Keeping you informed with the latest news at North Fulton Pediatrics.
What's New
Flu Season approaches for 2010-2011
Annual influenza immunization (this year it contains both regular flu and H1N1) is recommended for all:
- Healthy children aged 6 months through 18 years (injection for all or FluMist for ages 2 to 18 years only) NOTE: children under 6 months of age DO NOT get flu vaccines.
- Children 6 months and older with serious health problems, such as lung disease, heart disease, a weakened immune system, asthma, or cancer (injection only)
- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children with high-risk conditions and of all healthy children younger than 5 years (injection for ages 6 months and older or FluMist for ages 2 to 49 years)
- Health care professionals
For children younger than 9 years who have never before been vaccinated, 2 doses of vaccine, given at least 1 month apart, are required to provide adequate protection against the flu. After that, only 1 dose of vaccine is needed each year. Children younger than 9 years who were immunized for the first time last flu season, but only received 1 dose of vaccine, will need 2 doses this flu season.
FluMist is currently approved only for healthy persons aged 2 through 49 years. Children with certain health conditions should not be given FluMist. This includes children with asthma, children younger than 5 with recurrent wheezing or a wheezing episode in the past 12 months, or children on long-term aspirin treatment.
The best time to get the flu vaccine is early in the fall or as soon as it is available. Because the flu season often lasts well into March and beyond, the flu vaccine is recommended through late winter to early spring. Our office has both the flu shot and FluMist.
Georgia Postpartum Support: A free service for new moms
A new group has been formed to help with postpartum depression. We are excited to let you know about a new partnership that Mental Health America of Georgia (MHA of Georgia) is launching with CafeMom, the leading website for mothers, reaching 6 million moms each month. As part of the Project Healthy Moms initiative, MHA has worked with CafeMom to create a unique online support group for local mothers suffering from postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders.
You can visit the new group, Georgia Postpartum Support, here:
http://www.cafemom.com/group/110851
The group will be a central place online where moms in Georgia can meet each other, ask for advice, and find support for their mental health struggles. The group will also feature a weekly live chat facilitated by Amber Koter-Puline, an Atlanta-area support group leader and prominent postpartum depression blogger. The first chat was held on August 11, 2010.
We hope this partnership between MHA of Georgia and CafeMom helps to provide new moms the support that they need in their journey towards recovery. In Georgia, it is estimated that every year about 20,000 women experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, these illnesses are not on the public health radar screen. Consequently, there are very few providers with specialized training in this area and only one consistent live support group in the entire state. The online Georgia Postpartum Support group is one step towards closing this gap in services.
Breastfeeding Your Baby
Jodi Greenwald, MD, has written a short and helpful guide to breastfeeding. You can download her report here.
CAMP and SPORTS Physicals:
It is time to think of scheduling your child's camp or sports physical. Requirements are different, so be sure to check the form you have to see if it requires a yearly check up. Our schedule is open through mid-August. Pat Musto, our nurse practitioner, sees patients for check ups late on Wednesdays with the last appointment being at 6:30pm. Schedule your check up early and avoid the rush. Also, if your child is up to date and does not require a physical this year, remember that we do require 72 hours to complete your form as the doctor has to review and sign the form.
North Fulton Pediatrics Vaccine Policy Statement
At North Fulton Pediatrics, we feel that vaccinating children and adolescents is a vital part of our responsibility to promote health and well-being. We believe in the safety, effectiveness, and necessity of vaccines to protect children against serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Based on numerous studies and years of research, we feel that the development of autism is not related to vaccinations or to any preservative that may be used in the manufacturing of vaccines.
We strive to follow the recommended vaccine schedule as proposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Although we may be willing to alter the recommended schedule if there are significant parental concerns, this goes against our medical advice and against expert recommendations.
As advocates for the health of children, we strive to educate you about the safety and importance of vaccinating your children. We encourage you to read about vaccines and to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about them. Recent recommendations require us to have you sign a “Refusal to Vaccinate” form at every check-up in the event that you do not want your child to have any vaccinations OR you wish to alter the schedule to delay any vaccinations. If your child’s immunizations are not up to date, we will be unable to provide the state-required immunization forms for school or daycare
Please understand that we will discuss vaccines with you at every well child visit. If you are firmly against vaccinations or you feel that you do not want to discuss this important health topic, then our practice may not be the best fit for you and your family.
We thank you for taking the time to review this statement. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding vaccines.
Sincerely,
The providers of North Fulton Pediatrics
Updated Weekend Call Policies
If your call is of a medical necessity and you need response before the office next opens, please read the following:
Patients on Blue Cross Blue Shield, please call their nurse advice line at 1-888-724-2583
Patients on Wellcare, please call the Wellcare nurse advice line at 1-800-919-8807
For physicians and all other patients, please call 770-429-7170.
Requests for prescription refills should be discussed during regularly scheduled business hours so we have access to your child's chart. You may request refills via this website after hours and they will be reviewed the next business morning. Prescriptions called in after normal business hours may incur a charge from our office.
If you have questions about how to dose Tylenol and Motrin, please review your previous check up handouts or review the information on this website.
My Hero - a letter from Emma.
