PSV’s COVID-19 Safety Measures for In-Person Visits

As we slowly and safely increase our in-person services/elective surgeries, we want our patients and families to know about the social distancing and safety measures we’ve implemented due to COVID-19.  The safety of our staff and patients/families is our top priority.  We know that the children of Northern Virginia and surrounding communities are in need of critical and chronic pediatric specialty care and we want our patients/families to rest assured that we’re taking all of the proper precautions to make sure your in-person visit is as safe as possible.

Please watch our brief new video on what to expect when you visit PSV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifvNq_3a14Q&feature=youtu.be

Patients/Families & Referring Primary Care Physicians,

Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) is pleased to announce that it is now offering telemedicine visits to the children and families of Northern Virginia and nearby communities.

PSV’s “Virtual Care Program” is a more convenient and safe way to access high-quality pediatric specialty care – especially in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.  If you already have an in-person appointment scheduled, or if you call for a new visit, we may be offering this service to you as part of our COVID-19 response.

PSV’s telemedicine visits will be conducted via Zoom.  Patients and families can use their computers, tablets, or smartphone devices over their internet/Wi-Fi connection to participate in the secure and HIPAA-compliant virtual visit with their provider.  Patients will receive an email with all downloading and user instructions.  Please be advised that patients must be physically present in the state of Virginia during the time of the telemedicine visit to comply with the signed consent. In addition, the patient and at least one consenting adult me be present during the visit.

To inquire about switching an in-person visit to a telemedicine visit, or for more information, please call us at 703.876.2788.

PSV

Patients and Families,

We would like to share a few extremely important PSV updates as part of our ongoing COVID-19 action plan:

• COVID-19 Patient Screenings: We are testing patients in the lobby (Hamaker/CCBD) and at the clinic level (Ashburn) for COVID-19 markers (cough, fever, etc.) prior to the visit.  Please allow a few additional minutes for this added safety measure.  If the patient or visitor has or had within the last three days a fever and cough, please contact us to reschedule the appointment. Reminder, please only have two adults (parents/guardians) present at the time of visit whenever possible.
• Telemedicine: Telemedicine visits are now being offered PSV-wide to patients with non-urgent appointments/follow-ups. Patients are being called and asked to switch their non-urgent in-person visit to a telemedicine visit or reschedule to a later date out of an abundance of caution and safety for our staff and patients/families. Patients will be emailed a link to download our telemedicine platform, Zoom (secure and HIPAA compliant) on their computer/laptop, tablet, or smartphone device. From there patients must complete the consent form (Note:  Patients are required to reside in or be physically present in the state of Virginia at the time of the virtual visit) and then they will be placed into a virtual waiting room until the doctor joins the visit.
• Satellite Clinic Closures: Effective today, Friday, March 20^th, PSV’s Fair Oaks, Manassas, and Woodbridge clinics will be temporarily closed. We will reassess the possibility of reopening in two weeks.    

Thank you in advance for your understanding, cooperation, and flexibility during this time of crisis. We must remember to take all precautions to keep ourselves, our families, coworkers, and communities safe.   

PSV

Patients and Families,

Please be advised of our latest COVID-19 guidelines and action plan below. PSV still has an important patient care mission but we are modifying practices to minimize the risk to patients, families and staff:

• We are quickly working to implement telemedicine services across the practice and transition patients to a virtual visit when appropriate to their medical condition.
• PSV is also implementing patient and visitor COVID-19 screening at our clinics.  Please be patient and allow for a few extra minutes to go through the screening station.
• Our clinics at Fair Oaks, Woodbridge, and Manassas will temporarily close as they do not have an adequate ability to screen patients and visitors.  Patients will be contacted to make arrangements for an in-person visit at one of our other offices or to participate in a telemedicine visit.
• If the patient or visitor has or had within the last three days a fever and cough, please contact us to reschedule the appointment.

We are all in this together and will continue to take things one day at a time.  We appreciate all of your extra efforts and compliance with our COVID-19 action plan. 

Continue to take care of yourself and each other!

PSV

PSV has implemented social distancing and other protective measures to improve the safety of your experience for yourself and the PSV staff serving you.  Here’s a few things you should know and expect when you arrive for your in-person appointment.

• MASK:  Please ensure that all patients and guests arrive wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose.  See the CDC website for mask suggestions.
• ​ONE ADULT:  Only one adult is allowed to accompany the patient.  If a second adult is present, we will ask this person to please wait in the car.  If participation is needed for the appointment then he/she may be called on the phone.  ​
• SCREENING:  All patients, families, and visitors will participate in COVID-19 screening before proceeding to the appointment.  You will be asked about symptoms – fever, respiratory symptoms, cough, congestion, chills, repeated chills with shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea – and contact with others that may be COVID-19 positive.

We will continue to monitor and adapt our policies based on the spread of COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19, please refer to the following CDC or Virginia Department of Health Websites:

CDC COVID-19 Website

VDH COVID-19 Website

CDC:  How Do You Protect Yourself

CDC Fact Sheet: What you need to know about COVID-19 (English)

CDC Fact Sheet: What to do if you are sick with COVID-19 (English)

CDC Fact Sheet: What to do if you are sick with COVID-19 (Spanish)

COVID-19: Information for Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs