To All Our Patients, Parents, and Families:

Sunshine Pediatrics has been closely monitoring the state and federal governments’ statements and recommendations for the COVID-19 outbreak. Our main concern, as always, is the health and safety of our staff, our patients, and their families. The situation is evolving rapidly; we understand there is a lot of fear and concern right now.

We are working diligently to keep our community safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty. In order to achieve this goal, we ask that you bear with us as we make changes to our daily routines. Be advised that office visits may look and flow differently than your usual experience. We are also asking that all of our patients and families follow the guidelines from the CDC and South Carolina DHEC including:

• Wash hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds frequently throughout the day, or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol).
• Cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze with either a tissue or your elbow.
• Practice social distancing: this includes staying at home and avoiding public places for the next 2 weeks approximately. Limit time spent in the grocery store, getting take out from restaurants, etc.
• If you or your child are sick, attempt to stay home and avoid contact with others. Please call our office for any major concerns and we will triage your call over the phone. Only if an appointment is necessary will we schedule your child for a visit. Again, be prepared for the visit to look different than your usual sick visit.

Specifically at our office: We are taking the utmost precautions while still providing the best possible care for all your child’s needs. Even though children seem to be less susceptible to severe infection (less does not mean not severe at all), they can expose others who may be at a greater risk for more severe outcomes. In order to reduce the risk to our staff, our patients, and their families, we are strongly encouraging the following:

• We are asking families to limit the number of caregivers bringing the child to the office to ONE caregiver.
• Everyone over 2 years of age is required to wear a mask.
• We are asking families to bring ONLY the patient(s) to the office, no siblings.
• We are asking people over 60 to avoid the office unless there is absolutely no alternative.
• We will continue to be accessible and provide the level of care you have come to expect. We are still providing Well Child Checks at this time.
• We will also be screening patients over the phone before making appointments. Please be patient as this may increase hold times.

Keep in mind, at this time, we are only testing patients for COVID-19 if they are coming in for a sick visit. (We are not scheduling "testing only" appointments.) 

If you think your child needs medical attention for possible COVID-19 or another illness, please call us and we will manage and/or treat your child’s illness using a protocol based on the latest information we have.

We hope that everyone is able to stay happy and healthy during these unusual times. As things evolve, we will update our patients and families as quickly as possible. Please don’t let this stop you from seeking medical attention, as we are making every effort to implement protocols to maximize everyone’s safety and well-being.

For the latest updates, please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunshinePediatrics

Below is some more information regarding COVID-19 from a trusted source, provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.aspx

THANK YOU for trusting us with the care of your families. We appreciate your continued support!