Current Environment:

We know our patients have exciting things planned for this summer and this upcoming school year and many of you need forms to be filled out.

This is a very busy time of year for pediatricians’ offices, and we ask that you please mail or drop off your college forms, school forms and camp forms at least 2 weeks in advance of needing the completed form returned as we cannot accommodate last-minute requests. This allows plenty of time for our office to complete the forms and book nursing visit appointments for any necessary vaccines.

Please note, we must have a physical exam on file within the past 1 year in order to provide a school, sports, or camp form.

Welcome to Child Health Associates, P.C.

Child Health Associates, P.C., was established in 1987 as a pediatric group practice. We are proud to provide preventative well care, acute care and supportive services for children and their families. Our board-certified pediatricians are dedicated to enhancing the growth, development and well-being of all children, from birth through adolescence. We stress the importance of regular health maintenance exams to monitor children's overall health and development. At Child Health Associates, P.C., we strive to provide quality healthcare for your child in partnership with you and your family.

***Flu Clinics***

Flu vaccine is here!!!!

All of our flu clinics will be held in our Auburn office. NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED.

Our first flu clinic will be held on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. and end promptly at 12:00 p.m. Face coverings/masks will be required to enter the building.

Additional flu clinic dates are as follows:

  • Saturday, October 8, 2022
  • Saturday, October 22, 2022
  • Sunday, November 6, 2022

We will add additional dates in November if needed.

Please watch our website at www.childhealthassociates.net and on our Facebook page for updates.

**IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FLUMIST**

FluMist will not be available at this time.

Polio Update 8/15/22

The US has seen its first case of Polio (originating in the US) since 1979.

According to the CDC, “the current polio case presents a very low risk to those who are already vaccinated against polio: Those who have had all three shots have close to 100 percent protection.”

Vaccination is one of the most important things that we do to promote the health of our patients. We strongly recommend vaccinating your children according to the CDC/AAP schedule. Polio vaccine (IPV) is routinely given at ages 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 14 months, and age 4 or 5.

This is even more important considering the recent Polio case in New York.

If you are unsure if your child is up to date with the polio vaccine or if you are interested in having your child vaccinated against polio, please call the office at 508-832-9691 or 508-842-1500, option 1.

We are happy to answer any questions that you have about vaccines. The following websites are also helpful resources.

baby on table with a hand holding a stethoscope on his chest

Practice overview

  • 13 Board-certified pediatricians
  • 9 Pediatric nurse practitioners
  • Licensed social worker
  • Office in Auburn, MA | Get Directions
  • Office in Shrewsbury, MA | Get Directions
  • Yes, we are accepting new patients

**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AS OUR OFFICE POLICIES ARE CHANGING IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC**

*Our walk-in clinic has been suspended until further notice. Please DO NOT walk into the office for any reason unless you have an appointment. *

Whenever possible, we ask that only 1 well adult accompany a child to their visit. If possible, please do not bring other children to the office if they do not have an appointment.

Updated Thursday 8/18/22

PHONE TRIAGE

We are experiencing higher call volumes and are working hard to take care of everyone’s needs. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Rest assured, your health and safety are our number one priority.

VIRTUAL WAITING ROOM

We will continue to use a "virtual waiting room." For all appointments, please arrive to the office a few minutes before your appointment time and wait in your car. You will receive two calls once you arrive to the parking lot in preparation for the appointment. The first call will be from a receptionist who will register the patient for the appointment and collect any co-pays. The second call will be from a nurse/ma to do an intake before they bring the patient into the building. Vital signs will be taken and then you will be put directly into an exam room.

PAPERWORK

Any paperwork that needs to be dropped off or picked up will need to be done by a single healthy adult before 3:30 PM.

TESTING

Child Health Associates is capable of performing rapid COVID-19 NAAT (molecular) tests with a 15-30 minute turnaround. We also offer a three in one PCR test (COVID-19, RSV, and Flu) for appropriate patients.

MASKS

Masks are required for everyone coming into the office over the age of 2.

Updated CDC Isolation Guidelines 8-11-22

POSITIVE for COVID-19- everyone regardless of vaccine status

Quarantine (isolate) for 5 days since onset of symptoms (or positive test with no symptoms), must be fever free for more than 24hrs, AND symptoms have improved. Mask for another 5 days.

If unable to mask- isolate for 10 days.

If symptoms worsen after ending isolation, re-isolate and start at day 0.

For patients with severe COVID-19 and/or immune-compromised the Isolation duration is longer. Please contact your PCP.

Exception-If you have 2 negative tests 48 hrs. apart you may unmask before day 11.

-If an individual has access to a test and wants to test, the best approach is to use an antigen test towards the end of the 5-day isolation period. Child Health Associates does not have antigen testing. The testing we do here is not suitable for this as the more sensitive NAAT and PCR tests can remain positive for up to 12 weeks.

  1. Retest only if you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication AND your other symptoms have improved (loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not delay the end of isolation).
  2. If your test result is positive, you should continue to quarantine (isolate) until day 10.
  3. If your 2 test results are negative, you can end isolation, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10.

Close Contact Exposure-everyone regardless of vaccine status

Instead of quarantining if you were exposed to COVID-19, you wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 6, regardless of vaccination status.

You must wear a mask any time you are around others inside your home or indoors in public for the 10 days following your exposure, unless you are unable to mask (due to age, medical/behavioral condition).

If you develop symptoms at any time, isolate and take a rapid antigen or PCR test and stay home until you know the result. (If positive-isolate for 5 days, then mask for additional 5 days if improving.)

Take a rapid antigen test on day 6.

If the exposure was a family member who cannot self-isolate (separate bathroom, does not leave room) and lives with the patient: The patient must quarantine for 5 days after the date of last exposure to the family member. Then "their" quarantine would start for an additional 5 days and then mask for another 5 days.

MASK EXEMPTIONS

A growing body of evidence suggests that universal mask-wearing, when combined with other measures such as physical distancing and proper hand hygiene, can minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

There are very few medical problems that would prevent a child from wearing a mask, and masks do not pose a safety risk when worn properly.

For these reasons, and in agreement with local health officials and other area practices, Child Health Associates will not be providing medical exemptions for masks.

We recognize that children do not always want to wear masks, and that there are some medical problems (i.e. autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, sensory issues) that will certainly make it more difficult to maintain proper mask-wearing. However, for the safety of your child and everyone your child interacts with, it is important that we work with mask-resistant children to familiarize them with mask-wearing. This can be accomplished by practicing mask-wearing for short periods of time daily, and gradually increasing the time spent mask-wearing. Parent modeling of mask-wearing is also important: if parents normalize mask-wearing, children will be more agreeable to mask-wearing.

We certainly empathize that wearing a mask for long periods of time is not the most comfortable way to go about your day, but we do so knowing that it is one of several measures we must take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

HELPFUL WEBSITE LINKS