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Date:	April 9, 2020
To:	HPSJ Providers (PCPs and Pediatricians)
From:	HPSJ Provider Services Departmentt
Subject:	American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance – CORONAVIRUS: Keeping Pediatrician Appointments for Young Children
Business:	Medi-Cal

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“Should you see your doctor or take kids to the pediatrician during the pandemic?”

• Report from NBC News medical correspondent Dr. John Torres, April 3, 2020
• See the full report video, click here.

AAP Recommends Keeping Pediatrician Appointments For Young Children During Coronavirus Pandemic

TODAY (4/3) featured NBC News medical correspondent Dr. John Torres, who provided answers to questions about the coronavirus and routine physician visits. Regarding whether parents should take their child to the pediatrician, TODAY said that “the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidance on this question, which Torres said has to do with the child’s age.” Torres explained, “With kids it’s a little more important to get those visits, and what the current recommendation is from a lot of experts is if they’re younger than 2, then you want to go ahead and keep those well baby visits. If they’re above 2 and it’s a well child visit, just ask them ‘Can I delay this? Is there a reason…to come right now?’ And if you can delay it, delay it.” Meanwhile, physicians “and hospitals are turning to telemedicine during the pandemic.” Torres remarked, “Virtual visits are a big option, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is actually recommending that most pediatricians switch a lot of these to virtual visits. There’s a lot of telemedicine, tele-mental health going out right now, and so see if you can do it that way.”

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The NBC News clip is at https://www.today.com/health/should-i-go-doctor-should-i-take-my-kid-pediatrician-t177530