September 22, 2021 – We have scheduled a Drive Thru Flu Vaccine clinic for THIS WEEKEND on Saturday and Sunday at our Duraleigh office location.
You may now call our office 919-781-7490 to schedule your child’s flu vaccine appointment.
Limited Appointment Times
Be aware that currently we have limited appointment times available. We are in the process of adding more appointments but that has been a bit slowed this year.
We will likely run out of appointments relatively soon, and this post will be updated when we do.
More Appointment Times Coming
When we run out of appointments, we will then post here again to let you know when more come available.
From the Bottom of Our Hearts…
We appreciate your patience.
We know that the last 18 months have been difficult for everyone.
RCAM has not been immune to the now more commonplace issues of staff shortages and pandemic fatigue. Scheduling extra work – adding Flu Vaccine clinics on weekends, evenings, and days off as we are accustomed to doing – has become a big challenge.
We Will Press On
The Triangle is our community. We have been here a long time. This is where we live and raise our families.
We also feel very strongly about the importance of what we are tasked to do.
We cannot fail when it comes to the health and the safety of the most valued members of our community – our children.
A few more details:
We are not offering the COVID vaccine at Flu vaccine clinic. You can still schedule your child’s COVID vaccine in a separate clinic (age 12 years and up; we are still awaiting official word on younger children).
We are not offering the Flu Vaccine in the Curbside Clinic. That Clinic is designated for sick children.
Like previous years, we plan to offer a variety of appointments – both at Duraleigh and Brier Creek, weekdays and weekends, Drive thru and inside our office.
We will not be offering Flumist vaccine (nasal spray flu vaccine) again this year.
If you want to make a well visit appointment, read this
It is Wednesday, September 22, 2021
This morning we sign off from our answering service at 8:00 am to take phone calls directly from our office.
Today’s Lineup
Dr. Emily Mims is our On Call Pediatrician today. In addition to typical office duties, our On Call Pediatrician takes calls overnight beginning after 5:00 pm.
Well Child Care at Duraleigh: Drs. Rick Gessner, Jen Long, Emily Mims, and Sarah Owrey are our pediatricians seeing well patients today at our Duraleigh office
Well Child Care at Brier Creek: Drs. Ben Meares is our pediatrician seeing well patients today at our Brier Creek office
Sick Child Care at Brier Creek: Dr. Jamila Fletcher is our pediatrician seeing sick patients today at the Curbside Clinic at our Brier Creek office
September 4, 2021 – Here is how we plan to be available to our patients and their families this holiday weekend:
Monday, September 6, 2021 is an official RCAM office holiday
Newborn Care:
We will have a Newborn Clinic at 10am on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
Call our office 919-781-7490 to set up an appointment
Sunday Newborn Clinic will be at our Duraleigh office
Saturday and Monday Newborn Clinic will be at our Brier Creek office
Sick Child Care:
TeleHealth Visits: We will be offering TeleHealth visits every day
Curbside Clinic: On Saturday and Monday mornings, we will offer our Curbside Clinic at Brier Creek for in-person, sick child care; call and speak to our nurse to see if your child should be seen in the Curbside Clinic
RCAM Phone Advice: beginning at 9am, our nurse working with our On Call Pediatrician will be available for urgent concerns throughout the day; in the evening, the On Call Pediatrician will begin taking calls for urgent concerns
Our office will be closed for regular business on Monday, September 6, 2021 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
Despite being closed for regular business, we will still offer the following services:
Newborn Clinic
The timing of a newborn visit is very important and can be a reason to be seen on a weekend or a holiday.
Therefore, everyday – weekdays, weekends, and holidays – we schedule a Newborn Clinic for infants born over the previous few weeks who need to be seen. Call and schedule if you think your newborn needs to be seen.
Sick Clinic
Also everyday, one of our pediatricians and one of our nurses will be on call to help with your child’s urgent health needs.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we have altered how we see sick patients on holidays and weekends.On Saturday, we are available to assess our sick patients in the following ways:
Call and speak with our on call nurse to discuss what would be best for your sick child.
Our on call nurse may recommend a TeleHealth visit to evaluate your child’s illness.
Our on call nurse may recommend an in-person, sick visit at our Brier Creek Curbside Sick Clinic.
On Sunday, we are unable to offer the Brier Creek Curbside Sick Clinic: Call and speak with our on call nurse to discuss what would be best for your sick child.
Our on call nurse may recommend a TeleHealth visit to evaluate your child’s illness.
On Monday, July 5th, our holiday services will be similar to how we function on a Saturday:Call and speak with our on call nurse to discuss what would be best for your sick child.
Our on call nurse may recommend a TeleHealth visit to evaluate your child’s illness.
Our on call nurse may recommend an in-person, sick visit at our Brier Creek Curbside Sick Clinic.
Originally Posted on May 21, 2021 – You may have heard that all RCAM Pediatricians enthusiastically endorse the COVID-19 Vaccination for all eligible patients, but have you heard this:
RCAM is now scheduling COVID-19 Vaccination for all of our patients 12 years old and up.
Some important details:
The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine has been approved for adolescents 12 years old and up.
We will administer the vaccine at appointments designated for vaccine only. We will be unable to add a COVID-19 Vaccine to any other type of visit.
You may call to schedule your child’s COVID-19 Vaccination appointment beginning today, Friday, May 21st.
Our schedulers can only take calls for these appointments on weekdays during regular business hours. Please do not call on the weekend to schedule vaccination appointments.
The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine has shown to be very effective after completing two (2) doses separated by 21 days. When you call to schedule, we will require setting dates for both doses.
You may have read that this vaccine has some very specific storage requirements. For that reason, we will not be scheduling any drive thru vaccine clinics (it saddens me to write that – stay tuned). Each appointment will be indoors at our Duraleigh office (follow the signs to our backdoor entrance).
As vaccination rates have gone up, it has been exciting to see cases go down.
“The AAP recommends adolescents ages 12 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 now that federal health officials have signed off on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for these ages.”
You can add the pediatricians at Raleigh Children & Adolescents Medicine as enthusiastically supporting this recommendation.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Coming to RCAM in June
We anticipate having the necessary approvals and logistics together by June to begin vaccinations in our office (it’s a real process).
IMPORTANT NOTE: We are currently not scheduling patients until more details have been finalized (we will post here when we begin to schedule those visits).
Due to the ultra-cold storage requirements for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, it appears we will only be offering the vaccine at appointments specifically designated ‘COVID Vaccine only’ and will not be able to offer it during other visits.
More details to come…
RCAM Enthusiastically Endorses Vaccination Against COVID-19
The pediatricians at RCAM have been asked quite a bit, “Do you recommend getting the COVID Vaccine for yourself? …for your children? …for you patients?”
Here are some of the ways I have responded to that question (different answers, same conclusion):
Short answer: “YES!”
Less short answer (I call this my ‘sound bite’ answer because it is brief but also speaks to weighing the pros and cons with the decision to vaccinate): “I trust the COVID-19 Vaccine much more than I trust the COVID-19 virus, so ‘yes’ – I recommend everyone who is eligible to get the COVID Vaccine.”
Longer answer link (some of you are into that): here (general info), here (videos from Paul Offit, MD of Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia), here (safety)
Most convincing answer (for me): “Every pediatrician at RCAM – every pediatrician I know – each one works everyday on the front lines of taking care of children – each one are so convinced that without hesitation they received the COVID Vaccine for themselves (I witnessed a few crying not from the pain of the shot but from the joy of being able to avoid a terrible virus), recommend it to others, and are currently planning vaccination for their own children as it comes available. That confirms to me everything I need to know.”
Places to get COVID-19 Vaccine Now
I don’t blame you for not wanting to wait. I’m not waiting. My 14-year-old is scheduled to get her first dose of COVID Vaccine today at Walgreens.
The CDC website has so much good information (It is a good place to start for all things COVID).
They have a good summary on CDC.gov of where you can find the vaccine (here).
The most practical option I have used myself: text your ZIP code to 438829 and you pretty immediately get a listing of who is offering COVID Vaccine in your area.
Illness does not recognize holidays, so here is how RCAM plans to be available during the holiday season:
It is our wish to be your child’s medical home – one place where all your child’s care resides.
That means being available for questions:
Every day of the year one of our pediatricians is on call 24-hours-a-day for urgent health concerns.
If you ever have urgent concerns about your child’s health – you can always call us: 919-781-7490 (If there is trouble with the above number, our on call backup number is 919-831-5526)
That means being available to be seen – even if it is a holiday or a weekend:
We strive to keep our patients out of Urgent Cares and Pharmacy Clinics; Emergency Rooms provide a vital service but – when possible – we want to keep you from having to go there too.
The Coronavirus / COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted weekend and holiday hours: up until now, we have offered only in person, well newborn care on weekends and holidays; sick care has been provided through online TeleHealth appointments
Beginning in December, we will have an extra pediatrician working on Saturday who will see in person sick visits from 10am to Noon at our Brier Creek office (these visits are by appointment only)
Christmas Day is the only day of the year that we do not see patients in our office (but we are available by phone all day).
WEDNESDAY – November 25
RCAM Pandemic Mode typical weekday:
Well Care and Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Visits at our Brier Creek office
THURSDAY – Thanksgiving Day – November 26
BOTH offices closed for routine business
Newborn clinic will be offered at our Duraleigh office
On Call Pediatrician available for TeleHealth Appointments
FRIDAY – November 27
RCAM Pandemic Mode typical weekday:
Well Care and Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Visits at our Brier Creek office
SATURDAY and SUNDAY – November 28 and 29
RCAM Pandemic Mode Weekend hours
Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
THURSDAY – Christmas Eve – December 24
Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Visits at our Brier Creek office
FRIDAY – Christmas Day – December 25
BOTH offices closed
On call pediatrician available for urgent questions
SATURDAY and SUNDAY – December 26 and 27
RCAM Pandemic Mode Winter Weekend hours
Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Care available by appointment only on Saturday from 10am-noon at our Brier Creek office
MONDAY – December 28
Limited Well Care and Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Visits at our Brier Creek office
THURSDAY – New Year’s Eve – December 31
RCAM Pandemic Mode typical weekday:
Well Care and Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Visits at our Brier Creek office
FRIDAY – New Year’s Day – January 1
BOTH offices closed for routine business
Newborn clinic will be offered at our Duraleigh office
On Call Pediatrician available for TeleHealth Appointments
SATURDAY and SUNDAY – January 2 and 3, 2021
RCAM Pandemic Mode Winter Weekend hours
Newborn Care at our Duraleigh office
Sick Care available online via TeleHealth Appointment
In Person Sick Care available by appointment only on Saturday from 10am-noon at our Brier Creek office
October 14, 2020 – Planning to get your child’s flu vaccine completed for this winter’s flu season?
October is a great time to get that done.
Somewhat Breaking News: we have just ADDED MORE RCAM Drive Thru Flu Vaccine Clinics.
Notes about the Outdoor, Drive Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic:
First, let’s be clear: the flu vaccine is the best known thing to prevent flu illness. This year is as good a year as any to try to control what you can control.
The drive thru vaccine clinic has been very popular because it provides limited exposure and lots of time efficiency
September 28, 2020 – If anyone ever tells you that moving a vaccine clinic outdoors is no big deal, remember these words:
RCAM moved its flu vaccine clinic outdoors this week, and it was a big deal.
Since March, our experience with the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic made clear the need to decrease everyone’s risk – risks to our patients as well as to our staff.
With that goal in mind, we made plans to safely dispense something else that decreases our collective health risk: the flu (influenza) vaccine.
After months of planning, this week saw the very first RCAM Flu Vaccine Drive Thru.
Tireless work from some of our best made this possible. Kudos to Office Manager Brian, Administrative Office Manager Theresa, Head Nurse Amanda, nurses Kathy and Megan, and Dr. Meares.
Some Pictures (and One Video):
↓ This past Saturday was like driving South on Six Forks Road with three lanes going strong
:
↓ Saturday’s three lane clinic crew was all business
↓ Sunday and the one lane setup (Drive thru rule: you can never have too many traffic cones)
↓ Sunday’s crew wanted to prove to Dr. Meares that they could get it all on one cart (Krispy Kreme donuts – sadly – are not an official Flu Vaccine Drive Thru item and therefore were not required to fit on the cart)
↓ A word from our sponsor… (made possible by Emily and an anonymous sidewalk chalk novice)
September 18, 2020 – There have been so many changes this past year – something should remain the same. Back for its annual appearance to announce the beginning of Flu Vaccination season, this image of a box of flu vaccine from 2015 (one of those years when we never realized just how good we had it).
Unofficial RCAM press release:
“Once again, RCAM is here to provide your child’s flu vaccine. New this year: Drive Thru Flu Vaccination Clinics! Due to the COVID pandemic, many of our flu vaccine clinics will be outside. Thanks to our special nurses and front office workers for helping us pull this off! There will still be some indoor clinics, so that will remain an option – particularly for egg-allergic patients. If your child needs a flu shot, please give us a call.”
Some Important Details
Flu Vaccine will be given by appointment only (no ‘walk ins’ and no ‘tag alongs’ – everyone getting a Flu Vaccine must have an appointment)
Insurance information will be collected over the phone when appointment is being scheduled
If your child is sick, we will reschedule their appointment for when they are feeling better
Everyone over 3 years old is expected to wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose at all times while interacting with our nurses and office staff
New this Year: Outdoor Drive Thru
Coronavirus ruins everything – except it may have just taken Flu Vaccine clinic to the next level
Drive Thru Flu Vaccine clinic is just what it sounds like: after making your appointment, pull up to our outdoor clinic, get your flu vaccine, and drive off without ever taking off your seat belt
Offered at both our Brier Creek office (weekdays generally) and Duraleigh office (weekends)
An Old Classic: Indoor Flu Vaccine Clinic
We continue to offer some indoor flu vaccine clinics
Like most things we now do, these appointments have been modified to limit your exposures
Still No Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
I know some of you are going to be asked this question so I’ll answer it now: we will not be offering the Flumist nasal spray flu vaccine (and I am not sure of anyone offering it in our area)
Very Important: Help Us Safely Administer the Flu Vaccine
Be careful with your car in the drive thru clinic – pay attention to signs and to others around you
Remain in your car; children should remain in their car seat unless instructed otherwise by one our nurses
Dress your children to get the vaccine: that means loose fitting, short pants for children under 12 years or those who prefer to get a shot in their thigh and loose fitting, short sleeved shirts for those 12 and up
Also safe is controlling the things we can control: get your child their flu shot, wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice safe physical distancing
