Author: Lake Forest Pediatric Associates

Post Date: 1586145600
Status: live

The safety of our patients, their parents and our staff is our primary concern at Lake Forest Pediatric Associates. In this new era, we have undertaken numerous measures to continue to provide safe and effective care to your children.

All of our staff have their temperatures taken twice daily per current CDC and IDPH guidelines and we are enforcing a strict “do not come to work sick” policy. We are employing universal masking for every staff member and enforcing social distancing.

We have discontinued walk-in sick call hours and now only see sick children in the late afternoon by appointment. We have implemented telemedicine visits to provide virtual care when possible.

We are currently seeing healthy children for checkups (primarily at ages that require vaccines) and appropriate medical follow up visits all morning and the first half of the afternoon. For the protection of other patients and staff, before your appointment, you will receive a screening phone call to make sure all members of the family are currently healthy.

We request that only one adult accompany the child into the office. We will ask you and, when possible, your child to wear masks and will provide them if necessary. We will minimize waiting room times and may ask you to wait in your vehicle until an exam room is available. At the front desk, you will notice tape markings on the floor to ensure a safe distance between you and our staff members. At the conclusion of every visit, we thoroughly clean the exam rooms.

Our COVID health and safety team constantly reviews and updates our policies based on the most current recommendations from the CDC and IDPH. Our goal is to continue to provide you with the best care and service during this challenging time. Thank you for your continued support.

Post Date: 1584849600
Status: live

Nebulizers have been shown to aerosolize respiratory droplets and COVID-19, so it is recommended to use a metered dose inhaler with a spacer instead. This method is safe and effective to use in all ages, even infants.

If you only have a nebulizer at home and need an inhaler and spacer for your child, please call the office at 847-295-1220.

If your child is being seen in the office for respiratory symptoms and has a history of asthma or wheezing, please bring your child’s inhaler and spacer to the appointment.

Post Date: 1585540800
Status: live

The health, safety, and well-being of our patients and staff are our highest priority. With the growing concern about Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are taking necessary steps to help prevent the spread to our office.

To better protect your health and in response to the rapid and frequently changing information about COVID-19, we need to modify several of our long and established office schedules. We greatly appreciate your trust and support as we adjust to the ever-changing demands this outbreak has caused on health care delivery.

UPDATE: Starting Monday (4/13) and lasting through the end of April, we will be temporarily closing our Vernon Hills office.

Sunday hours remain unchanged: appointments only, NO WALK INS. Lake Bluff only.

Monday through Friday in Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst and Saturday morning in Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst:

• 7:45am: Phones go on Monday-Saturday, 8:00am: Phones go on Sunday
• 9:00am – Noon: Well-child visits and checkups in addition to follow-up visits (non-respiratory sick visits such as ear rechecks, rashes, concussions), and ADHD visits
• Noon – 1:30pm: Closed for lunch
• 1:30pm – 3:45pm: Well-child and checkup visits
• 4:15pm – 5:00pm: Sick visits BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – NO WALK INS 

Since January, we have implemented a phone screening process for all appointments being scheduled. This policy has been modified several times over the last couple of months as the Coronavirus has spread internationally. Our Support Staff and Patient Educators have been diligently using phone triage protocols to identify possible risks and having those parents speak with our physicians for further instruction as indicated.

We are not testing for COVID-19 but are directing people to Urgent Care Facilities and the Health Department for testing. Please call our office if you are concerned about having COVID-19 symptoms and have had contact with a person who has also been potentially exposed or has COVID-19.

Please limit the number of family members coming with you to all appointments. We ask that only one parent/guardian accompany your child if possible. When feasible, please refrain from bringing siblings to the visit.

We discourage individuals considered older adults and those who may have health problems or may be immunocompromised from coming to the office for their safety.

To minimize the number of people in our waiting rooms, we may ask patients who check in at our front desk to give their mobile number and to go back and wait in their vehicles until we can place them into a room.

Please refer to our “Coronavirus and Helpful Resource” post for further information.

Post Date: 1584417600
Status: live

It is after careful thought and deliberation that we must temporarily cancel our morning walk-in visits. This was an incredibly difficult decision to reach after having successfully provided this service for over 40 years. We do so, however, to protect the health and well-being of your families and our staff.

We have been able to meet your needs with our Sunday/Holiday pre-booked sick appointments and will use this format to continue to treat ill children during the COVID-19 crisis. In follow-up to our previous notice, please find our modified schedule, for all our offices, below:

• 7:45am: Phones go on
• 8am-10:30am: Sick visits BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – NO WALK INS
• 11am – noon: Follow-up visits (non-respiratory sick visits such as ear rechecks, rashes, concussions), well visits, and ADHD visits.
• Noon – 1:30pm: Closed for lunch
• 1:30pm – 3:45pm: Well-child and checkup visits. All patients coming to these visits must be free from fever, runny nose, and coughing. Anyone arriving with those symptoms will be asked to reschedule their appointment.
• 4:15pm – 5pm: Sick visits BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – NO WALK INS

We greatly appreciate your trust and support as we adjust to the ever-changing demands this outbreak has caused on health care delivery.

Post Date: 1584676800
Status: live

Doctor visits ARE allowed by Illinois’ Shelter-in-Place Order. Just as the Order allows for visits to the grocery store, pharmacy, gas station, and other essential services, you are allowed to visit your doctor’s office. Our offices are open to serve you and will continue to be open.

Please view our recent blog article Modified Office Schedule and Processes for current office hours and processes. 

In addition, we are working to expand services to telehealth visits for several types of appointments in the coming days. Please continue to check our website and social media profiles for news.

Post Date: 1584936000
Status: live

As many of you may know, Dr. Michael Bauer has been working part-time in an administrative role with Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.

Starting on March 23, 2020, Dr. Bauer will be taking a leave of absence from Lake Forest Pediatrics. On that date, he will begin working full-time at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital to help combat the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 847-295-1220.

Post Date: 1585540800
Status: live

Lake Forest Pediatrics is pleased to announce that we will now be offering telemedicine visits!

We can provide telemedicine services for your child for issues such as rash, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), allergies, styes, ear pain, vomiting/diarrhea, lacerations (to figure out if your child needs stitches!), or if your child has a cough and you’d like us to assess his/her breathing or have questions.

When contacting our office, our staff will ask you some follow-up questions in order to determine if a telemedicine visit is an appropriate option for your child.

If your child is scheduled with a specific provider, you will be sent an email with the website to go to at the time of your child’s appointment. If your appointment is during our telehealth “sick call” in the afternoon, you will be called by the provider with their website when they are ready to see your child. Please use a computer or device (such as a smartphone) with a good internet connection and webcam, and use an up to date version of Chrome or Firefox. Here is a video that demonstrates how to check in to your provider’s virtual waiting room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJf9N9sjDLI#action=share. If you run into issues connecting, restart your computer/device or check out http://help.doxy.me.

In consenting to a telemedicine visit, you agree to:

•Login when instructed by your provider with your child nearby. We can better assess your child if you are in a well-lit area. If possible, please have a flashlight on hand (you can also use the one on your phone).

•Check and record your child’s temperature and weight prior to the appointment. If your child has respiratory symptoms and you have access to a pulse oximeter, please also check this vital sign.

•You understand that a telemedicine cannot fully replace an in-office visit. You understand and accept the limitations associated with a telemedicine visit.

•You consent to treatment via the telemedicine platform.

•Please note that if the visit goes toward patient responsibility (deductible/coinsurance), our regular financial policies will apply regarding payments.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call the office.

Post Date: 1575954000
Status: live

Happy Holidays from all of us at Lake Forest Pediatric Associates!

We are open to serve you throughout the holiday season. See below for special office hours, starting on Christmas Eve and call us at 847-295-1220 to make an appointment. Happy Holidays!

Post Date: 1583899200
Status: live

Update 3-11-2020

We’ve been hearing from lots of families about their coronavirus concerns and we are here to help.

If BOTH of the following statements apply to your child, please call the office at 847-295-1220 for direction about COVID-19 testing and treatment:

1. Your child has a fever and/or respiratory symptoms

AND

2. Your child has recently traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, or Italy
    or
    Your child has been potentially exposed to family/friends that have recently traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, or Italy   

Coronavirus and Helpful Resources

We at Lake Forest Pediatrics are aware of your concerns regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus and are closely monitoring reports from the CDC, AAP, and WHO regarding the diagnosis and spread of this disease. One reassuring point that’s become apparent as cases of COVID-19 have been studied is that children infected with coronavirus have experienced very mild symptoms. However, if you are concerned that your child may have coronavirus, please call our office rather than bringing your child in for evaluation since we are unable to test for COVID-19 but want to assist you in getting your child the appropriate medical evaluation. Here are two helpful articles that discuss COVID-19 and how to protect you and your family:

https://parentingpediatrician.com/2020/03/03/coronavirus-covid-19-
information/
https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/2019-novel-coronavirus-ncov/

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM CORONAVIRUS

What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to
person. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Prevention
The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.
There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses,
including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Travel Warnings
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy. CDC also advises that older adults and those with chronic medical conditions consider postponing nonessential travel to Japan. Travelers should practice usual precautions when traveling to Hong Kong. If you plan to travel internationally, you can enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive important messages, alerts, updates, and travel advisories while you are there.

More Information
Experts have been working hard to understand this new strain of coronavirus. Because new
information is coming out every day, please visit the sites below to stay up to date.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides updates on the virus and safety information for the public and healthcare professionals.
The Illinois Department of Health provides updates on the disease’s spread within the state, as well as frequently asked questions available here.
The US Department of State provides a list of travel advisories for those who are planning to fly outside of the United States.

Post Date: 1541131200
Status: live

It’s that time of year! No not THAT time of year – it’s time for Open Enrollment. When you are deciding on your family’s health insurance plan for 2019, think of Lake Forest Pediatric Associates.

For the coming year of 2019, we are pleased to announce that our family-focused pediatric practice will be in-network with UnitedHealthcare, in addition to BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare and many more.

You can find a list of all the health insurance companies for which we are currently in-network in 2019 by clicking here.

Should you have any questions, our Insurance Specialists are available to assist. Feel free to give us a call at 847-295-1220.