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Winter Activity Safety Tips for Kids: Sledding, Skiing & Ice Safety

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Winter offers endless fun for kids, from sledding down snowy hills to gliding across frozen ponds. While these activities create cherished memories, they also come with risks. Each year, pediatricians treat injuries ranging from broken bones to cold-related illnesses and more. 

The good news? Parents can ensure their kids enjoy winter activities safely by taking a few key precautions. Here’s how to keep sledding, skiing, and ice skating fun and injury-free!

Continue reading “Winter Activity Safety Tips for Kids: Sledding, Skiing & Ice Safety” →

What’s the Difference Between the Cold, Flu, and Sinus Infections?

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

When kids get sick, it can be hard to distinguish between common conditions like the cold, flu, and sinus infections. Each condition shares overlapping symptoms but requires different approaches to care, making things extra confusing. Understanding the distinctions can help you manage your child’s illness effectively and know when to seek medical attention.

Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between the Cold, Flu, and Sinus Infections?” →

Expanded Availability: Our Patient Educators Are Here for You!

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

We understand that life doesn’t always follow a 9-to-5 schedule, and your healthcare needs are important to us. That’s why we’re excited to announce expanded availability for our Patient Educators!

New Hours for Your Convenience

Our dedicated Patient Educators will now be available:

  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Whether you have questions about your treatment, need guidance on a health concern, or simply want to follow up on your care plan, our team is here to assist you during these hours.

Urgent After-Hours Calls

We know that urgent situations can arise outside of these times. If you need to speak with a Patient Educator after hours, a $25 phone call charge will apply. Otherwise, rest assured that your message will be addressed promptly on the next business day.

2024 Holiday Office Hours and Closures

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Lake Forest Pediatric Associates wishes you and your family a very Happy Holiday Season!

During the holidays, we will have limited office hours. Please see below for the schedule.

Our on-call provider is available 24/7/365 for urgent matters. Please call 847-295-1220 for assistance.

 

Our Vernon Hills office will be closed 12/21/24 through 1/5/25, and will reopen with standard office hours on Monday 1/6/25.

Please see below for the schedule changes related to our Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst offices during the next two weeks:

 

Christmas Eve, Tuesday 12/24/24

Lake Bluff office closes at noon

Lindenhurst office closes at noon

Vernon Hills office is closed

 

Christmas Day, Wednesday, 12/25/24

Lake Bluff Office is closed

Lindenhurst Office is closed

Vernon Hills Office is closed

 

New Year’s Eve, Tuesday 12/31/24

Lake Bluff Office closes at 3pm

Lindenhurst office closes at 3pm

Vernon Hills Office is closed.

 

New Year’s Day, Wednesday 1/1/25

Lake Bluff Office is closed

Lindenhurst Office is closed

Vernon Hills Office is closed

 

Thanksgiving Office Hours

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Please be advised that all 3 of our offices will be closed on Thanksgiving (11/28). We will still have an on-call physician for urgent matters.

On Friday, 11/29, only our Vernon Hills office will be closed. Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst will be open.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Say Boo to the Flu and Schedule Your Child’s Vaccine

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

As October rolls in and Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to protect your little ones from the flu and COVID-19.

We’re excited to announce that we now have flu and COVID vaccines available at all three of our offices! To make it even easier, we’ve set up several flu clinics throughout the month of October.

Don’t wait until the last minute—call us today at (847) 295-1220 to schedule your immunization appointment. Let’s keep our community healthy and ready for all the Halloween festivities!

Together, we can say “Boo!” to the flu!

Friday (9/20) Employee Appreciation Party

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

On Friday (9/20), our Annual Employee Appreciation gathering will be taking place at noon. Our offices will be closed for the rest of the afternoon, and our phones will be set to our after-hours greeting. During that time, you can leave a message on voice mail or on our website patient portal. Our on-call service will still be notifying our physician on-call for urgent matters.

 

Our Lake Bluff and Lindenhurst offices will reopen Saturday (9/21) for our normal Saturday hours.

 

Thanks for your understanding!

Plan Ahead – Summer Camp and School Forms

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Summer camp and school forms

Summertime is approaching fast! Time to start planning ahead to summer camps and the 2024-2025 school year.

If your child is attending a summer camp and needs to have camp forms filled out, please send in forms ( either drop them off at any office location or attach them to a portal message ) with patient information completed along with any parent questions answered. Allow at least 2 weeks before the camp forms are needed. This will allow time for our staff to complete your forms and get them back to you well before the start of camp.

Call our office at  847-295-1220 to schedule your child’s well checkup. If your child needs additional school/medication forms for the upcoming school year (outside of the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination) you can bring those in with you to the appointment. Please allow 2 weeks for our staff to complete forms and return back to you.

Schedule an Annual Well-Child Checkup

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Summer is an excellent time to prioritize your child’s health with a well-child checkup. Here’s why:

Annual Wellness Exam: Summer break serves as a timely reminder to schedule your child’s annual comprehensive wellness exam (also known as a “well-child checkup”). During this visit, your child’s pediatrician assesses their overall health, development, and well-being.  The annual checkup can also serve as a sports physical for the next 12 months.

Adolescent Development: Adolescents experience rapid physical and emotional changes. A yearly wellness visit allows you and your child to check in and address any health concerns before the new school year begins and help reinforce making healthy decisions. Balancing academics, home life, friendships, and extracurricular activities can be challenging, and a checkup provides valuable insights into your child’s overall well-being.

School Requirements: Many schools require proof of immunizations, a physical examination, and eye and dental checkups. These requirements may vary based on the grade your child is entering. Make sure to review your child’s school guidelines to ensure compliance.

Building Trust: Regular checkups help children build trust with their healthcare provider. When faced with challenges, they feel safe discussing their health openly and honestly. Summer checkups contribute to this trust-building process.

Remember, prioritizing your child’s health during summer sets the stage for a successful school year. Schedule that well-child checkup and ensure your child’s overall well-being!

Please call 847-295-1220 or reach out via the Patient Portal to schedule an appointment.

Moms, Lactation Consultants are Available

Posted on by Lake Forest Pediatric Associates in

Lake Forest Pediatrics has two providers who are Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants, Dr. Katie Hidaka, MD, IBCLC and Melissa Hilb, CPNP, IBCLC.

Dr. Hidaka joined Lake Forest Pediatrics in 2009. After taking a brief hiatus in 2022, she has returned to the group with her lactation consulting certification and is exclusively doing lactation consultations. She has available appointments on Monday and Tuesday at our Vernon Hills office and Thursday at our Lake Bluff office.

In addition to being a board certified lactation consultant, Melissa Hilb is also one of our nurse practitioners.  She has lactation appointments available on Monday, Thursday and Friday – office location varies depending on her schedule that day.

Mothers, if you are experiencing :
– sore nipples/painful latch
– low milk supply
– pumping questions
– breast refusal/nursing strike
– bottle refusal
– need help with strategies for twins/multiples
– plugged ducts / oversupply
you can set up a lactation appointment to discuss any of these concerns.

Please call 847-295-1220 or reach out via the Patient Portal to schedule a lactation appointment.