AAP Voices

I'm a pediatrician working for an underserved area in Hempstead, N.Y.  As the pandemic spread through our community, many of our well exams and follow-up visits were canceled, either because we didn’t know what we were about to face or because parents feared exposure to an unknown disease.

As the days went by, and we got more comfortable breathing through an N95 mask, we decided to take action by reaching out to patients who could have fallen through the cracks in a busy practice via telehealth. 

Our goal was to reach out to patients who usually missed appointments, patients with chronic conditions: asthmatics, patients with developmental problems, mental problems and other conditions. 

Many asthma evaluations and asthma action plans were completed. Parents appreciated the contact — not only to discuss the medical condition itself but also so they could express their concerns and fears about the realities of this pandemic. 

We were also somewhat successful in scheduling appointments for a good number of kids younger than 3. We called and reassured parents right before they came in that we had taken measures to keep our clinic safe and clean.

It is rewarding to see three to four of our young patients every day, keeping their well exams and vaccinations.

I think that as pediatricians we have a long history of facing challenges, and that we somehow find a way to overcome those challenges and turn them into opportunities.

The guidance on a daily basis from the AAP was crucial in caring for our children. I'm very proud to be part of this community.

Send in your COVID-19 pandemic story, and we may share it here and on our social media channels. https://bit.ly/2XVvJIu