A Message from Executive Community Physician Shelly Voet
Hello to my fellow pediatric PCPs. I hope you are all surviving back to school. Ill visits unfortunately did not take long to return!
As we see sick visits increase, remember we have resources to help guide potential referrals for higher levels of care at Cincinnati Children’s. These include:
Community Practice Support Tools on pediatric Influenza, Bronchiolitis and Gastroenteritis. These are all based on ED/inpatient protocols and are available on the PCP Support Tools app.
Home phototherapy for newborn jaundice as an alternative to admission. A FAQ sheet for Providers is available.
The Admission and Transfer Center is available for consultations for possible direct admissions. If you have a complex patient that may need more than one specialist involved, the Transfer Center can also arrange this.
PIRC 513-636-4124 – PIRC encourages a phone call to them prior to a referral to the ED for psychiatric consultation. PIRC may be able to offer the family a Bridge Clinic appointment, if not same day, within 24-48 hours. The Bridge Clinic offers an alternative psychiatric assessment in an outpatient setting, rather than coming to the ED.
COVID – While school policies may vary, CDC guidance around isolation and masking has not changed. Cincinnati Children’s updates will be shared in Weekly Vitals.
Earlier this month the FDA and ACIP approved a new monoclonal antibody to protect all infants against RSV, nirsevimab. The AAP released detailed recommendations here (https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/25400). As we all know too well, RSV causes thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths in young children every year. Nirsevimab is recommended for all infants under 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season, and those 8-19 months entering their second RSV season who are at high risk of severe disease. Nirsevimab is expected to be available this fall. Groups at CCHMC including Newborn Care Associates have planned to discuss this in upcoming meetings. We will share more information as we have it. If you want to read the detailed evidence that ACIP considered in recommending approval, it is available here (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/recs/grade/nirsevimab-season1-rsv-infants-children-etr.html). Dr. Bob Frenck and pediatrician Dr. Jill Schaffeld discuss this and the new monovalent COVID-19 vaccine on their podcast this month on Pediatric Consult.
ACIP recommendations for influenza vaccine for the 2023-4 season were published HERE (www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/rr/rr7202a1.htm). ACIP reviewed additional studies that support the recommendation that patients with egg allergy can receive the influenza vaccine. No additional safety measures are indicated for egg allergic patients being vaccinated (beyond the usual measures for any vaccine).
For members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, don’t forget to vote for your elected leaders next month! Voting will be open from September 13-27. An election guide is available HERE.
Finally, I hope many of you can join us for our Fifth Annual Resident-PCP Meet and Greet. This year’s event will be held in Sabin Auditorium again on October 10, 2023, from 6-8:30. Email Kim Hunt (kimberly.hunt@cchmc.org) if you are interested in attending. The format this year will again be small group discussions with residents considering primary care. Food and beverage will be provided.
Thanks for all you do every day! Stay healthy!
Shelly
Shelly F. Voet MD
Pediatric Associates PSC, CCHMC Executive Community Physician Leader
Shelly.voet@cchmc.org