations up to date as vaccinations protect from many other preventable diseases and decrease the risk for disease outbreaks. “As we work to reopen our economies, main- taining routine immunization during the pan- demic is critical especially for children 24 months or younger, pregnant women, people of all ages with chronic health conditions and seniors,” said Dr. Frank Welch, medical director for the LDH’s immunization program. “Many major health pro- fessional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the CDC and World Health Organization have issued guidelines to safely remain up to date on immunizations.” The Department and LA AAP offer the following advice to parents seeking to keep their children up to date on their vaccinations and well visits and stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic: • Keep your newborn checkup appoint- ments. Newborns are especially at risk of infection and disease, so it is important to keep babies away from people who may be sick. However, there are also strong rea- sons to take babies to the doctor in the first week after birth. Weight gain and jaundice are two of the important things to moni- tor, in addition to making sure that babies get the strengthened immune system that comes from staying up to date on vaccines. • Children should stay up to date with well childcare and routine vaccinations. The CDC encourages parents to stay on track with well child visits and vaccinations, which are very important for all young children but especially for those under the age of two. Not only do vaccines provide children with heightened immunity against life-threat- ening germs; but vaccine schedules are based on how your child’s immune system responds to vaccines at various ages. Get- ting vaccines on time gives children early protection and helps prevent complications due to disease. • Pediatricians are taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of their patients. For patients who do require an in- person visit, doctors are taking extra care to minimize risk. Clinics may be implement- ing measures such as specific hours and examination rooms for sick visits and well visits, separate entrances for sick patients and well patients, and virtual payments and completion of forms when possible. Exam rooms are thoroughly disinfected between each appointment. Louisiana pediatricians believe that well child visits and vaccinations are highly important in-person appoint- ments, so they are doing everything they can to minimize risk and ensure patient safety. • Telemedicine may be available for some types of visits. Pediatricians are working to care for patients in the safest way pos- sible. Telehealth allows doctors to con- duct patient visits using various platforms, addressing many routine complaints such as rashes, stomach pain, eye infections, and injuries without an in-person visit. Most insurance companies are now covering tele- health visits, often at no cost to the patient. Check with your pediatrician to see what telehealth options are available for your child. • The Department and LA AAP encourages all parents with questions or concerns about vaccines, well childcare, or COVID- 19 to reach out to their child’s pediatrician or review CDC guidance documents. For specific information about what precau- tions your child’s pediatrician is taking, call their office directly. The Louisiana Chapter