New COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines

For COVID19 positive individuals, the CDC is still recommending 14 Days of Quarantine.

New guidelines have been released in order to get individuals back to school or work sooner under specific circumstances

  • Released After Day 10 – If NO symptoms since exposure
  • Released After Day 7 – If NO symptoms AND Negative Testing performed after the 5th day of exposure – PCR (send out) testing recommended but Rapid Antigen testing is acceptable

Under new guidelines, individuals also required to self-monitor daily until after the 14th Day.

Self-monitoring includes:

  • daily temperature checks
  • face mask adherence
  • social distancing
  • limiting groups & non-essential activities

If any symptoms start prior to the full release of quarantine, you need to ISOLATE and contact your provider.

Announcing Increased COVID-19 Testing!

The Children’s Clinic is now offering testing for symptomatic parents or caregivers to our established patients. We are able to utilize a rapid antigen test to the parent or caregiver bringing your child into the clinic if symptoms are present.

The cost per test is $50 and must be paid prior to the test. Your result will only take approximately 20 minutes. We will only offer this test to symptomatic caregivers based on testing recommendations for rapid antigen tests.

Quarantine is recommended for any individual with direct contact with a COVID-19 positive person. Direct contact is defined as being less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes during a 24 hour period of time. If you have more questions about isolation or quarantine recommendations, you should contact the Arkansas Department of Health. 870-933-4585.

COVID-19 Testing

The Children’s Clinic is offering COVID-19 testing by appointment or our walk-in clinic for established patients only. All patients must be seen by one of our providers for testing so we can give you a thorough exam, review your medical history and risk factors, and review isolation and quarantine needs with you and your child. 

We are currently offering two types of testing depending on if you are having symptoms or have been exposed:

Rapid Test

  • If you are symptomatic and have had symptoms compatible with COVID-19 for 5 days or less, you are eligible for the rapid test.
  • Results within 15 minutes
  • The test is not accurate if there are no symptoms because there must be viral particles in the nose
  • Our rapid test methodology is felt to have little if any false positives, but there are concerns that we could be missing some positives that are asymptomatic or early in their illness, and thus we confirm each negative rapid test with a send-out test which is felt to be the gold standard.

PCR Send Out Test

  • Performed on asymptomatic patients (without symptoms) if there is an exposure history. Results are normally received within 2-3 days.
  • If you have had COVID-19 symptoms for more than 5 days, you are eligible for the Send Out Test.
  • The preferred time to test asymptomatic patients is 3-5 days after exposure.

All tests follow the protocol outlined by the Department of Health and CDC. The test is “mid-turbinate swabs” (similar to a flu test swab) and not the deep nasopharyngeal swabs that everyone dreads! Testing supplies are limited therefore we will follow these guidelines as strictly as possible.

Note: If anyone has been sent home from school due to “exposure” please call for advice prior to testing. If there are no symptoms, rapid testing is not indicated, and send out tests are more sensitive on day 3-5 of quarantine.

We are happy to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to call our clinic at 870-935-6012.

Newborn Visits

We will now allow 2 healthy caregivers in the rooms with our newborn check-ups, this includes the initial newborn visit, circumcision, and the 3-4 week check-up. Thank you to our families for being understanding during this time as we continue to strive to keep our patients, families, and staff as safe and healthy as possible!

Check-In Process During COVID-19 Pandemic

Please take a moment to review our updated check-in process that has been adjusted for your safety with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check-In:

  • Upon arrival at the clinic, please text 870-351-9587 with your child’s name and provider to be seen.
  • A nurse will call you at the number you provided for screening questions.
  • Remain in your vehicle until a nurse calls you to let you know a room is ready.
  • In the 1st Floor Lobby, all parents and children will have temperatures checked and be provided with a mask if you do not have one.

To limit the number of people in the room, we are requesting:

  • We are now allowing 2 parents/caregivers per child as of April>
  • This does not apply to the 1st Newborn Visit and Well Checks in the 1st month of your child’s life.
  • If possible, no other children should be brought to the appointment
  • We are also requesting a face mask be worn when a provider or staff member is in your room for anyone 2 years and older.

Well-Child Visits:

  • If your child or the parent has a fever and/or cough, please call ahead and reschedule your visit with us.
  • If there has been any exposure to COVID-19, please call prior to your appointment to discuss your visit.
  • It is required that anyone 2 years and older wear a face mask. If possible, please provide your own but if unable to they will be available upon arrival.

Sick Visits:

  • The 4th Floor is being used for acute sick visits that are not related to potential COVID-19 illness.
  • The 2nd Floor is being used if your child has fever, cough, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, a new rash, or any concerns about potential COVID-19 exposure or illness.

COVID-19 Testing:

  • As of 6/1/2020, we are testing for COVID-19 with a send-out lab that should result in 2-3 days.
  • If your child has direct exposure to COVID-19 or needs clearance for a procedure or summer camp, please contact our clinic to speak with a nurse about testing.

Updated Hours

At this time, The Children’s Clinic will only be open from 8 am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 9 am to 12 pm on Saturday.

Telemedicine Services

The Children’s Clinic has begun offering Telemedicine Services to work with our patients and families to limit the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is a new, limited-service for our clinic based on the recommendations by the CDC and the Arkansas Department of Health. A telemedicine visit will minimize in-person contact and help promote social distancing while also allowing improved communications with your provider. We will be using a secure, HIPAA compliant connection that requires either a cell phone, tablet, or computer for a video and audio connection.

This service is only available during this pandemic crisis, and we hope to utilize it specifically in answer questions ranging from eligibility for testing, symptom concerns, follow up of recent infection, and if an ER or clinic visit is needed.

In addition to COVID-19 illnesses, there are other illnesses or problems that might be able to be answered by telemedicine visits. If you think a telemedicine visit would be possible, please contact the clinic to discuss in more detail with a nurse.

Insurance companies will be billed for the telemedicine visit, which will apply to your deductibles and copays; however, they are encouraging this encounter for social distancing and currently AR Medicaise, QualChnoice, and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover the visit without co-payments for the next 2 months. If you have questions about your insurance coverage or telemedicine visits, please contact your insurance company.

Screening at Arrival

TCC is working diligently to protect our patients and staff during this time. We are separating patients with potential symptoms of COVID-19 infection from all other patients. All arriving patients are being screened in the lobby of our building and being directed to the proper location based on symptoms. Please remember only ONE healthy caregiver per patient if at all possible. We appreciate your understanding and patience at this time.

Well/Check-Up Visits

We would like to encourage you to continue well child visits for your children at this time with emphasis on visits where vaccinations would be administered and for those less than 5 years old. We are following the coronovirus cases in our area closely and have made numerous changes to our work flow to minimize exposure risk. Our staff is contacting families prior to their visit to ensure they are healthy or if needed can reschedule your appointment to a later time. TCC is a firm believer in the importance of well-child care visits while making the needed adjustments to ensure the safety of our patients, staff, and community. Again, thank you!

Caregivers

For the safety of our patients and staff, we are kindly asking that each patient be accompanied by only ONE healthy caregiver when possible. This will minimize the number of people entering our offices and in our waiting areas. Thank you for your cooperation.