COVID-19 Updates for Physicians & Providers

We have already begun to increase the number of surgeries we are performing, with a focus on medically urgent procedures. New referrals are evaluated and scheduled, as needed, along with cases that were postponed. We are expanding the number of surgeries each specialty can perform per day. Surgical capacity is evaluated on a weekly basis and allows for add-on emergent cases as well as the backlog of postponed or previously cancelled cases. We are looking at several factors when rescheduling patients focusing on medical urgency by specialty.  

We have been effectively using telemedicine to see new and follow-up patients pre- and post-surgery. We are COVID-19 testing surgical patients within 72 hours of scheduled surgery; most are tested 24 hours prior to surgery. To date, we have tested over 1,100 patients prior to any procedure needing anesthesia; only 2 have been COVID-19 positive (one mom in our Fetal Health Center and one child). Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas continues to remain closed to surgical cases. All surgeries are performed at Adele Hall.  

• EDs at Children’s Mercy Adele Hall and Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas remain open. All ambulance traffic is still being directed to Adele Hall campus. 
• At both locations, all patients with respiratory symptoms are cared for in a designated area to minimize exposure to illness. 
• We are placing families in individual rooms as soon as possible to decrease time spent in waiting rooms. 

In conjunction with outpatient clinic activity ramping up, Children's Mercy Urgent Care Center will return to regular hours of operation effective June 1 with a combination of telehealth and in-person appointments available. Hours will be:

Weekdays

• Telehealth -- Noon to 8:30 p.m.
• In-person -- 4 to 10 p.m.

Weekends

• In-person only -- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All patients are encouraged to utilize Save My Spot at childrensmercy.org/savemyspot or on the Children's Mercy app to request an in-person or telehealth visit. If requesting telehealth, a nurse will make a triage call to ensure the appointment needed will work via telehealth. If it is determined telehealth will work, the patient/family will be transferred to an admissions rep for registration and consent. Once this step has been completed, the patient/family will receive a link from the provider at the time designated for their appointment. This link will be sent by text or email based on preference when registering with Save My Spot.

If the patient selects telehealth and during the nurse triage it is determined a telehealth will not meet their needs, the admissions rep schedule the patient for an in-person visit.

In addition to utilizing telehealth, to ensure the health and safety of our patients and families, we have implemented other changes in our urgent care centers. These include screenings for all patients and staff upon entrance, universal masking and practicing social distancing.

Universal Masking

• Masks are required for everyone, including children 2 years of age and older. Exceptions will be allowed for certain underlying medical conditions.
• Families are asked to bring masks with them to the hospital. If they don’t have masks, the hospital will provide them.

Visitor Restrictions 

• For clinic appointments, only one parent or guardian may accompany the patient. No other visitors are allowed.
• For inpatients, two designated parent/guardian visitors may visit at the same time.
• For surgery, two parents/guardians may bring the child to the hospital. No other visitors, including siblings, are allowed.
• For ED and Urgent Care, parents/guardians may be with the child. No other visitors are allowed.

Social Distancing

• We are placing families in individual rooms as soon as possible to decrease the time spent in waiting rooms.
• In waiting rooms, chairs have been rearranged or removed.
• We also are following social distancing guidelines for staff, limiting the number of people in the exam rooms and work areas.
• Elevators have been marked off to allow no more than three people at a time.

Separation Between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients 

• In both EDs and all UCs: Patients with respiratory symptoms are cared for in a designated area to minimize the exposure to illness.
• The goal is to get any child who comes to the ED or UC who is ill and screened positive for COVID-19 symptoms to an isolated area as soon as possible upon arrival.

Deep and Frequent Cleaning 

• In addition to our rigorous cleaning and sterilization processes put in place to adhere to mandated guidelines from sources of authority, our environmental services team is performing extra cleaning throughout the day, especially in high-touch areas like waiting rooms, doors and elevators.
• Rooms and equipment are cleaned between each patient.
• Waiting rooms are cleaned/disinfected frequently.
• We are removing toys, magazines and other shared items from waiting areas and exam rooms. We are not sharing office items, such as pens and clipboards, among patients. Our playrooms remain closed.

If a child’s appointment was cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, parents will receive a call from Children’s Mercy when we are ready to reschedule.

If a child was referred to Children's Mercy, but not previously scheduled, you will be notified by Children’s Mercy via call or text to schedule an appointment.

If a parent wants to schedule a new appointment for your child, please call our Contact Center at (816) 234-3700.