Tweet
Seattle Children's Hospital
12/4/24
Updated Masking and Visitation Guidelines
Due to high rates of respiratory illnesses in our community, we’ve made changes to our masking and visitation guidelines.
We require patients, families, and visitors to wear a medical mask in all clinical areas. This includes exam rooms, waiting rooms, procedure areas, inpatient rooms and hallways. We recommend masking in all other areas of the hospital and clinics, but it is not required.
For patients coming for a clinic visit, Urgent Care and Emergency Department: At all of our clinics, we recommend that only 1 parent or adult caregiver come with a patient to their appointment. However, up to 4 people may come to the appointment with the patient. Siblings who are younger than 1 year old can come and are not included in the total number of people allowed at the visit.
...
Important Information for Viral Respiratory Testing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, viral respiratory testing saw a significant increase. However, a large portion of these tests do not impact clinical management and are often unnecessary. Third-party payers have now stopped reimbursing for viral panels that test for more than seven pathogens, which are costly (around $700). When reimbursement is denied, either the patient will be billed, or Seattle Children’s must absorb the cost. In contrast, shorter panels that test only for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 are still covered by insurance. Some patients are referred to SCH specifically for viral testing, and when this testing is not necessary, addressing patient and family expectations can be time-consuming, especially if they believe they are there for viral testing. Families should be prepared that, if viral testing is deemed clinically appropriate, it will typically be performed using a panel that identifies only influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
...
12/4/24
Updated Masking and Visitation Guidelines
Due to high rates of respiratory illnesses in our community, we’ve made changes to our masking and visitation guidelines.
We require patients, families, and visitors to wear a medical mask in all clinical areas. This includes exam rooms, waiting rooms, procedure areas, inpatient rooms and hallways. We recommend masking in all other areas of the hospital and clinics, but it is not required.
For patients coming for a clinic visit, Urgent Care and Emergency Department: At all of our clinics, we recommend that only 1 parent or adult caregiver come with a patient to their appointment. However, up to 4 people may come to the appointment with the patient. Siblings who are younger than 1 year old can come and are not included in the total number of people allowed at the visit.
...
Important Information for Viral Respiratory Testing
During the COVID-19 pandemic, viral respiratory testing saw a significant increase. However, a large portion of these tests do not impact clinical management and are often unnecessary. Third-party payers have now stopped reimbursing for viral panels that test for more than seven pathogens, which are costly (around $700). When reimbursement is denied, either the patient will be billed, or Seattle Children’s must absorb the cost. In contrast, shorter panels that test only for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 are still covered by insurance. Some patients are referred to SCH specifically for viral testing, and when this testing is not necessary, addressing patient and family expectations can be time-consuming, especially if they believe they are there for viral testing. Families should be prepared that, if viral testing is deemed clinically appropriate, it will typically be performed using a panel that identifies only influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.
...
- ED Volumes: Our ED volumes have increased slightly over the past few weeks.
- Influenza: Influenza activity continues to be low nationally and locally. Locally, we have not yet seen the steep part of the rise. Most of short panels will still be negative. We continue to monitor national Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) news. There have been two pediatric cases, one in Vancouver, BC and one in California. Neither had the usual agricultural exposures. Despite that, most of your index of suspicion should be focused on patients with exposure to known cases or exposure to livestock or poultry. If you are concerned, you should contact public health and infection prevention. PPE is gown, gloves, eye protection and N95 or equivalent.
- RSV: For the second straight week, RSV positives have risen sharply. We are still 3-5 weeks away from peak, which will likely occuraround the new year. Latest data is that nirsevimab reduces RSV-associated medical visits by more than 80%. Encourage patients, friends and family to get it if available and eligible.
- SARS-CoV-2: National and local COVID numbers are nearing recent nadirs. Wastewater activity across the country is down.
- Mpox: The ongoing outbreak in Central and East Africa continues. It is caused by the more virulent Clade Ia subvariant. The US has confirmed the first case of Clade I Mpox in California. There was a low-risk exposure to a WA resident from that case. The contact was asymptomatic throughout their incubation period and received post-exposure prophylaxis. Clade II Mpox is still being diagnosed weekly in WA, although rates are much lower than 2022. Mpox testing is available at Seattle Children’s – if you feel your patient may have Mpox and want them tested, please call Mission Control at 206-987-8899.
- Other Respiratory Viruses: Rhino/enterovirus positives remain the most common positive at Seattle Children’s. Rhino/entero positives happen all year but tend to spike at the start of the school year. Adenovirus and parainfluenza are elevated but remain at relatively low levels. Fall parainfluenza activity is associated with croup and laryngitis and is mostly caused by parainfluenza 1 and 2.
Comment