Please click here for our list of COVID-19 Testing Sites. Please read the document carefully to be sure the site you select screens your age, and whether or not information from our office will be needed prior to scheduling.

 

CHOA has published their Pediatric Assessment Tool which parents can use to see if their child needs to self-quarantine or access services. It is available at www.choa.org/assessment. 

Children's COVID-19 hotline, 404-785-7955, open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE #5 - JULY 7, 2020

Due to the high call volumes related to COVID-19 testing, we thought it would be helpful to list our current recommendations, which should answer many of the questions being asked:

1. WE ARE NOT PROVIDING COVID-19 TESTING IN OUR OFFICE AT THIS TIME.
2. A known exposure to COVID-19 means that an individual has had close contact with someone who has the virus—under 6 feet away from the person for over 15 minutes.
3. If your child is asymptomatic (without symptoms) but needs a COVID-19 test to go to camp, return to work, or for some other reason, please see our website (or use the link below) for a current, comprehensive list of test centers.
4. If your child has had a known exposure to COVID-19 and is asymptomatic we recommend that your child stays home and self-quarantines for 14 days post-exposure.  If you would like a test, we recommend that your child is tested 7-8 days post-exposure for the most accurate results.
5. If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 (see below) but does not need to be seen by a doctor, we recommend you treat the symptoms at home, self-quarantine for a minimum of 7 days after symptoms first started and at least 3 days with no symptoms at all.  The recommended time to test for COVID-19 is 3 days after symptoms first start for the most accurate results. 
6. If your child is sick and you have concerns, please contact our office for an appointment.  Depending on the symptoms and severity of illness we will recommend a telehealth appointment or an in-office visit after 3:00pm. 
7. If you have more questions regarding COVID-19 or testing, please contact our office to schedule a telehealth appointment with one of our doctors.

 

 

Here is a link to our website with a comprehensive list of area testing centers:

http://panapc.com.edit.officite.com/docs/final%20-%20Covid%20Sites%20Condensed(1).pdf

 

If the testing center that you choose requires a referral, please leave a detailed message on the nurse advice line, which is 770-476-9885 option# 6.  The nurse will send you an EMAIL confirmation once the referral has been sent.  Please be aware that there are long wait times for testing at this time due to the increasing rates in our State.

 

 

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.   Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19. This list does not include all possible symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

July 6, 2020

 

COVID-19 UPDATE #4 - APRIL 15, 2020

Please check out https://healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx for very detailed child-specific information on Covid-19 as well as updates. 

 

Greetings P.A.N.A Community,

With many cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia, many parents are wondering how they can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect their families. We understand your concern and want to share what we are doing at PANA to help keep you safe.

WHAT WE ARE DOING AT PANA TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE

• We continue to see children for essential Well child checks from 8:30am to 11:30 am. Only WELL children are seen during these hours.

• Catch up vaccinations are also offered during these morning hours.

• Appointments are staggered to minimize wait times and facilitate appropriate social distancing.

• We are extending the time between appointments to allow for additional cleaning.

 • We have telemedicine appointments available so your child can receive treatment without the need for an office visit. (Please note not all conditions are suitable for this type of appointment).

• We are available to see sick children in the office from 1:30pm until 3pm.

• Children that have symptoms of cough and fever are being isolated on arrival and given a facemask to wear throughout their office visit. Our staff are equipped with appropriate disposable protective equipment per the CDC recommendations.

• We ask only 1 caregiver accompanies your child to an office visit to minimize any potential exposure.

• Our staff continue to wear a protective face mask during all patient encounters and we highly encourage you to do the same.

COVID-19 UPDATE #3 - MARCH 25,2020

Greetings PANA Community

As your healthcare providers, we appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.  We understand your concerns regarding your upcoming office visits and we would like to extend a few options to you as it relates to your Well Child Check-Up appointments, Sick Visits, and Med Checks. 

WELL VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

We do encourage all children up to and including 5 years old to adhere to the recommended check-up and vaccine schedule.  These visits are crucial opportunities for vaccinations, developmental screenings, hearing/vision testing, and urine/hemoglobin testing.  

For any children aged 6 and older, you may keep your appointment or you may elect to postpone their annual visits for now.  Please be aware that we are taking many precautions to keep your children healthy. We will be seeing ONLY well visits in the mornings to prevent contact between a well child and a sick child. We are also requesting that only one caregiver, and if at all possible, no siblings,  attend the visit with the patient. In addition, our office is being sanitized multiple times per day.

TELEMEDICINE VISITS:

For your convenience and safety, we do have the option of offering you a Telemedicine appointment for selected office visits and Med Checks.  During the telemedicine visit with your physician/nurse practitioner, you may be asked to bring the child into the office for further evaluation.

The following symptoms may require an office visit for  further physical evaluation.

• Severe cough
• Ear pain
• Sore throat
• Difficulty in breathing
• Respiratory distress
• Asthmatic symptoms

Your wellness is our number one priority and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that your family remains healthy.

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE #2 - MARCH 17,2020

Your healthcare providers at PANA continue to monitor updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our local and state Health Departments. 

SCHEDULING CHANGES:

In response to the latest social distancing recommendations, we are now scheduling ALL Well checkup appointments in the morning and ALL sick visits in the afternoon. Our staff will be reaching out to you soon if your scheduled checkup is affected.  Your understanding and flexibility is greatly appreciated.  We are also suspending online scheduling at this time to allow our staff to implement any necessary measures prior to your child’s visit. These changes will be in affect for the time being as we are working thorugh this together.

PROCEDURE CHANGES:

Infection control remains a top priority here at PANA.  We are isolating patients that need to be seen for a febrile illness with a cough to the best of our ability.  If your child needs to be seen and has a temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit with respiratory symptoms, please alert the front office staff when you schedule your appointment.  When you arrive for your appointment, we will ask you to call the office and remain in your car.  When a room is available, we will call you and a member of our staff will meet you outside the office.  You and your child will be provided with a face mask and then escorted to an exam room. 

Regardless of the reason for your visit, please limit the number of family members that accompany your child to one caregiver.  We thank you for your cooperation.

We continue to advise that anyone with a respiratory illness who suspects they may have been exposed to COVID-19 remain at home and self-quarantine for at least 14 days.  Currently there is no treatment for this virus, and coming in to be tested will not be helpful as far as management of the illness. The usual treatments for a viral illness are prudent, including getting adequate rest, drinking plenty of water, and using fever reducers when needed. 

If your child has signs of an illness and has a chronic condition (moderate to severe asthma, diabetes, or an immunodeficiency), please call the office to make an appointment. If your child takes immunosuppressive medication for a chronic health condition, please call the office if you are concerned that they need to be seen. 

Important signs of illness to watch for, which require immediate attention, include shortness of breath, fast or labored breathing, or extreme lethargy or dehydration. If these are seen, your child should be promptly taken to the ER at Children’s Healthcare at Scottish Rite or Egleston Hospitals.  

According to the CDC, for most of the American public, the immediate health risk is low. Children for the most part seem to be spared of more serious cases or complications of COVID-19. Please be vigilant about preventing the spread of germs. Wash hands often with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative when hand washing is not an option.  Extra attention to hygiene is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing or blowing one’s nose. 

Please refer to the links below for more information.

https://www.choa.org/medical-services/wellness-and-preventive-care/parent-resources/coronavirus https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

COVID-19 UPDATE #1 - MARCH 13,2020

Dear Parents and Patients,

Your families are at the forefront of everything we do here at PANA, so as your healthcare providers, we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We would like to keep you informed on current recommendations and best practices in light of the Coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak. Please understand this is a fluid situation, so we are providing you with the most up to date information available to us. 

 

We are continuously receiving updates from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infectious disease experts have recommended that anyone with a respiratory illness who suspects they may have been exposed to COVID-19 remain at home and self-quarantine for at least 14 days.  If you or your child have recently traveled to areas where there are large outbreaks of COVID-19 and developed fever, cough, or gastrointestinal symptoms, or you’ve come in contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, please stay home and self-quarantine for 14 days. Currently there is no treatment for this virus. The usual treatments for a viral illness include getting adequate rest, drinking plenty of water, and using fever reducers when needed. Coming in to be tested will not improve how one manages the illness. Also, test results are not immediately available.

 

We would like to protect our more vulnerable patients including newborns and medically fragile children, so please take the necessary precautions and self-quarantine as advised if your child has signs and symptoms of a common cold.  We would like to emphasize that testing will not lend any helpful information on how to best care for your child.    

 

If your child has signs of an illness and has a chronic condition (moderate to severe asthma, diabetes, or an immunodeficiency), please call the office to make an appointment. If your child takes immunosuppressive medication for a chronic health condition, please call the office if you are concerned that they need to be seen. 

 

For any patients that need to be seen who have a febrile illness with respiratory symptoms, please wait in the car and call the office when you arrive. We would like to isolate patients to the best of our ability, and a member of our staff can meet you outside the office to provide you with a mask, and then can escort you to an exam room when it is available.  

 

Important signs of illness to watch for, which require immediate attention, include shortness of breath, fast or labored breathing, or extreme lethargy or dehydration. If these are seen, your child should be promptly taken to the ER at Scottish Rite or Egleston Hospital.  

 

According to the CDC, for most of the American public, the immediate health risk is low. Children, in general, seem to be spared of more serious complications of COVID-19. Please be vigilant about preventing the spread of germs. Wash hands often with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative when hand washing is not an option.  Extra attention to hygiene is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing or blowing one’s nose. We are also increasing the frequency of sanitation efforts throughout our office, especially in high trafficked areas.

 

 

Please refer to the links below for more information and questions. 

 

https://www.choa.org/medical-services/wellness-and-preventive-care/parent-resources/coronavirus

 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html