To Our Families/Patients:
Navigating insurance payments is a confusing topic and attached is an explanation of what insurance pays and what they require the patient to pay.
Abbott Formula Recall
Dear patients,
The FDA yesterday warn consumers to not use certain powdered infant formula produced in Abbott Nutrition’s Facility in Sturgis, Michigan due to concerns about potential bacterial contamination with Cronobacter and Salmonella. The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:
the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
the code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and
the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
For full details, please use the links below:
For the FDA press release, click here.
For the CDC site about cronobacter, click here.
For the CDC site about salmonella, click here.
Marblehead Pediatrics
Closing Early - 2/4/2022 - 1 PM
Dear patients,
Marblehead Pediatrics will be closing early at 1PM on 2/4/2022 due to the weather. The on-call physician is available after hours for any urgent questions you may have at 781-631-7800. We will be open on Sat. 2/5/2022 from 9AM-1PM for routine care appointments. Please drive safely on the roads.
~Marblehead Pediatrics.
Snow day - Jan. 29, 2022
Dear patients,
Due to the anticipated snowstorm on Jan. 29, 2022, our office will not be open. If you have any anticipated healthcare needs, please call us at 781-631-7800 to schedule an appointment with us for today (Jan. 28, 2022) and we will do our best to accommodate your child’s needs.
Thank you for your understanding and stay warm!
~Marblehead Pediatrics
Covid-19 Immunization for kids ages 5-11 - Additional Dates
To Our Families,
We have decided to hold 2 additional days for patients to get their Covid-19 vaccine if your child is ages 5-11. The current days are:
Tuesday, Nov 23rd 2021 from 3-5 PM
Tuesday, Nov 30th 2021 from 3-5 PM
Please call us at 781-631-7800 to schedule an appointment if you are interested or would like to discuss it with your doctor. If you have received your vaccine(s) elsewhere, please help us keep your medical records consolidated and bring your vaccine card for us when you are able.
Marblehead Pediatrics
FAQ Links to Covid-19 vaccines in kids
Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine EUA for Ages 5-11
https://www.fda.gov/media/153717/download
Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine VIS Ages 12-older
https://www.fda.gov/media/153716/download
Covid-19 Vaccine V-Safe Health Check
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html
Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine FAQs:
Covid-19 Immunization for Patients Age 5-11
To Our Marblehead Pediatrics Families
We know many families are excited about the approval from the FDA regarding the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer for ages 5-11. We are as well! Please bear with us as we do not have any information yet on exactly when the CDC approval will happen, nor do we get notified in advance of the decision.
The calls have already started coming in, as to how best to vaccinate your children and whether we can provide this service to you. Therefore, we are writing to you to gather more information as to the interest level is in our patients’ families.
Again, we do not know when the approval will happen, so we cannot start scheduling anyone, but if you let us know your interest, we can plan how we can most effectively and easily vaccinate and can contact you to schedule the vaccine as soon as we receive them. Due to storage and containment issues, we have to vaccinate in groups. I’m sure most of you were hoping for a drive-up clinic like we have been doing for the Flu, unfortunately, due to multiple logistical issues, this will not be possible. We are best staffed to vaccinate on Wednesday afternoons.
So, if everyone can help us out and respond, we can get back to everyone about plans. Please take a second to respond in your child’s portal (do not call, please and thank you):
1. Do you plan to have your 5-12 year old vaccinated for Covid 19 in the first month after approval is granted?
2. Would Wednesday afternoons between 4:30 and 6 pm be an acceptable time for you?
3. If not Wednesday, what other weekday afternoon would be your preference?
Thank you for your time and patience.
Halloween & COVID-19: Have Fun While Staying Safe
For families fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the risk of being exposed to the virus during Halloween festivities may not be as scary as last year. But as COVID continues to spread, it's still important to help keep trick-or-treating and other Halloween traditions safe—especially if your kids aren't eligible for vaccines yet.
Trick-or-treating
Think outside
Try to stick with outdoor trick-or-treating in small groups. The virus is much less likely to spread outside than in poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Keeping a safe distance from others outside your household is another good way to reduce risk. Make sure your children know to avoid large groups of kids clustering at doorsteps or anywhere else the goodies are being handed out.
If you give out treats, consider sitting outside and lining up individually prepackaged goodies on a table for children to take. Non-edible treats are a good option, especially for children who suffer from food allergies.
Don't forget other Halloween safety basics for outdoor trick-or-treating. If your kids will be out after dark, mark their costumes with reflective tape. Remind them to be careful around cars, as drivers may not see them. Also, make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping or contact with flames.
Mask up indoors
If your children do attend an indoor trick-or-treat event or public festivities, be sure everyone wears face masks and observes safe physical distancing. Universal masking indoors continues to be important, since children under 12 years old are not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. There may be a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated children, teens, and adults at these events, and mask use reduces the risk of transmission of the COVID virus.
When children get home with their haul, remind them to wash their hands before eating any treats.
Costume parties, parades & community events
Again, remember that outdoor parades, parties and attractions are safer than indoor public events. Rather than a haunted house, for example, consider a haunted forest or corn maze. Look for programs focused on safe ways to have fun offered by a park district, arboretum, zoo or other outdoor venues in your area. Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are other good options. Just use hand sanitizer before and after touching what you pick.
For any indoor festivities, including events at school, make sure everyone wears face masks. This is important regardless of vaccination status for now.
Making masks part of the costume
Encourage your kids to use their face masks as part of their costume (think surgeon or superhero!). However, be wary of painting the masks, since some paints contain toxins. And keep in mind that a costume mask is not a substitute for a mask that has multiple layers of breathable fabric, or a disposable surgical-style mask, that covers the mouth and nose snugly. Also, do not wear a costume mask over a COVID face mask, because it can make breathing more difficult.
Family fun
Don't forget that some of the most memorable, and safest Halloween memories can be made at home together as a family. For example:
Pumpkin decorating. This is one Halloween tradition that's as safe and fun as ever. As always, just be careful to avoid pumpkin carving injuries. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting. When the carving is done, consider putting a battery-operated light rather than an open-flame candle inside. Roast the seeds from the pumpkin for a healthy snack!
Costumed movie night. Especially if you have young children, considering a movie night dressed as favorite characters. For tips on finding age-appropriate movies for your child, read more here.
Halloween-themed treats. Make some fun Halloween treats as a family. Decorate a pizza with toppings in the shape of a jack-o'-lantern, for example, or make tangerine pumpkins (peel the tangerine and stick a thin slice of celery on top to look like a stem). Make sure the treats are not choking hazards if you have children under 3 years old.
A scavenger "haunt" (hunt) for Halloween treats in your home or yard can be fun for the whole family. Add a spooky element by turning out the lights and using flashlights to for the hunt.
Remember
More than a year and a half into the pandemic, COVID-19 may seem like a horror movie monster that won't go away. But as adults continue to get the vaccine, and more children become eligible for them, there's more hope than ever that communities can return to normal. In the meantime, with some common-sense safety steps, there are still plenty of ways to have some Halloween fun.
This article was originally published by healthychildren.org which is a website run by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A link to the original article can be found here.
West Nile Virus Update
To Our Families:
Yesterday on Sept 2, 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Health elevated the risk for West Nile Virus to moderate. This includes but is not limited to Marblehead, Salem, Swampscott, and Beverly. The town of Marblehead Board of Health has also announced that mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus have been found in Marblehead. West Nile Virus is a rare but serious illness that can be contracted from mosquitoes. There have been 3 reported cases so far in Massachusetts. Links for additional information on how to protect yourself is provided below. Good luck and be safe!
Marblehead Pediatrics.
Flu Clinic 2021
Marblehead Pediatrics is proud to announce the dates of our second annual drive-thru flu clinic!
Saturday Sept. 18th 2021 8:00 - 10:30 AM
Saturday Sept. 25th 2021 8:00 - 10:30 AM
Saturday Oct. 2nd 2021 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Saturday Oct. 16th 2021 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Location: Parking Lot - Across from the church - Our Lady, Star of the Sea
We want to thank all of our patients who participated last year for all the positive feedback.
Call us at 781-631-7800 to schedule your influenza vaccine today!
Covid Testing Sites
Drive-Up PCR COVID-19 tests
Appointments are by physician referral OR call 781.477.3000
Seven days a week
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (except on major holidays and during extreme weather conditions)
Results in 2 hours
55 Highland Avenue, Salem Hospital campus, adjacent to 55 Highland Hall, view campus map
100 Endicott Street, Danvers, rear parking lot
You do not need to be a patient of North Shore Physicians Group, Salem Hospital, nor any hospital in the Mass General Brigham network.
If you do not have a Mass General Brigham primary care physician, call 781.477.3000 to make an appointment.
Covid Vaccine for Ages 12 and Up!
Marblehead Pediatrics recommends that everyone over 12 get the Covid vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for ages 12 to 17. Anyone over 18 or over can get the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We are available to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about your child’s situation. The CDC website offers helpful information about the vaccine and where to get it.
Delayed Opening - December 17, 2020
Due to the inclement weather from today’s snowstorm, Marblehead Pediatrics will be opening today at 12 PM noon for in person visits. Our providers will still be available for telemedicine visits this morning upon request. We thank you for your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Additional Covid-19 Testing Site for Marblehead Residents for December 2020
Covid-19 Testing Sites
Dear Patients/Parents of Marblehead Pediatrics,
During these difficult times, we know it has been difficult for a lot of our patients to find accurate information on where to get tested for Covid-19. We always suggest to start by checking the MA government website mass.gov/stopthespread for the government sponsored sites which can been found in their table of contents. We have also complied a list of commercial testing sites that we have been referring our patients to. We hope this helps!
~Marblehead Pediatrics
Additional Flu Clinic - Now Available on Oct 24, 2020
Thank you to all the families who participated in our first flu clinic on October 3, 2020. Due to the overwhelming demand from the community, we have decided to add additional time slots to our existing flu clinic dates as well as add an extra flu clinic date to our schedule. Our schedule is the following:
Saturday Oct, 10th 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday Oct, 17th 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday Oct, 24th 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Call us at 781-631-7800 to schedule your vaccine today!
Flu vaccines are subject to availability. Dates/hours subject to change
Flu Shots Are Now Available!
Protect your crew from the flu this year by getting your flu shot with Marblehead Pediatrics!
Flu shots are now available during either your regular scheduled appointment or during one of our flu clinics. Our current scheduled flu clinics are on the following days:
Saturday Oct, 3rd 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday Oct, 10th 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Saturday Oct, 17th 2020 10 AM - 12:30 PM
Call us at 781-631-7800 to schedule your vaccine today!
Flu vaccines are subject to availability. Dates/hours subject to change
COVID-19 Update!
The wellness and safety of our patients, staff and community is of the utmost importance to Marblehead Pediatrics. We are here for you as this unique year continues to unfold and as we enter the Fall season. We wanted to offer an update regarding office policies and appointments, including annual well visits, consultations and sick care. In order to preserve the health and wellness of our patients - newborns through young adults - the following office protocols are in place.
Check in from your car!
We request that our families call the office once you have arrived and parked your car. This policy is in place to ensure that your room is ready and our medical assistants are available to bring you in for your visit. Check-in will also include a pre-screening COVID-19 questionnaire ( see below for questions) This series of questions may seem redundant, but are essential to maintaining adequate infection control for our setting.
Upon entering the office
Everyone is required to arrive wearing a mask. Temperatures will be collected upon your entry. Families will enter through the front door and will be leaving through our back exit. We ask that one parent attend in-house visits for patients 4 months and older. Ages 18 and older can attend without a parent.
Telehealth is here!
We are happy to share that our office has the ability to conduct virtual visits through an online platform called Doxy.me. In light of limiting exposures and social distancing guidelines this offers a virtual opportunity to connect with your providers, for consults and sick care. For further questions feel free to contact our administrative staff, or message us through the patient portal.
Well Visits
Annual well visits are being scheduled normally and in-house. If your child is due for their annual visit please give the office a call to book the appointment.
Consults
Telehealth is a great option for consultations. Please speak with your provider or our administrative staff on scheduling an appointment through Doxy.Me.com
Sick Visits
We will continue to provide sick and urgent care for ALL of our patients. If your child develops sick symptoms call the office to relay your concerns to a provider. If you call in the morning, we will return your call before lunchtime. If you call in the afternoon, we will return your call prior to closing. Our Pediatricians and Nurse Practitioners are on-call through the night and on weekends.
Through our triage process we will craft the most appropriate plan of care for your child. Whether that be coordinating COVID testing at a local site, a virtual telehealth visit with one of our providers or an in-person sick visit here at MHD Pediatrics. Please note, telemedicine visits and phone calls are billed to your insurance company just as in-house visits are.
We are here for you and your family. We certainly appreciate that this is a time of great uncertainty. Our support, guidance and medical care is always available to YOU and YOURS.
781-631-7800
Screening Questionnaire
Have you or anyone in your household traveled outside of the state in the last two weeks?
Have you or anyone in your household been recently tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results?
Do you or anyone in your household have any of the following symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose/congestion, shortness of breath, muscle aches, loss of smell or taste or diarrhea)
Have you or anyone in your home had recent, known exposure to a COVID-19 case?
If you have answered YES to any of the following questions, it may require rescheduling your appointment.
In Memoriam: Dr. Charles Louden
It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to our Founding Father, our beloved Dr. Charles Louden who passed away on April 20, 2020.
His intellect, humility, compassion, and kindness to entire families of Marblehead and it surrounding towns will not be forgotten. Our entire staff, past and present, will always remember him for his fairness, soft spoken words, and generosity.
Dr. Louden always encouraged parents to read to their children and was an avid reader himself. In May 2018, his wife Peggy established the Dr. Charles M. Louden Children’s Book Fund in honor of her husband’s 84th birthday. If you wish to contribute to the fund, checks should be made out to the Town of Marblehead Abbott Public Library, with “Dr. Charles M. Louden Children’s Book Fund” written in the notation.
Also, if you wish to send expressions of condolences to his family, they can be addressed to our office and will be forwarded to his family:
Attn: Dr. Louden’s Family
70 Atlantic Avenue
Marblehead, MA 01945
Letter from Dr. Miller
To all of our patients,
After 39 years of practicing pediatrics (28 in Marblehead), I am retiring on July 1, 2020. It has been an honor and a privilege to be involved in your children’s and family’s life. I have enjoyed watching and participating in their/your triumphs, challenges, worries, and growth. I wish you all a life of peace, health, and happiness.
Sincerely,
Richard Miller, M.D.
P.S. Due to current COVID-19 precautions, I may not actually see you again in person. I am doing telemedicine visits, so I hope to see some of you virtually.
Stay safe!