News & Announcements

Since the beginning of the COIVD 19 pandemic Pediatric Associates has been working hard to adjust to the needs of our patients and community. We are following all relevant guidelines in terms of cleaning our offices and using appropriate protective equipment. Our providers and employees have been working hard to stay available for both ill and well visits in person and video visits by telemedicine. Our patients and their families have been incredibly understanding of all the rescheduling that has taken place - thank you!   Since March of this year we have designated the Crestview Hills and the Cold Spring locations as "well only" offices. The Mt. Zion office in Florence has been designated as our "sick" office for fevers, coughs, sore throats, etc. We can see your child for non-contagious complaints such as injuries, behavioral problems, etc. at any of the locations. In January we plan to expand our “contagious” illness visits to the Cold Spring office in the afternoons and will continue to do well visits in the mornings there. We appreciate your willingness to drive to a location that is a bit further away than usual.

We have received our 2020-21 seasonal injectable and intranasal flu vaccines.  The AAP recommends all children age 6 months and older get the influenza vaccine.  It is especially important for children with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes.  Please call the office to schedule an appointment.  We will offer the Flu Mist by appointment on weekdays and the Flu Shot by appointment on weekdays and certain Saturdays.  We will accommodate mutliple family members together as in the past. 

If you suffer from fall allergies It's time to start your seasonal allergy medicine.  There are now many options over the counter, but if they aren't helping or you have questions give us a call! September is always a bad month for asthmatics - controlling the allergies can reduce the chances of asthma flares for many of our patients. You can also get more information on our medical conditions section of the website and links to more information on the Links & Resources section.

This PDF was sent to us from Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Here is a nice summary about testing from the AAP:  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Should-Your-Child-Be-Tested-for-COVID-19.aspx

The State of Kentucky is requiring the Tdap and Meningococcal Meningitis vaccines at age 11 years.  In the past it was a requirement for sixth grade entry.  So kids who turn 11 before or during fifth grade should plan on getting these important immunizations at their 10 year well visit.  Check out our Immunizations Page for more information.

The AAP stresses the importance of returning to school with modifications in the fall. Here is the article in detail.

Staying Safe in the Time of COVID-19: What’s a Parent to Do?

We hope you are all staying safe during this unpredictable season.  As we return to more of a sense of normalcy, like this return of the Pediatric Associates Courier, questions about what you can and should do become more confusing.  The order to “stay home” is easier to follow than our current grey zone of constant decision-making and risk assessment.

Kerry McPhail and the team at Beech Acres is offering parenting advice.  They can help with a variety of concerns like behavior, toilet training, picky eating, sleep problems, anxiety and much more! The first visit is free. Check out this flyer for more information.

Travel Medicine
We want to help ensure all of your travels are safe and fun. Staying healthy during your trip and upon your return can help. We now offer travel medicine visits and some travel vaccines in the office such as Typhoid and Rabies. We like to have as much notice before travel as possible in case your child needs a series. Call our office to schedule an appointment.  We will work with you based on your itinerary to determine what vaccines are needed.  We will also provide other helpful tips about safety while traveling to your particular destination.

We are excited to announce that Redwood NKY is our 2020 Community Partner!  For over fifty years Redwood has been providing education and health services to some of the most fragile children and adults in the area. They offer a wide variety of services including preschool, after school care, summer programs, electronic assistance devices and much more! Please check out their website or call if you need a referral.

Some children will develop redness and swelling after vaccines.  This soft tissue reaction can be a small area, but sometimes it is a larger area. This can happen with any vaccine and is not considered an infection or allergic reaction. Many children are not symptomatic from this (it looks worse than it feels).  Simple measures to help relieve pain or itching include cold compresses, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and children's Benadryl. 

Elise Seibt, one of our long time nurses, has obtained training in lactation.  She is available at the Crestview Hills office Down Under location on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.  Please call 341-5400 for an appointment.

Measles--Vaccine Recommendations
With the recent reports of measles outbreaks across the USA, we have been receiving many questions about when to get the MMR Vaccine and also if there are special circumstances to get the vaccine early for your child.  Here are the current recommendations from the CDC:

1.  Routine MMR vaccination should be given at 12-15 months of age and again at 4-6 years of age. 
2.  If you are traveling internationally, then infants 6-11 months old need one dose prior to travel.  Also, any child 12 months and older, who has had 1 MMR, should get a 2nd dose 28days after the first dose if traveling internationally. 
3.  If your child does get an MMR shot early (between 6-11 months) he/she will still need the 2 routine doses at 12 months and 4 years to meet all recommendations for immunity to the diseases. 
For more info, here is a link to the CDC site currently focused on measles and vaccination:  
https://www.cdc.gov/features/measles/index.html

If you need more information, you can call our nurse line for more specific guidance for your child. 

Schools will only accept the official certificate with the Kentucky state seal on them. They will not accept a printed list. Follow these simple steps to print it at home. You can also save it to your desktop and email it to the school.

Dr. Bolling interviewed by CBS News regarding the chicken pox outbreak.

Dr. Deis interviewed at Cincinnati Edition public radio program regarding vaccinations. Listen to Chickenpox Outbreak At Northern Kentucky School, Student Sues from Cincinnati Edition in Podcasts. 

The attached video details why we recommend the HPV vaccine for all boys and girls age 11 to 26 years. 

We now have in stock the Meningitis B vaccine. This is different from the 4 strain meningitis vaccine we give at age 11 and again at age 16. It is currently not required in Kentucky. There have been Meningitis B outbreaks at a few colleges in the U.S.

 

We are pleased to announce that Whitney Rich is now offering her services to our patients.