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Office News - Click Below to Read More
Flu Vaccines for the 2009-10 Season (3/14/10)
Office_Changes_-_Later Hours, Saturday Check-ups
Is your child a picky eater or overweight? Meet our dietitian.
School and Camp Forms - Avoid the Rush
Secure Message Center
ADHD Medication Refills
MRSA - Methicillin Resistent Staph Infections
HPV Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer
Rotavirus Vaccine Prevents Infant Diarrhea
Meningitis Vaccine
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H1N1(Swine Flu) Vaccine
Injectable H1N1 influenza vaccine is still available in our office for unimmunized children. Studies continue to show that children are more severely affected than adults by this influenza infection.
We offer flu immunizations by appointment. Children who have visits for Well Check-Ups or minor illnesses may be vaccinated during these visits. We no longer have injectable seasonal flu vaccine (not H1N1) . No more nasal "Flumist" vaccine is expected this year.
See the "Facebook" link above for current availability.
Longer Hours, Saturday Check-Ups Added
In an effort to accommodate your busy school and work schedules we are now offering limited well check-ups on Saturdays. The physician/physicians working will have 2 or 3 well check-up appointments depending on the time of year. Due to the limited availability we will not be able to schedule more than one child in a family on the same Saturday. The sick visits will still be scheduled as a same day appointment as before and you will see the first available physician near your appointment time. We will still have plenty of open sick appointment slots to ensure your child is seen that day.
We now offer appointments for physicals up to 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday will be with Dr. Harrison and Dr. Wells-Jarrett, Wednesday will be with Dr. Jackson and Dr. Long, and Thursday will be with Dr. Leonard and Dr. Balcarek.
Our phone hours have not changed.
Appointments: Mon – Fri 7:30 am – Noon, 12:30pm – 5:00 pm
Nurse Advice: Mon – Fri 8:00 am – Noon, 1:00pm – 5:00 pm
We are pleased to announce that Bailey Koch, Registered Dietitian, has joined Sandy Springs Pediatrics. She is available for consultation to help you and your child manage a variety of nutritional issues common during childhood. Initial appointments will generally include a full assessment of your child's current nutritional status along with nutritional education and recommendations for overcoming specific problems. Please contact us if you would like to schedule an appointment with Ms. Koch. Click on Dietitian to learn more.
School and camp forms must have all medical history completed prior to drop off. Your child’s physician must be able to review the information you have written and ensure it corresponds to our records. This is to protect your child as well as us. We do not wish to clear children inappropriately. Please submit these forms as early as possible to ensure plenty of time for their completion. Depending on volume, forms can take 5 – 10 days to complete and return. Please indicate whether you want to pick up or if you want us to mail be sure to enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope. If your child has not had a well check-up within the last year we will not be able to complete the form. There is a $5 charge for each form completed.
New school registration will require vaccine form 3231, and hearing/vision/dental form 3300. If your child will be attending a new school, kindergarten, pre-school next year make sure you request these forms at your child’s physical. Please keep a copy of these forms for future use. You can make a copy and use from year to year if there are no changes.
Message Center
You can send secure messages to us online. Whether you have a medical question for the nurse, need to schedule an appointment or need a prescription refilled, our secure messaging system will help us to help you more quickly. It also allows us to communicate back and forth if needed - an improvement over the previous "one question, one answer" format. The "Message Center" directs your message to the person most able to handle your request. When you first use the "Message Center" you will need to register and choose a password. We hope that you find the "Message Center" useful and easy to use. Your comments are welcome.
New ADHD patients require a follow-up visit every 1 – 3 months. Existing ADHD patients require a follow-up visit every 3 – 6 months, one of which should be their annual physical.
MRSA Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus
There has been much news coverage recently about infections caused by the bacteria Staph aureus, particularly the MRSA strain. This strain of Staph is resistent to the older antibiotics which were used to treat Staph infections for many years. There are still many effective antibiotics to treat Staph infections which are caused by bacteria resistant to methicillin. Staph infections are usually limited to the skin as appear as boils, pustules, impetiga and sometimes as wound infections. These infections are common and rarely dangerous, but in some cases they require treatment with antibiotics and surgical drainage. Occasionally, Staph may enter the blood stream and cause a more severe illness. In these cases the bacteria may cause deep infection in organs such as the lungs, kidneys, heart, or bones and joints. Persons with these serious Staph infections are usually very ill with symptoms such as high fever, chills, lethargy and pain at area of infection. These infections much be treated quickly and are a medical emergency. To read more about Staph infections we suggest the following sites:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Centers for Disease Control (pdf)
Mayo Clinic
Gardasil™, manufactured by Merck, is the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts due to human paplilloma virus. The vaccine is highly effective against four types of the virus, including two that cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer. In June 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that HPV vaccine be routinely given to girls ages 11–12 years, although it can be given to girls as young as 9 years. ACIP also voted to recommend that girls and women ages 13 through 26 years receive the vaccine. Ideally the vaccine should be administered before onset of sexual activity, but sexually active females should still be vaccinated. We have a supply of this vaccine and expect that the Vaccines For Children program will soon supply vaccine for those without private health insurance. Click here to read the HPV Vaccine Information Sheet.
An newly released vaccine to prevent rotavirus infection in young infants is now available in our office. Rotavirus is a common cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and fever in infants and children. In severe cases dehydration, shock and even death can occur. The first dose of vaccine should be given at two months of age and no later than 12 weeks of age. The complete series consists of three doses with additional doses at 4 and 6 months of age. The vaccine is not recommended for older infants and children. Click here to read the Rotavirus Vaccine Information Sheet (pdf format).
An improved vaccine to prevent Meningococcal meningitis is now available. It is recommended for children at 11- 18 years of age. The shortage of this vaccine has ended and we now have an excellent supply. Our goal is to now vaccinate all of our patients 11 years old and up, especially anyone who did not receive the vaccine in prior years due to the shortage.