Category: News

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

The FDA and CDC have approved an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer’s updated COVID booster vaccine for children 6 months and older. This updated dose will now include the Omicron BA.4/5 spike protein to help reduce the spread of the more recent COVID variants.

Other Important Updates:

• Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for this age group are NOT interchangeable. The same vaccine manufacturer should be used to complete the entire primary series.
• We offer the Pfizer vaccine, which will include three (3) doses in your child’s primary series.
• Patients must be vaccinated with two monovalent doses before receiving the bivalent dose.
• If a child receives three monovalent doses, they will NOT be authorized to receive a booster of the bivalent dose at this time.
• Moderna will still be two doses in the primary series and can get the bivalent dose as a “booster.”

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

Illnesses such as RSV, flu, and other respiratory illnesses causing cold-like symptoms are currently circulating in children in our community. While infection is spreading in children at unprecedented levels, there are ways to prevent illness so that you and your children can enjoy Thanksgiving!

• Get your flu vaccine! We still have vaccines available for your child. Contact our office at (513) 232-8100 or visit your patient portal to schedule.
• Continue to wash hands regularly when they are soiled, before and after prepping food, and before and after eating.
• If possible, avoid touching your face to prevent viral spread.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands.
• Wearing a mask if you experience respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, or congestion can reduce the spread of illness with close contacts.

The Anderson Office is open on Thanksgiving day for ill appointments between 9:00 AM -12:00 PM. We will resume regular business hours at our Anderson location on Friday, November 25, 2022. Our Amelia Office will be closed on November 24-25, 2022.  We will continue to have a nurse or physician available by phone 24/7 at 513-232-8100.

Below are resources to help you and your family this Thanksgiving.

• Healthy Children– How to Plan a Balanced Thanksgiving Meal for Picky Eaters 
• Healthy Children– How to Practice Gratitude & Improve Your Family’s Mental Health
• Foodsafety.gov– Let’s Talk Turkey 

We wish you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Viral respiratory illnesses such as RSV, Flu, COVID, and other viruses are spreading rapidly among children in our community. While these types of illnesses tend to spread more frequently in the winter months, we are experiencing a higher-than-usual amount for this time of year.

Anderson Hills Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and our peer outpatient practices are all doing their best to balance this increased demand for care. We are answering approximately 250 calls daily, and our team is working additional hours to provide the best appointment availability for you and your child/ children. You may experience longer than usual wait times for appointments or delays in returning your phone call due to limited appointment availability.

Know that we are still here for you! We will return your call even if you do not reach a live person and have to leave a message. Please leave your child’s name, date of birth, and a good contact number for us to reach you. We have recently noticed that our phone number is labeled as “Public Service” when we call, and at times we may return calls from phone numbers other than (513) 232-8100. We cannot leave a detailed voicemail unless the patient or guardian’s name is mentioned on your voicemail.

If we do not have available appointments for your child, our clinical triage team will guide how best to care for your child’s illness during this time which may include at-home remedies.

Additionally, Amoxicillin is in shortage in many parts of the country and the Tri-State area. Most of the infections we presently treat are caused by viruses. If your child has a virus, antibiotics will not help your child feel better or keep others from getting sick. However, if your child has a condition or secondary infection such as a sinus infection, strep throat, ear infection, or pneumonia, your pediatrician may prescribe a different antibiotic to treat their bacterial illness until the shortage subsides.

We humbly ask for your patience as we work hard every day to ensure your family has the care you deserve.