COVID-19 Updates for Physicians & Providers
Support during COVID-19
We continue to update guidance regarding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. Check back often for updated information below.
If you have a specific question related to COVID-19, visit our FAQ page where you can find answers to provider questions categorized by topic.
COVID-19 testing
Testing by appointment only
Due to high volumes, to better serve our patients and eliminate waiting, Children’s Mercy is launching online scheduling through Save My Spot for COVID-19 testing. Starting Wednesday, Aug. 11 – walk-in testing will no longer be available for regular testing. Testing for pre-procedure patients at Children’s Mercy Adele Hall Campus and Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas has not changed. Instead, patients will go online and select an appointment time for the location that works best at: childrensmercy.org/covidtest.
To learn more about COVID-19 testing at Children’s Mercy, click here.
Results will be available in 1-2 days via MyChildrensMercy Patient Portal. If a patient is not already on the portal, they will receive a call from the Urgent Care Follow-Up NurseLine, (816) 960-3000.
If a provider or medical group is listed as the primary care or referring provider in the patient's Children’s Mercy record, they will be able to receive the patient's COVID-19 test results in My Patient Connections.
If you are not already registered for My Patient Connections, instructions are below.
Register for My Patient Connections
My Patient Connections gives you access to view your Children's Mercy referrals; patient lab, pathology and diagnostic reports; inpatient progress notes; clinic notes; provider notes and discharge summaries. If your practice isn't already registered, we encourage you to register today.
Step 1: Visit My Patient Connections.
Step 2: Click "To Register/Training Questions Click Here"
Step 3: Follow the prompts to either complete the Practice/Facility Setup Form or access Quick Reference Guides for more training.
For any additional needs or if you have questions, contact the My Patient Connections team at mpc@cmh.edu.
Questions?
If you have a general question about COVID-19 that is not answered on our FAQ page, please email us at physicianservices@cmh.edu. We are working with our Infectious Diseases team to provide answers and will return your email within one business day.
Town hall recording: Vaccinating Your Pediatric Patients
Children's Mercy Infectious Diseases and Emergency Management physicians shared updates on the COVID-19 vaccine as it relates to our pediatric population, and provided information and guidance on how to offer the COVID-19 vaccine in your clinic. If you missed the COVID-19 LIVE virtual event, click the button below to watch a recording.
COVID-19 vaccine curriculum available!
Children’s Mercy has teamed up with a group of children’s hospitals around the country to develop a COVID-19 vaccine curriculum for pediatricians and advanced practice providers as part of a national collaborative for pandemic preparedness for children.
The curriculum includes 3 educational modules:
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Logistics (with an optional vaccine clinic simulation)
- Addressing Vaccine Acceptance (with practice scenarios)
The modules are short (<1 hour) and can be completed at your own pace.
This initial rollout of the curriculum is being studied to learn about pediatricians’ COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, confidence to recommend COVID-19 vaccine, and plans to administer COVID-19 vaccines in the practice setting. By participating, you’ll be part of the study and will be asked to do some short pre- and post-surveys which each take about 15 minutes to complete.
On completion of the modules, you can receive ABP MOC part 2 credit.
If you are a physician or advanced practice provider and haven't received the email inviting you to participate, please complete this form to request access.
CME Credit Available
Children’s Mercy Hospital is accredited by the Missouri State Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Children’s Mercy Hospital designates these enduring educational activities for a maximum of 5.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Successful completion of these CME activities, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 5.0 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
CNE Credit Available
These modules and simulation activity have been awarded up to 5 contact hours:
Provider Approval Statements:
Children’s Mercy Kansas is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Midwest Multistate Division, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
FAQ & resources for physicians and providers
Access answers to provider questions, categorized by topic and updated on an ongoing basis. Questions received during COVID-19 LIVE events and otherwise are published here.
Additionally, locate resources including webinars, podcasts, published articles and more.
Recent topics from The Link newsletter
COVID-19 and Sport; Fall 2021 Update
Co-author: Brian S. Harvey, DO | Associate Program Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship | Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UMKC School of Medicine
Co-author: Natalie C. Stork, MD | Sports Medicine Physician and Non-Operative Orthopedic Physician | Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, UMKC School of Medicine
Column Editor: Angela Myers, MD, MPH | Director, Division of Infectious Diseases | Professor of Pediatrics, UMKC School of Medicine | Medical Editor, The Link Newsletter
SARS-CoV-2 has transformed the sports world from youth sports leagues to professional sports. Safe return to sports and physical activity continues to be a topic debated among sports physicians, cardiologists, primary care physicians and infectious disease specialists. The return-to-play process after a COVID-19 infection will depend on the severity of infection, duration of symptoms in the context of any concerning past medical history, and/or family history.1
Between the National Federation of High Schools2 and the American Academy of Pediatrics,1 there are some conflicting guidelines. At this time, we recommend that the work-up and evaluation be individualized for each athlete. We encourage shared decision-making between the athlete, parents/guardians and physicians involved in their care. If the patient is at the elite level, late adolescent, OR has any concerning cardiopulmonary signs with exercise, there should be an in-person evaluation by a primary care physician or cardiologist.