What to Expect on your next Pediatrics Visit

As part of Alice Hyde’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’re taking steps to ensure the health and safety of our patients and people throughout our organization – including in Alice Hyde Pediatrics. Whether you’re a parent of one of our current patients, or considering bringing your child in for the first time, we want you to know what to expect on your next office visit with us.

Is it safe to bring my child in for an office visit?

Yes. Pediatricians across the country are continuing to see children in the office for care that ranges from routine wellness visits to preventative care. It’s important to make sure children, especially infants and toddlers, are growing and developing normally. It’s also critical to ensure babies stay up to date with their vaccines and immunizations.

What if I don’t feel comfortable bringing my child into the office?

While our office is safe and open, we do have other options available for parents who are not comfortable with an in-person visit. We offer telehealth appointments via video, so we can see you and your children through a webcam or smart phone. Video visits enable us to see you and your child, and we can discuss a variety of concerns and questions – from simple rashes and follow-ups for stable problems like asthma, to mental health concerns and active illnesses like a fever or runny nose.

How do I know if a telehealth visit is right for me and my child?

Telehealth is new to everyone, and if you are unsure whether it is right for you just call our office. We can help you decide which type of visit best suits your needs and the needs of your child.

I’m coming in for an in-person visit with my child. What should I expect?

A lot has changed about office visits at Alice Hyde Pediatrics. In response to COVID-19 we’ve eliminated the use of waiting rooms, require that everyone wear a mask for the duration of their visit, and have put measures in place to ensure all common areas are cleaned after each visit, to minimize any potential exposure while you and your child are in our care. Here are some tips for when you arrive for your visit:

• Wait in your vehicle and call our office at (518) 481-2600. A member of our office staff will come get you and escort you inside the office when your provider is ready to see you.
• Bring masks for you and your child. All patients and support persons are required to wear masks for the duration of their visit. If you forget a mask, we will provide one for you and show you have to wear it properly.
• Discuss who will attend the appointment beforehand. Only one parent may accompany a child during an office visit, to minimize the amount of traffic in our office during the pandemic.
• Once inside the office, a staff member will escort you and your child directly to an exam room for your appointment. We’ve modified our schedule and operations to ensure you won’t have any contact with other patients while you’re in our office.
• After your appointment, a staff member will escort you back to your vehicle following checkout.

Pediatrician Julia Ordonez, MD, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Shull, NP, are members of the Alice Hyde Pediatrics Team and employed Pediatric Primary Care providers at Alice Hyde Medical Center.