At Home with Coronavirus
We are in the midst of very difficult times. It is certainly inconvenient to stay home in lockdown during the current coronavirus pandemic, but please understand that it is absolutely necessary, and is the right thing to do to combat and control the spread of COVID-19. Stay home. Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds (plain soap and water is preferred). Kids frequently put their fingers in their eyes, mouth and nose, so teach them proper hand hygiene as well. If you must leave the house, wear a mask and practice social distancing. Please call the office if your child is sick and/or you have questions. We can help you decide if he/she needs to come in. We also offer Telehealth visits. We do recommend that infants continue to come in for their routine visits and immunizations.

Can kids get COVID-19?
They can, but it is much less common in children, and is usually a mild illness. It is uncommon for kids to get severely ill or be hospitalized, and very rare to end up in the ICU.

Prevent Boredom
Children need a routine. Set up a healthy and productive daily schedule and post it on the refrigerator or other visible place. Include wake time, meal and snack times, learning time, play time, exercise, and bedtime. Have the kids help set up the schedule. If you are working from home, include the adults' work time on the schedule as well. Have dinner together as a family every night: eat, talk, discuss the day. It's a good idea to have a designated spot for school/learning. Sometimes a timer can be useful to warn children that it will soon be time to transition to the next activity. Have them help with the household chores. Set expectations. Communicate.

Formula Shortage
Given supply chain issues and formula recalls, it may be getting harder and harder for you to find the formula your child needs. If you are unable to find formula at your regular supplier try these alternatives: • Pharmacies, smaller grocery stores, large convenience stores, food banks • Call your local WIC office (supplemental nutrition for women, infants, and children) • Order online (but only from reputable sources) • Call your pediatrician office to see if they have samples available • Check with other parents, through local Mom's groups or social media, to see if they have unopened formula they no longer need. Never use anything that has been opened by someone else or is expired. • Most infants are on cow's milk formula and can usually switch to a similar product without any concerns. If your pediatrician or a GI specialist suggested a specific formula for your child, please contact them before switching. Do not: • Never water down the formula. Always make as directed by the manufacturer or your pediatrician. • Do not make your own formula at home. • Do not use toddler formulas if your child is under one year of age. They do not have the same nutrients. • Do not use animal milk or plant milk (cow, goat, almond, soy, etc). Infant digestive tracts are not ready for these and they do not have the necessary nutrients. Please do not hesitate to contact your pediatrician's office with questions about how to best feed your baby. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also offers a Formula Fact Sheet with a list of manufacturer hotlines, community resources, and more.

Fall Sports - Middle and High School
Middle school and high school fall sports start mid August to early September. Get your DIAA (Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association) form completed for the 2022-23 school year any time after April 1, 2022. If your child has had a physical in the last year, you just need to fill out the parent portion of the DIAA form and drop it off to our office for completion. It may take up to a week for this to be done. If your child has NOT had a physical in the last year, then they will need to get scheduled for a physical as soon as possible - please call the office to set that appointment up.

Flu Vaccine
Beacon Pediatrics has available quadrivalent preservative-free flu shots. To schedule your flu vaccine, please call our office 302-645-8212. All of the providers at Beacon Pediatrics, STRONGLY RECOMMEND all patients age 6 months of age and older get their flu vaccine. Getting your flu vaccine this season during the COVID-19 pandemic is especially important to help protect your child from the flu. We are especially concerned about this upcoming respiratory season and want to have our patients as protected and prepared as they can be.

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1) All payments are due at the time of service. This includes Co-Pays, Co-Insurance and Deductibles. We may also let you know about a balance due from a previous visit. We accept cash, check, Visa and Mastercard.
 
2) Keep in mind that your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. Often they require you to pay for certain items at time of service.
 
3) We have made prior arrangements with many insurance companies and health plans to accept an assignment of benefits. We will only bill these plans for you. You are required to pay your co-pay and any amount due BEFORE you are seen and any co-insurance and deductible at the time you check out.
 
4) If you are insured by a plan that we do NOT participate with, you must pay for your charges at the time of service. We will provide you with a statement that you can submit directly to your insurance carrier and they will send any reimbursement directly to you.
 
5) Not all insurance plans cover all services (i.e. physical exams, some blood work, etc.).  In the event your insurance plan determines a service is “not covered”, you will be responsible for the charge. Payment is due upon receipt of a statement from our office (written or verbal).
 
6) We will bill your insurance company for all services provided in the hospital, our office or any facility our providers cover. You are responsible for any balance due.