Due to the unfortunate spread of Coronavirus
(COVID-19) in New York, we have decided to modify the walk in and well visit hours in order to avoid exposure in our office.
If your child has an emergency such as a laceration, rash or severe asthma exacerbation with respiratory distress, exceptions will be considered.
At Home Precautions:
In addition to covering our mouths when coughing and diligent hand washing for 20 seconds, we advise all our patients to:
1. Get more sleep - try 1 hour earlier until the pandemic is over
2. Do not skip meals
3. Stay well hydrated
4. Flying these days may expose us more readily to COVID-19. We hope but are still NOT SURE how this will effect Passover family getaways.
5. Use hand sanitizer.
6. Do not share food and drinks.
Once our office receives the results, Dr. Simai and Sagee will discuss results via a Tele-Health conversation and answer all your subsequent questions.
Here are a few answers from Dr Simai to some questions you may have:
1. Is the test done at Dr Simai's office?
Answer: No, Quest Lab will perform the test.
2. How long will it take to get results?
Answer: Between 2-7 days according to Quest Lab.
3. What does the test mean?
Answer: Having IgG to COVID 19 means that you acquired immunity to the virus.
Currently, we do not know how long this immunity will last. There is a chance to get the infection more than once (we hope that most patients will not be re infected this season, but we are unsure if we could be infected again next year)
4. What if my child was not exposed to anyone with COVID-19?
Answer: Great question - you may want to know their status before they attend school, camp or eventually when they meet elderly people. If they do NOT have the COVID 19 ANTIBODY, they may get infected in the FUTURE, and pose a risk to adults they come into contact with.
5. I am 100% sure that my child had COVID 19 - should I still test them?
Answer: Yes, it's much better to know that your child developed IMMUNITY to COVID 19.
6. If my child has the ANTIBODY to COVID 19, are they NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS?
Answer: Great question. There is still a small chance that your child can shed the virus even if she or he have the ANTIBODY. There is also a chance of your child getting RE-INFECTED. Since COVID 19 is a new virus, there is still a lot for us to learn about it.
Please do not rush to expose them to adults until we send an advisory that it is safe to do so.
Although most people are contagious for 2 weeks after their symptoms end, some can still carry and shed the virus for a MONTH (with time we will learn more about how long COVID 19 is contagious) and as stated above, there is a chance of being RE-INFECTED.
7. I think that my child is sick with COVID 19 today - can I take them to be tested?
Answer - NO. Please do not take your child to the lab if they have any symptoms of COVID 19 - i.e. - cough, fever or runny nose.
Its best to perform the test 2 weeks after your child recovered.
8. Is the Antibody test 100% accurate?
Answer: No. The test is not 100% accurate. There is a chance of a FALSE POSITIVE result (which means that the test detects an antibody that is similar to COVID 19 but the patient is not immune to COVID 19. But the FDA granted ABBOTT LABS permission to start testing and so far, the result we received from our own staff members seem accurate.
Even more rarely, there is also a chance of a FALSE NEGATIVE result.
9.Why won't your practice prescribe COVID 19 tests for parents?
Answer: Dr Simai is trained to treat children. You, as a parent should have your own Primary Care Provider (PCP) who will manage your health. Treating COVID 19 in pediatrics is very different than adults. In the long run, you will get much better care for yourselves if your health is managed by an Internist rather than a pediatrician.
If you do not have a PCP - you can try and join a practice. If you can not join a practice, you can request an antibody test from an urgent care center. There is a possibility that pharmacies will start testing for COVID 19 antibodies soon as well.
10. How will you receive the prescription?
Answer: Our office is open six days a week. You can pick up the prescription from the office. We will write the prescription after your telehealth appointment. If you would like us to mail or fax you the prescription, please let us know during the Telehealth. Unfortunately, we can not email the prescription.
11. Will you be exposed to COVID 19 at Quest?
Answer: The testing is done on an appointment basis to minimize your exposure at the lab. Please make sure your family members wear a face mask at the lab if possible.
12. How can I discuss my concerns or request about this antibody test?
Answer: The fastest way is to ask for a Telehealth consult with Dr Simai. If you have a special request, please email DrSimaiPediatrics@Gmail.Com and we will let you know if we can accommodate your request.
PLEASE NOTE
WE WILL NOT WRITE AN RX FOR TESTING ADULTS/PARENTS
PARENTS HAVE TO DISCUSS THEIR COVID-19 STATUS
WITH THEIR INTERNIST/PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TESTING AT QUEST:
Quest Diagnostics operates approximately 2,200 patient service centers across the United States. These centers are now performing blood draws for COVID-19 antibody testing consistent with health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Test collection is available only to patients who: have a test requisition from a healthcare provider; are asymptomatic; have been asymptomatic for at least 10 days; lack a fever (as assessed by non-contact thermometer checks at time of visit); and are wearing a face mask.
Appointments for antibody testing should be scheduled ahead of time through the Quest Diagnostics MyQuest patient portal or at www.questdiagnostics.com. Healthcare providers can also collect blood specimens in their offices for patients for testing by Quest Diagnostics.
Patients suspected of having or confirmed to have ACTIVE COVID-19 infection or disease may not visit Quest patient service centers, which are not equipped to collect the necessary respiratory specimens for molecular COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Patients who believe they may have COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
NOTIFY US
1. If your child has a fever or cough, please notify us when you come to the office so we can provide them with a mask.
2. If your child is quarantined, please call our office and inform us. Make sure that you hydrate them well. Having a mild cough and sore throat is normal as well as a low grade temperature.
If your child develops SHORTNESS OF BREATH, please call us immediately.
Please stay calm, taking these precautions will further minimize the risks of COVID-19.
Wishing you the best of Health!
(COVID-19) in New York, we have decided to modify the walk in and well visit hours in order to avoid exposure in our office.
If your child has an emergency such as a laceration, rash or severe asthma exacerbation with respiratory distress, exceptions will be considered.
At Home Precautions:
In addition to covering our mouths when coughing and diligent hand washing for 20 seconds, we advise all our patients to:
1. Get more sleep - try 1 hour earlier until the pandemic is over
2. Do not skip meals
3. Stay well hydrated
4. Flying these days may expose us more readily to COVID-19. We hope but are still NOT SURE how this will effect Passover family getaways.
5. Use hand sanitizer.
6. Do not share food and drinks.
Once our office receives the results, Dr. Simai and Sagee will discuss results via a Tele-Health conversation and answer all your subsequent questions.
Here are a few answers from Dr Simai to some questions you may have:
1. Is the test done at Dr Simai's office?
Answer: No, Quest Lab will perform the test.
2. How long will it take to get results?
Answer: Between 2-7 days according to Quest Lab.
3. What does the test mean?
Answer: Having IgG to COVID 19 means that you acquired immunity to the virus.
Currently, we do not know how long this immunity will last. There is a chance to get the infection more than once (we hope that most patients will not be re infected this season, but we are unsure if we could be infected again next year)
4. What if my child was not exposed to anyone with COVID-19?
Answer: Great question - you may want to know their status before they attend school, camp or eventually when they meet elderly people. If they do NOT have the COVID 19 ANTIBODY, they may get infected in the FUTURE, and pose a risk to adults they come into contact with.
5. I am 100% sure that my child had COVID 19 - should I still test them?
Answer: Yes, it's much better to know that your child developed IMMUNITY to COVID 19.
6. If my child has the ANTIBODY to COVID 19, are they NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS?
Answer: Great question. There is still a small chance that your child can shed the virus even if she or he have the ANTIBODY. There is also a chance of your child getting RE-INFECTED. Since COVID 19 is a new virus, there is still a lot for us to learn about it.
Please do not rush to expose them to adults until we send an advisory that it is safe to do so.
Although most people are contagious for 2 weeks after their symptoms end, some can still carry and shed the virus for a MONTH (with time we will learn more about how long COVID 19 is contagious) and as stated above, there is a chance of being RE-INFECTED.
7. I think that my child is sick with COVID 19 today - can I take them to be tested?
Answer - NO. Please do not take your child to the lab if they have any symptoms of COVID 19 - i.e. - cough, fever or runny nose.
Its best to perform the test 2 weeks after your child recovered.
8. Is the Antibody test 100% accurate?
Answer: No. The test is not 100% accurate. There is a chance of a FALSE POSITIVE result (which means that the test detects an antibody that is similar to COVID 19 but the patient is not immune to COVID 19. But the FDA granted ABBOTT LABS permission to start testing and so far, the result we received from our own staff members seem accurate.
Even more rarely, there is also a chance of a FALSE NEGATIVE result.
9.Why won't your practice prescribe COVID 19 tests for parents?
Answer: Dr Simai is trained to treat children. You, as a parent should have your own Primary Care Provider (PCP) who will manage your health. Treating COVID 19 in pediatrics is very different than adults. In the long run, you will get much better care for yourselves if your health is managed by an Internist rather than a pediatrician.
If you do not have a PCP - you can try and join a practice. If you can not join a practice, you can request an antibody test from an urgent care center. There is a possibility that pharmacies will start testing for COVID 19 antibodies soon as well.
10. How will you receive the prescription?
Answer: Our office is open six days a week. You can pick up the prescription from the office. We will write the prescription after your telehealth appointment. If you would like us to mail or fax you the prescription, please let us know during the Telehealth. Unfortunately, we can not email the prescription.
11. Will you be exposed to COVID 19 at Quest?
Answer: The testing is done on an appointment basis to minimize your exposure at the lab. Please make sure your family members wear a face mask at the lab if possible.
12. How can I discuss my concerns or request about this antibody test?
Answer: The fastest way is to ask for a Telehealth consult with Dr Simai. If you have a special request, please email DrSimaiPediatrics@Gmail.Com and we will let you know if we can accommodate your request.
PLEASE NOTE
WE WILL NOT WRITE AN RX FOR TESTING ADULTS/PARENTS
PARENTS HAVE TO DISCUSS THEIR COVID-19 STATUS
WITH THEIR INTERNIST/PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS.
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TESTING AT QUEST:
Quest Diagnostics operates approximately 2,200 patient service centers across the United States. These centers are now performing blood draws for COVID-19 antibody testing consistent with health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Test collection is available only to patients who: have a test requisition from a healthcare provider; are asymptomatic; have been asymptomatic for at least 10 days; lack a fever (as assessed by non-contact thermometer checks at time of visit); and are wearing a face mask.
Appointments for antibody testing should be scheduled ahead of time through the Quest Diagnostics MyQuest patient portal or at www.questdiagnostics.com. Healthcare providers can also collect blood specimens in their offices for patients for testing by Quest Diagnostics.
Patients suspected of having or confirmed to have ACTIVE COVID-19 infection or disease may not visit Quest patient service centers, which are not equipped to collect the necessary respiratory specimens for molecular COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Patients who believe they may have COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
NOTIFY US
1. If your child has a fever or cough, please notify us when you come to the office so we can provide them with a mask.
2. If your child is quarantined, please call our office and inform us. Make sure that you hydrate them well. Having a mild cough and sore throat is normal as well as a low grade temperature.
If your child develops SHORTNESS OF BREATH, please call us immediately.
Please stay calm, taking these precautions will further minimize the risks of COVID-19.
Wishing you the best of Health!