Author: Anderson Hills Pediatrics

Our country’s mental health concerns continue to rise, and Cincinnati is no exception. Children and teens are increasingly experiencing thoughts of suicide and self-harm, with parents alarmed and unsure how to respond. Parents turn to help from Cincinnati Children’s during a crisis. These families often experience long wait times in the Emergency Department (ED) due to the high demands of care needed for mental health crises. Thankfully, the ED is not necessary to meet the needs of most youth with these thoughts.

Anderson Hills Pediatrics has partnered with Cincinnati Children’s in developing a clear and effective protocol to support families affected by thoughts of self-harm and suicide to prevent visits to the ED.

Behavioral Health Therapists Caitlin Geiser, LPCC-S, and Vanessa Sinclair, LPCC-S, have trained the Anderson Hills Pediatrics clinical providers to adequately assess the safety risk of children and teens experiencing suicidal thoughts. During crisis interventions, parents and patients receive resources and recommendations to keep them safe at home while quickly providing them with a connection to a mental health appointment.

“We understand how scary this experience is for parents; our Anderson Hills Pediatrics team has the proper training to address these concerns and to help parents feel confident in supporting their children and keeping them safe,” Caitlin Geiser, LPCC-S, Behavioral Health Therapist.

For more information on the practice or if you are concerned about your child or teen’s mental health, please contact (513) 232-8100. Additional behavioral health resources are available at www.ahpediatrics.com. If mental health concerns are urgent and arise when our office is not open, please contact the Cincinnati Children’s Psychiatric Intake Response Center at 513-636-4124 for guidance.

We made several recent changes to make online scheduling easier! You can schedule appointments through our website or your patient portal.

Scheduling Tips: 

Reason for Visit: The chosen reason for your visit helps us determine which appointment types are best suited for your child.

Well Visits: Please schedule with your child’s primary pediatrician. Your child’s annual check-up meets all school, camp, or sports physical requirements.

Sick Visits: You may schedule with your primary or the first available physician for illnesses such as sore throat, flu-like or COVID-like symptoms, and eye infections. If your child has several health concerns, please call our triage team at (513) 232-8100 option 2, to be scheduled, as your appointment will likely require more time.

Additional Notes: Once you choose your appointment date or time, please provide the reason for your visit in the additional notes section. Doing so allows our team the ability to prepare for your visit.

Availability Doesn’t Match Your Needs?   Please get in touch with our office to see if there are any opportunities for us to add you to our schedule. If we cannot, we would be happy to look for additional solutions or provide your child with triage care until a visit can be scheduled.

At Anderson Hills Pediatrics, we aim to provide excellent access to appointments. Please complete this survey if you have any feedback to improve the process.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care.

Sports Physicals

Anderson Hills Pediatrics is committed to preparing your child for participation in sports and athletic programs. Your child’s annual check-up meets all requirements of the sports physicals that athletic leagues and schools need. As part of your child’s check-up, the pediatrician will identify any issues that may cause injury or be of concern during the season.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and our pediatricians recommend that your child receives their annual check-up from their pediatrician. We do not recommend that your child receive a sports physical from a mass screening at school, urgent care, or a pharmacy clinic where medical and immunization records are unavailable. These physicals do not include an evaluation of your child’s overall health. If an abnormal health condition is identified, your child likely will have to visit their primary pediatrician, which may delay sports participation.

Ready to schedule? Call (513) 232-8100 or schedule your check-up online.

Sports Forms

Anderson Hills Pediatrics has an increased demand for forms to complete during summer. We always want this process to go smoothly for you and your family.

Various sports associations and schools require participation forms. Forms can vary by school district and organization. We encourage you to confirm what forms are needed by your child’s school or athletic league.

If it has been less than 13 months since your child’s last check-up, we can complete the form based on their previous visit without additional appointments. However, the form will expire 13 months following your child’s last check-up.

To ensure the accuracy of the forms we complete, we request that the form’s parent or child portions be completed before submission. Also, please be sure to sign all fields and submit all pages.

Your child’s primary pediatrician will need to complete the form. If your primary care physician is out of the office, we will have to wait until they are back in the office to sign the form. The standard form turnaround is 3 to 4 business days to account for this. If you need a form completed more quickly, we will do so in 1 to 2 business days for $5.00.

Resources

• Cincinnati Children’s Blog  Need a Sports Physical? See Your Pediatrician
• Ohio High School Athletic Association – 2023-2024
• Kentucky High School Athletic Association – Middle School
• Kentucky High School Athletic Association – High School

We look forward to helping you and your child prepare for their upcoming athletic and sporting events.

We are thrilled to announce a new pediatrician will be joining the Anderson Hills Pediatrics Team in August! Dr. Jain is originally from Cincinnati, OH, and is excited to return to her roots and settle in our community again. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, went to medical school at Ross University School of Medicine, and is currently completing her pediatric residency training at the University of Louisville. We could not be happier about the experience she brings to our patients.

At Anderson Hills Pediatrics, vaccines ensure our patients stay healthy from disease and illness. The COVID-19 vaccine is a great way to ensure your family stays healthy this summer.

The CDC and FDA have recommended that all children six months or older receive one bivalent COVID vaccine after completing or during their primary vaccine series. If your child is five years of age or older, and it has been at least two months since completing their primary series, they likely need a single Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Bivalent vaccine. Children 6 months through 4 years of age must receive three total doses of COVID vaccine to complete their primary series, and one of those doses should be bivalent.

We want to ensure you understand when your child needs a COVID vaccine based upon the quantity and type of vaccine(s) they have received. If you have questions about your child’s vaccine needs, call us at (513) 232-8100.

Thank you for trusting us with your child’s care.

We are excited to announce that our Patient Portal will be available as a mobile application on your phone starting March 22, 2023!

athenaPatient™ is a user-friendly mobile application that allows you to communicate with our care team and manage your child’s health anywhere, anytime. A few key features that we are excited about include:

• Quick log-in capability: Facial recognition and/or touch ID can makes the log-in easier while keeping your data safe.
• Patient-Practice messaging: You can contact our practice whenever you have questions through quick, secure portal messages.
• Self-schedule appointments: You can book appointments with your child’s pediatrician and view upcoming visits at your convenience.
• View test results: You can access test results as soon as they become available.
• View vaccination records: You can access a list of all vaccines your child has received at Anderson Hills Pediatrics.
• Attend virtual visits: You can easily initiate and join telehealth visits with your pediatrician via athenaTelehealth from your mobile phone.
• Get directions to appointments: You can access driving directions from the app, showing you how to get to our office for your upcoming appointment.

A few items to note:

Patients must have an existing athenahealth Patient Portal account to use the mobile application. If you do not have a Patient Portal account, you may register via our website or call (513) 232-8100 option 6.
You will continue to use Phreesia to check into your child’s appointments.

Resources

• athenaPatient™ FAQs
• athenaPatient Mobile App

With kindergarten registration just around the corner, we are sharing tips to help you prepare and easily navigate this exciting transition.

Forms & Vaccination Records:

Forms requested for kindergarten registration vary by school district. We encourage you to confirm with your child’s school what forms are needed. We ask that the parent or patient portions of the forms be fully completed prior to you submitting a form to us. This includes information such as the patient’s name, date of birth, and any other parent or student information. Also, please be sure to sign all applicable fields for parents and students. Your child must have had a check-up within the past 12-months in order for us to complete their forms. Also, please allow 3-4 business days for forms to be completed.

Required vaccinations for Kindergarten in Ohio include DTap/DT or Tdap/Td (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus), Polio, MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), Heb B (Hepatitis B), and Varicella (Chickenpox). If your child is up-to-date on their check-ups and vaccines, you can quickly obtain a copy of their records through their patient portal.   Once logged in, click My Health, Medical History, and print!

Check-Ups & Health Screenings:

Does your child need a check-up, health screening, or vaccinations soon for school? These are the perfect time to speak with the pediatrician if you are concerned about your child’s readiness or development.

Our schedules are quickly filling for the spring and summer. Don’t miss your chance to get your child’s appointment today! You may also schedule on the on our website or by calling (513) 232-8100 option 2.

We hope your child has a fun, educational, and exciting school year ahead.

We know that the New Richmond community has experienced a recent traumatic event due to the sudden, heartbreaking death of a student and his family.

Traumatic events understandably leave caregivers with many questions about how to support and comfort their children. Dr. Lynne Merk, Staff Psychologist with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, recommends these tips to help.

1. Maintain regular routines – structure provides children with a sense of safety and security.

2. Remind child(ren) they are safe.

3. Follow the child’s lead in communicating – Let your child talk first, and ask what they have heard. Do correct inaccurate information or conclusions. Listen to their questions and answer only what they ask.

Be sure you understand their question before you answer. Young children want simple, accurate answers. Providing only what the child asks is vital to avoid overwhelming them with too much information. Speak at the child’s developmental level and trust your gut about what they can handle.

4. Ask the child questions about their thoughts and feelings (e.g., “what do you think/feel about what you heard?” “what are you worried about?”). Acknowledge their feelings (don’t say, “you shouldn’t feel that way” or “you don’t feel that way”). Listen and encourage your child to express feelings without judging their feelings. Older children often act as if they are not bothered by these issues, so you may have to approach them directly to start the conversation. Play or art activities can help children express themselves, as well.

5. Limit exposure to specific information – e.g., media, adult conversations, intense family conflicts. Doing so is especially important for younger children.

6. Pay attention to your child’s behavior. Look for changes in eating and sleeping, acting younger than usual, increased complaints of headaches and stomachaches, a drop in grades, and increased moodiness. Seek professional help if these keep your child from doing what they need to do. Keep in close contact with your child’s teacher to know what teachers observe in school.

7.   Take care of yourself. Confide in other adults about the intensity of your fears/anxieties. Children pick up on cues from adults. We can ease children’s fears if we remain calm and continue our regular routines.

Created by: F. Lynne Merk, Ph.D., Staff Psychologist, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

It appears winter weather is finally making its way to the Cincinnati area.  We love that this time of year often leads to building snowmen, sledding, and other fun-filled outdoor activities.

Since inclement weather may occur soon, we wanted to share information on how our offices handle these conditions.

1. Communication: We will contact you if we need to cancel your visit due to weather. You may receive notice from us by phone call, text, or email, depending upon the time of day and the number of appointments needing to be canceled. Rest assured, a team member will communicate with you to find an alternative time to visit your pediatrician safely. It is safe to assume we are open if you do not hear from us.
2. Social Media Updates:  We will post on our social media sites as soon as we determine we are canceling appointments. Please follow our Facebook or Instagram accounts for this and additional health-related information.
3. Telemedicine Alternatives:If you are scheduled for select appointments such as behavioral health visits, medication follow-ups, and simple ill appointments, we may offer a virtual visit as an alternative form of care from the comfort of your home. Unfortunately, visits that require a physical exam or testing are not always appropriate for telemedicine.
4. Patient Cancellations: Should you have issues traveling to your visit due to inclement weather, we offer the option to cancel at no charge.

Excellent Links for Winter Tips and Fun:

1. Healthy Children – Tips to Keep Kids Warm All Winter
2. Healthy Children – Cold Weather Safety
3. Active Kids – Winter Bucket List
4. Get the Kids Outside –  Ways to Keep Your Kids Active Outside this Winter
5. Cleveland Clinic – Why Kids’ Puffy Coats and Car Seats Are a Dangerous Combo

We hope you stay safe and warm this winter!

Thank you for making 2022 a memorable year. It is a privilege to be involved in your family’s care, and we wish you a joyful holiday season!

Our holiday hours are as follows: 

• Anderson Location: 
  12/24/22-12/26/22: Closed except for a limited number of appointments for urgent needs. Please call our office between 8:30-9:30 AM to schedule.

• 12/27/22- 12/30/22: Open on a reduced schedule for ill appointments. Please call our office between 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM to schedule.

• 12/31/22-1/2/22: Closed except for a limited number of appointments for urgent needs. Please call our office between 8:30-9:30 AM to schedule.

• Amelia Location: Our Amelia Office will be closed from December 24th to January 2nd. We will reopen for regular hours on January 3rd.

• Phone Support: We will continue to have a physician on call for urgent needs 24/7 at 513-232-8100 during the holiday season.

Thank you for trusting us with your care!

Comfort & Joy: 5 Family Tips for Enjoying the Winter Holidays

Is it safe for my baby to travel in a car seat a few hours at a time?

Winter Car Seat Safety Tips from the AAP

Tips to Keep Kids Warm All Winter

10 Non-Tech Holiday Gift Ideas to Promote Kids’ Language & Learning