General
COVID-19 Midtown Pediatrics Operational Changes
Dear Midtown Pediatrics families,
These are extraordinary and unprecedented times. The situation is constantly changing and the news can be extremely is anxiety-provoking. We appreciate everyone’s patience and support as we all face this health threat. The Midtown Pediatrics team is working hard to keep up with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and keep our patients as safe as possible.
Although COVID-19 disease has been reported to be mild in children, we all need to work together to keep our entire community safe.
Please continue to be patient as our office practices are evolving.
- Please be considerate – if you have a fever/cough/runny nose – do not present to Midtown Pediatrics without clearance from a Midtown physician.
- We will be screening all patients and caregivers TWICE – on the phone prior to coming to the clinic and again upon arrival at the clinic.
- We will be screening everyone and seeing sick patients between 3-5pm ONLY and by appointment ONLY.
- We are requesting that only 1 caregiver attend the appointment with their child.
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***IMPORTANT NEW PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID SPREAD OF INFECTION***
At Midtown Pediatrics we are now only seeing patients who have been pre-screened by a Midtown Pediatrician. Please see below for our latest clinic procedures.
If you think you have COVID-19, PLEASE call Telehealth (1-866-797-0000) or your local public health unit for further direction and testing.
Do not go to a clinic or hospital before calling first and be ready to self-isolate if necessary.
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Appointments
- All check-ups requiring immunizations/newborn baby weight checks will be rescheduled to the morning.
- All check-ups not requiring immunizations will be conducted virtually by phone or video with the option to reschedule the physical exam portion for the future when COVID-19 is no longer a threat. All virtual check-ups require parental consent for your privacy – please see information below on virtual care.
- Non-infectious concerns will be seen prior to 3pm – during healthy patient hours and by appointment ONLY.
- Patients with fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath will be scheduled (after screening) from 3-5 PM by appointment ONLY.
What can you do?
- Practice good hygiene – wash your hands, clean and disinfect common surfaces, avoid touching your face with your hands, cough/sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
- Practice social distancing
- Monitor yourself for symptoms
- Self-isolate for 14 days if you have travelled to any country outside of Canada.
- Call our office with any questions or concerns.
We appreciate your patience and support. Thank you for working with us during this time.
Dr. Gelman, Dr. Flanders and Dr. Bayer and the Midtown Pediatric Team
Virtual care
COVID-19 is placing stress on Canada’s public health system. Our clinic is starting to offer virtual care to make sure that we can continue to care for our patients safely and effectively. This means that we will be using video and audio technologies for some patient visits rather than asking all patients to come into our office. Some of these technologies are provided by the Province. Others have been provided by vendors like Google, or Apple to help make discussions with your care provider as easy as possible during these difficult times. Some health concerns can be addressed with virtual care alone, but in some cases your doctor may ask you to visit a hospital or other health care facility if necessary, for a physical examination.
We do our best to make sure that any information you give to us during virtual care visits is private and secure, but no video or audio tools are ever completely secure. There is an increased security risk that your health information may be intercepted or disclosed to third parties when using video or audio communications tools. To help us keep your information safe and secure, you can:
- Understand that this method of communication is not secure in the same way as a private appointment in an exam room.
- Use a private computer/device (i.e., not an employer’s or third party’s computer/device) and a secure internet connection. For example, using a personal computer or tablet is more secure than at a library, and your access to the Internet on your home network will generally be more secure than an open guest Wi-Fi connection.
You should also understand that virtual care is not a substitute for in-person communication or clinical examinations, where appropriate, or for attending the Emergency Department when needed (including for any urgent care that may be required).
If you are concerned about using video or audio tools for virtual care, you can ask our office to arrange for you to visit a different healthcare provider or other health care center where you can be seen in person. However, please note that visiting a health care provider in person comes with a higher risk of coming into contact with COVID-19 and the possibility of spreading the virus.
By providing your information, you agree to let us collect, use, or disclose your personal health information through video or audio communications (while following applicable privacy laws) in order to provide you with care. In particular, the following means of electronic communication may be used (identify all that apply): videoconferencing (including Skype, Facetime, etc.).
Public Health Ontario Tip sheets:
Keeping up to date
This remains a rapidly evolving situation. We continue to do our best to keep you updated. These organizations are also constantly updating their websites to keep us up to date:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention