May 10, 2023

A LETTER TO OUR PATIENTS:

Dear Patients and Families,

 Due to the widespread availability of COVID testing, vaccines, and treatments, as well as the end of the Public Health   Emergency, we are changing some procedures in our office.

 Masks

 Beginning May 12th, most patients and families will not need to wear a mask in our office. However, you do still need to wear a mask if you have:

 - A fever or other flu like symptoms

- A known COVID-19 infection and are in the isolation period

- A known exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days

 Masks will be required not only for sick patients, but also anyone accompanying them to the office, should any of the above   apply to them. Kindly mask if you are asked to do so by CCP staff.

 Individuals who prefer to wear a mask while in our office regardless of their symptoms or exposures are welcome to do so.

 The health and wellness of our patients, families, and staff is a top priority here at Crown Colony Pediatrics. Because of this,   for your safety, you may find our office staff still masked on occasion for reasons other than COVID-19.

 As a courtesy, the clinical staff will ask you at all non-sick visits if you'd prefer us to wear a mask. Please do not hesitate to   say yes if that is what you prefer. We are happy to accommodate.

 Please note that the Department of Public Health is continuing to track COVID-19 in the community, and masks may   become required again in our office if there is an increase in respiratory illnesses. For the safety of our patients and staff, we   ask that you respect this request.

 

Screening

Beginning on Tuesday, May 16th we will no longer be asking screening questions before a visit.

However, you may be asked the screening questions upon check in. Please let us know if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days or have any of these symptoms: fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or loss of taste or smell.

 

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have made our way through many changes throughout the pandemic.

 

The Doctors and Staff of Crown Colony Pediatrics 

April 1, 2023

*Please note: if you have the new Wellsense ACO as your insurance, please make sure to bring your new card to your next appt. If you have to go to an after hours urgent care center, a specialist, etc- you should make sure they accept your new insurance. Thank you!

**We are currently not accepting new patients (with the exception of newborns). Please check back in Spring 2023!  Thank you for considering CCP! 

March 7, 2023

Follow the link below for information on the latest formula recall:

Reckitt Recalls Two Batches of Prosobee 12.9 oz Simply Plant Based Infant Formula Because of Possible Health Risk | FDA

FEBRUARY 16,2023

In March 2020, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the PHE and consistent with federal continuous coverage requirements, MassHealth put protections in place that prevented members’ MassHealth coverage ending during the COVID-19 emergency.

The federal government has decided to end the continuous coverage requirements. In response to this decision, MassHealth will return to their standard annual eligibility renewal processes. Starting April 1, 2023, all current MassHealth members will need to renew their health coverage to ensure they still qualify for their current benefit. These renewals will take place over 12 months.

In order to reduce the number of qualified members that lose their coverage, MassHealth is working with the Massachusetts Health Connector, Health Care For All, and other partners to make sure members know how to renew their coverage and are aware of other affordable health coverage options if needed.

This is coinciding with the new ACO that will start on April 1, 2023. 

PLEASE WATCH FOR A BLUE ENVELOPE BEING MAILED TO THE ADDRESS MASS HEALTH HAS ON FILE FOR YOU. IF MASS HEALTH DOES NOT HAVE YOUR MOST UP TO DATE ADDRESS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THEM TO CHANGE THAT NOW!!

Click on the link below for more information.

MassHealth Eligibility Redeterminations | Mass.gov

FEBRUARY 7, 2023

Please click on the following link to a release from the FDA to read more about the recent listeria outbreak that affected prepackaged products in multiple states along the eastern seaboard, including Massachusetts. 

Fresh Ideation Food Group LLC Recalls Sandwiches and Other Products Because of Possible Health Risk | FDA

JANUARY 31, 2023

CCP cares deeply about mental health. As much as parenthood can be filled with great joy and excitement, it can also be stressful. We are here to support your family. Kelly Pearson is a LMHC that works with new parents and children of all ages. Karen Lee, RN, is our medical home coordinator who supports families in a multitude of ways, including accessing community resources for families. Our pediatricians are trained to screen for and connect families in need with care. Please reach out to any of our staff if you are in need of assistance. Follow the links below for more information and resources.

https://www.mass.gov/service…/postpartum-depression-support….

https://namimass.org/resources/

JANUARY 30, 2023

COLD WEATHER TIPS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS:

Cold Weather Safety for Children: Preventing Frostbite & Hypothermia - HealthyChildren.org

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK

DECEMBER 23, 2022

Having trouble finding fever reducers for your child(ren)?

Please see our Facebook page for a link to a helpful article.

You can also follow this link below, or click on the healthchildren.org link on our home page for more helpful information.

https://www.healthychildren.or...

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Happy Holiday! Below, please see our modified holiday hours for Dec 24th-Dec 26th:

Saturday Dec 24th- 9am-1pm URGENT CARE ONLY

Sunday Dec 25th- CLOSED (EMERGENCY pages only)

Monday Dec 26th- 9am-4pm URGENT CARE ONLY

NOVEMBER 18, 2022

A LETTER TO OUR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES:

Dear Families of Crown Colony Pediatrics, 

 

Respiratory illnesses, anxiety, depression, school stressors and appropriate phone calls/need for appointments are at an all-time high. The illness rate means appointment schedules are overloaded as we try hard to keep our patients out of urgent care centers and emergency rooms when possible. We have not changed our commitment to you and your family and will continue to deliver the quality care that you have come to know and expect from us.  

We apologize in advance for any frustration in trying to get through to the office without a wait; having less flexibility with appointment times; or being asked to monitor your symptoms at home when appropriate if our team/doctors feel it is safe to do so. 

Please know we are here for you, working longer days, adding additional sick appointments when available, and doing the absolute best we can through these trying times.  

We are so appreciative of all the families who have been so PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING, and KIND to our staff and our doctors. 

 

We wish you all health and happiness! 

 

The Doctors and Staff of Crown Colony Pediatrics

NOVEMBER 7, 2022:

To Our Valued Patients: 

We hope this message finds you and your family in good health.

In the recent days and weeks Crown Colony Pediatrics has been seeing an increasingly higher than average number of sick patients. We have been working diligently to continue to offer high quality compassionate care in the safest possible environment. 

We want to take a moment to thank our patients and your families for your ongoing patience and kindness as we continue to navigate the high number of respiratory and other pediatric illnesses together.

As a reminder:

- The afterhours on call line is for emergencies only. Please do not page after hours to discuss test results unless your child has concerning symptoms. Please call during regular business hours for non-urgent questions. 

-The nurse triage line has been experiencing high call volume. We kindly request you do not call back repeatedly with the same question. Our nurses are working diligently to answer all of your calls in a timely manner and repeated calls lengthen the wait time.

Thank you,

The Doctors and Staff at Crown Colony Pediatrics

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES and HELPFUL, HEALTHY TIPS AND TRICKS! (click on the links to our Instagram and Facebook pages as well as the other helpful quick links listed here on our home page)

HALLOWEEN: WE WILL BE CLOSING AT 5:30PM 

Crown Colony Pediatrics will be closing at 5:30pm on Monday 10/31/2022 so our patients and our employees with young children can spend time with their families. Have a happy and safe Halloween! 

10/18/2022 IMPORTANT FORMULA RECALL INFO BELOW:

Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Lots of 2 Fl. Oz./59 mL Bottles of Ready-to-Feed Liquid Products; Recall Is Not Expected to Impact U.S. Infant Formula Supply (FDA article) 

 (click on link above for info from the FDA regarding formula recall)

 

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, MONDAY OCTOBER 10th-

We will be open 9am-4pm for urgent care visits on 10/10/2022

CCP WILL BE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS THIS SUMMER JULY 10th - AUGUST 28th

On these Sundays, there will be a doctor on call for EMERGENCY PAGES ONLY, no office visits.

Have a happy and safe summer! 

JUNE 24, 2022

UPDATE: Limited appts available for the Pfizer Covid vaccine 6 mos- 4 years

We have received our first round of doses for the covid vaccine for children 6 months of age- under 4. At this time we only have the Pfizer vaccine, which is a three dose vaccine series for this age group. We have a limited amount of appointments available  for this age group. If you'd like an appointment, please call the office at 617-471-3411 to schedule.  Thank you! 

JUNE 17, 2022

STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES NEXT WEEK:

The FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months- 4 years this morning, BUT the CDC must still sign off before kids under 5 can start getting vaccinated. Crown Colony Pediatrics has already pre-ordered doses for the initial wave of vaccines, which are expected to be shipped by the end of next week. Keep checking our social media and our website for updates! We will let you know when the vaccine has arrived and how to book your appointment.

May 25, 2022

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN IN THE WAKE OF THE TRAGIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TEXAS

Please see our recent social media post on Facebook and Instagram for an age by age guide on how to talk to your child following school shootings.

For more information, please check out the information linked here:

https://childmind.org/article/...

https://childmind.org/article/...

May 18, 2022

To Our Valued Patients: 

We hope this message finds you and your family in good health.

In the recent days and weeks Crown Colony Pediatrics has been seeing an increasingly higher than average number of sick patients. We have been working diligently to continue to offer high quality compassionate care in the safest possible environment. 

We want to take a moment to thank our patients and your families for your ongoing patience and kindness as we continue to navigate this pandemic together.

As a reminder:

- The after hours on call line is for emergencies only. Please do not page after hours to discuss Covid exposure or positive Covid test results unless your child has concerning symptoms. Please call during regular business hours for non urgent questions. 

-The nurse triage line has been experiencing high call volume. We kindly request you do not call back repeatedly with the same question. Our nurses are working diligently to answer all of your calls in a timely manner and repeated calls lengthen the wait time.

Thank you,

The Doctors and Staff at Crown Colony Pediatrics

MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH and AAPI HERITAGE MONTH:

Stay tuned to our social media for more information all month long! 

ASK US ABOUT OUR CCP LIBRARY! 

We have books on a variety of topics for both parents and children, and we are happy to sign them out to you for one - two weeks at a time. We politely ask that you are gentle with our books so that others can benefit from them as well. We have age appropriate books on many topics, including but not limited to, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Grief and Loss, Chronic Illness, Autism, Food Allergies, Black Excellence and Heritage, LGBTQIA+, Bullying, Asian Excellence and Heritage, Abuse/Domestic Violence, etc.

HOLIDAY WEEKEND HOURS: 

Friday 4/15/2022 9am-5pm, Saturday 4/16/2022 9am-4pm, Easter Sunday 4/17/2022 - CLOSED, Monday 4/18/2022 9am-4pm (urgent care visits only)

Reminder: The On Call doctor is available after hours for EMERGENCIES ONLY. Please do not page the on call doctor for routine matters. We are happy to address routine questions/concerns during our normal business hours. Have a happy and healthy long weekend! 

APRIL IS NATIONAL AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH

Stay tuned to our social media this month to learn more!

MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

The theme for National Women's History Month 2022 is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope". This year's theme is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history. 

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages this month to learn more!

2/18/2022- FORMULA RECALL: 

 

Neosure and Isomil powders have not been affected and no liquid formula was affected.

Abbott recall: What products are recalled?

The products under recall include Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas. Check a multidigit number on the bottom of the container to know if your product is included:

• The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
• The code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and
• The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.

More information is available at Similacrecall.com where you can type in the code on the bottom of the package. You can also call 1-800-986-8540 and follow the instructions provided.

According to Abbott, no liquid formulas, powder formulas or nutrition products from other facilities are impacted by the recall. The recalled products were only manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, the company said.

 Product Lookup (similacrecall.com)

OUR DOCTORS RECOMMEND THE EQUIVALENT ENFAMIL PRODUCTS FOR SIMILAC PRODUCTS IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND SIMILAC PRODUCTS WITH UNAFFECTED LOT NUMBERS. 

WE SPECIFICALLY RECOMMEND ENFAMIL NUTRAMIGEN IN PLACE OF ALIMENTUM AND NUTRICIA NEOCATE IN PLACE OF ELECARE

1/9/2022- IMPORTANT OFFICE UPDATES

Office Visits: Due to the recent surge in Covid, we respectfully ask that you limit the number of adults accompanying minors in their office visits to ONE HEALTHY PARENT/GUARDIAN (exceptions for newborn and young infant 2 months and under visits). 

Mask Policy: Masks are required in the office for everyone 2 years of age and older. We ask that you wear surgical masks, and not face coverings or cloth masks. PLEASE KEEP YOUR MASKS ON AT ALL TIMES WHILE IN THE OFFICE- EVEN WHEN ALONE IN THE EXAM ROOM. Thank you.

Nurse Calls: We have been experiencing larger than normal call volumes which may delay our response time. Please understand we are working diligently to return all calls in a timely manner and request that you do not call back to leave a second message as this further delays the response time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

01/03/2022-

COVID Update

 From Drs. Angus, Brzozowska, Corkins, Natkin and Urquhart

 

While we try our best to accommodate all our patients for visits and testing, here are some general guidelines:

 

• We are trying to reserve testing supplies (especially our currently very limited PCR supply) for patients who are symptomatic with a known or possible exposure. We currently cannot accommodate asymptomatic patients for clearance purposes.

• If your child is symptomatic and tests positive on a home test, that is considered a true positive and there is no need to repeat it.

• If your child tests positive at an outside testing facility, that is considered a true positive and there is no need to repeat it.

• If your child has a known exposure and symptoms, you can presume them to be positive.

• If your child is sick without a known exposure, we are happy to see them in the office and test here. We will most likely collect a PCR swab for testing.

• If your child tests positive or is presumed positive, but has MILD symptoms, they do NOT need to be seen in the office. **

• If you find out your child has been exposed, or you receive positive COVID test results and it is after hours, please DO NOT call the on-call doctor for guidance. Instead, please refer to the reference guide on our website and wait until business hours to call with any questions you may still need answers for.

 

 ** Provide supportive care with Tylenol & Motrin (the latter only if >6m), per the dosing guidelines

** Ensure good hydration by encouraging fluids in any form your child will tolerate. Monitor for urine output

** Continue symptomatic care for congestion and coughs with saline & suctioning, honey for children >1 year, Vaporub and a cool-mist humidifier.

** Do NOT use OTC cough & cold medications for children <6y, as the side effects outweigh any potential benefit and they are not recommended.

 

CALL OUR OFFICE if your child has a fever that does not respond to medications, has persistent fever for > 5 days, has fever in the setting of a sore throat or ear pain, has a barking cough, has wheezing or increased work of breathing, or decreased urine output.

 

POSITIVE CASES must stay home (isolate) for a minimum of 5 days, and then can only go out if fully masked for another 5 days. If your child is too young to wear a mask or does not mask reliably, please stay home for 10 days.

 

QUARANTINE in the event of an exposure will vary based on vaccination status and age of the child/ability to mask. For those fully vaccinated, it may be as short as 5 days from last exposure, but for younger children or those who cannot reliable mask all the time, it is still 10 days from last exposure. An ongoing exposure in the house means an ongoing quarantine as well.

 

We thank you for your kindness and patience while we all navigate this pandemic together.

 

Thank you,

 

The Doctors and Staff at Crown Colony Pediatrics

 

12/20/2021-

To Our Valued Patients: 

We hope this message finds you and your family in good health.

In the recent days and weeks Crown Colony Pediatrics has been seeing an increasingly higher than average number of sick patients. We have been working diligently to continue to offer high quality compassionate care in the safest possible environment. 

We want to take a moment to thank our patients and your families for your ongoing patience and kindness as we continue to navigate this pandemic together.

Thank you,

The Doctors and Staff at Crown Colony Pediatrics

11/15/2021-

Thanks to all of you who have made our first two COVID-19 vaccine clinics such a success! We have opened up another clinic for ages 5-11 for this Sunday, November 21, 2021 for anyone still wanting to schedule their child's first dose. You can do this right through your My Chart app! 

For any questions regarding this vaccine, please refer to the links shared below and to the left. 

Ask the Pediatrician: COVID-19 Roundup 

We'll see you at the next clinic! 

11/4/2021-

Great News! We have received limited doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for our 5-11 year old patients. We will be sending scheduling invites through My Chart later today, and you will be able to schedule your child's vaccine appointment at one of our upcoming clinics directly through your portal. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT!!

Since we have limited doses, appointments will fill up fast and will be first come, first served. As soon as we have more doses, we will open up more dates. If you you do not get an appointment right away, and do not want to wait for additional dates to be announced, we encourage you to check with your local pharmacies and/or your town offices. 

AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE OFFICE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTEMENT (even though you may be prompted to do so through MyChart if all appointments are booked). PLEASE ALSO BE AWARE THE VACCINE WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY OUR AMAZING NURSING STAFF, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE VACCINE, PLEASE REFER TO THE LINKS LISTED IN THE MESSAGE BELOW.

Thank you,

Crown Colony Pediatrics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR YOUR CHILDREN AGES 5 to 11: (11/3/2021)

Crown Colony Pediatrics is happy to announce that we will be holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics for our 5-11 year old patients beginning as early as this coming Sunday, November 7, 2021. While we understand you may have some concerns surrounding this vaccine, all of our doctors here at CCP support this vaccine, its safety and efficacy, and do recommend this vaccine for our patients, We as parents and pediatricians have all made the decision to vaccinate our own eligible children, but understand you may have some questions- for general questions we refer you to the links on the homepage of our website for healthychildren.org and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We also recommend you visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/vaccines

Please stay tuned to this website for more information regarding booking your child's vaccine. At this time, we ask that you do not call the office to book your vaccine appointment, rather watch your inbox for a My Chart message on how to book your own appointment(s) with our nursing staff for your child's Covid-19 vaccine. This information will be coming very soon! 

Thank you for your trust and your patience,

Crown Colony Pediatrics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON OUR TELEMEDICINE

Crown Colony Pediatrics is using telemedicine to treat patients when the physician deems it appropriate. Our remote visit software allows us to connect with patients via computer, tablet or cell phone.  Our office is able to send a link which connects a parent or patient to the doctor’s virtual waiting room, and from there, the doctor completes the connection to start the visit. The virtual connection allows for reduced exposure to contagious illnesses and saves time as parents don’t have to travel to our physical office and in some cases may even save a trip to the emergency room.

There is still some uncertainty with regard to insurance coverage and copay responsibilities. Because the telemedicine visits often happen spontaneously and in lieu of a phone call, you may want to check with your insurance company proactively to determine if these types of visits are covered for your child.

Most insurances are covering services related to COVID 19 illnesses. The individual insurance companies determine their own policies and are ever changing. Please consult your insurance carrier to see the specific details about coverage policies.

COVID-19 Information:

10/21/2021 COVID-19 Update

A reminder there is still a statewide mask mandate for medical facilities. Please remember  to wear a mask at a times whten in the Crown Colony Pediatrics office. We appreciate your cooperation!  

3/24/21 COVID-19 Update

In accordance with current AAP guidelines, children of all ages diagnosed with Covid-19 should have a cardiac clearance visit approximately 2 weeks following diagnosis, and after completion of the recommended isolation period. Please call the office to schedule.

1/7/2021 COVID-19 Update

We want to thank you for your commitment to Crown Colony Pediatrics. We are constantly looking at ways to keep everyone as safe as possible. When this whole pandemic began in mid- March of 2020 we made some changes to our operations. Most if not all of these changes are still in place. We thought that it would be a good idea that we review them with you again as some of you have not been in recently and things keep evolving and changing.

·       Schedule- Mornings- we continue to schedule our newborn/well visit/non- contagious children in the mornings before lunch as we trying to create some space between the sick and well patients. Occasionally there is some overlap so we are working hard to minimize the time you are spending in the office.

Afternoons- these are for our sick patients- both virtual and in office visits. When you call the office, please be clear about the symptoms that your child is experiencing or not experiencing so we can appropriate schedule your visit.

·       If your child is scheduled for a well visit but has been exposed to a COVID positive person in the preceding 3-5 days or is experiencing COVID symptoms- you will be asked to reschedule the Well Visit and schedule either a virtual or in person office visit depending on the severity of the symptoms..

·       We ask that when possible only the patient and one healthy parent/guardian come in for the visit. Please leave siblings home to minimize the people in the office.

·       Please be prepared to answer questions about your travel and people that you have been exposed to in the last 14 days. 

·       We ask that patients call us when they get to the parking lot so we can check you in for the visit. Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment, as you will be asked a list of questions and will be required to pay any copay or balance that is due- either you can do this on My Chart or we can take your credit card over the phone.

·       If your child has been exposed to a COVID positive person and but have no or mild symptoms (runny nose) and you are seeking a COVID test-a virtual visit will be scheduled to determine the appropriate time frame to do the testing.  

·       If your child has been exposed to a COVID positive person and has moderate symptoms, an in-person visit will be scheduled and testing will be determined during the visit.

Because things are, rapidly changing with our approach to Coronavirus based on CDC and Department of Public Heath guidance and mandates;-please stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for the most recent updates.  

We are also encouraging patients to sign up for our patient portal- MyChart- there are so many wonderful aspects of the patient portal that can save you time. You can pay any balance or copays, print a copy of your child’s well visit, schedule flu shot and well visits, obtain lab results and much more.  We now offer virtual visits (when appropriate) and these visits can be accessed through MyChart. Please call the office Mon-Fri and we can assist you with signing up!

We kindly thank you for your patience,

Dr.’s Angus, Brzozowska, Corkins, Natkin, Urquhart and staff

Crown Colony Pediatrics

9/1/2020 - Mask Policy

Update on our mask policy during the COVID 19 pandemic:

The purpose of masks is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control. However, masks with one-way valves or vents allow air to be exhaled through a hole in the material, which can result in expelled respiratory droplets that can reach others. This type of mask does not prevent the person wearing the mask from transmitting COVID-19 to others. Therefore, CDC does not recommend using masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent. At this time we are asking anyone that is coming into the office follow the CDC guideline and  NOT wear a mask with a valve as it does not provide protection for others that you may come into contact with and we are working hard to keep our staff and patients safe. Thank you for understanding.

GSK Consumer Healthcare Recall - Children's Robitussin & Children's Dimetapp. Click Here for more information.