We know that seeing your little ones head off to kindergarten is a huge milestone but don't worry, Mama, they're going to do great!
Kindergarten registration begins this month for some school districts and a SC certificate of immunization is a required document. Immunization record requests to our office can take up to 5 business days to process so be sure to request your child's immunization record today by texting SHOT to our text line (803) 866-7337.
Santa's coming to town!
To make sure that our staff have plenty of time to prepare for his arrival and to spend ample time with their families, we will be scaling our hours as follows:
Friday, 12/22: 8am-12pm*
Saturday, 12/23: 9am-12pm, Lake Murray and Aiken offices only*
Monday, 12/25: closed
Friday, 12/29: 8am-12pm*
Saturday, 12/30: 9am-12pm, Aiken office only*
Monday, 1/1: closed
*same day sick appointments only
SouthernMED is excited to introduce a new Success Coaching service for students and parents who would like to gain extra support as they navigate the next step of their education planning. Courtney Molony, Ed.S., joins SouthernMED after many years spent in the educational counseling realm. Her expertise in educational advocacy now lends itself to providing coaching services to our families, which include:
These hours-based packages are now available for scheduling. To request an inquiry and customized recommendation, complete our interest form HERE.
** 8/30/23 Update: We are continuing to closely monitor Hurricane Idalia and the forecasted impact on the state. As such we have made the decision to close our Charleston, Summerville, and Hillcrest offices at 3pm this afternoon to allow our staff the opportunity to prepare the office for inclement weather before severe weather hits.
Additionally, tomorrow we will delay opening to 10am. Our patient services team will be reaching out to all families who are affected by the closures for rescheduling.
We will continue to monitor the weather as it develops and make any updates here on our social pages. Please stay safe!
The weather is getting nicer and the sun is getting hotter here in SC, so let's talk through some key preventative tips as you and your family start venturing outside more.
Stay Cool!
South Carolina, especially the Midlands region, is notoriously hot during the Summer months, with highest temperatures occurring during July. With the heat index oftentimes reaching over 90* F, it is important to know how to combat extreme temperatures to keep your family safe.
Helpful tip: Stay cool this summer by:
Sun Safety!
Always apply sunscreen when outside. Apply 15-30 minutes ahead of when going outside to allow it to absorb and reapply every 2-3 hours or right after getting wet. Sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and are at least 30 SPF are recommended, as well as the use of hats and sun protective clothing to limit sun exposure. Don't forget lip balm with sunscreen to protect lips!
Always check the car!
Never leave children in the car, even for short periods of time, even with the windows open. Be sure to talk with your child about not using the car as a hiding spot for games, and advise them to never be alone in the car.
Helpful tip: when driving, place items you need in the backseat such as purses, cell phones, shoes, etc. as an added reason to check the backseat.
Hydrate!
The AAP recommends the following daily water and milk intake for children under the age of 5. For hotter days or on days when kids are outside for longer periods of time, aim for the higher recommendation.
For children 4-8 years old, aim for 5 cups of water, and 7-8 cups of water for older children.
Helpful tip: Try to limit sugary drinks and encourage water intake. To make water more appealing to kids, try infusing it with lemons, berries, cucumbers or mint.
Bugs Bugs Everywhere!
South Carolina bugs are making their appearance, so consider the following when going outdoors:
Water Safety!
Never leave children unattended around bodies of water, even small ones. Don't rely on inflatable toys or water wings to keep your child safe in the water. Flotation devices and life jackets should be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (check for the seal) and should fit according to the PFDs size recommendations, which is usually based on size and weight. Not sure when and wear to a life jacket? Check this:
Other considerations include:
Wheel Safety!
Always wear a helmet when riding a bike or scooter. Adjust the helmet so that it fits properly; it should be placed squarely on the head and cover the top of the forehead. Helmets should not move around on the head or slide down over the wearer's eyes when pushed or pulled.
Supervise your child outside and teach them bike/scooter safety, as well as how to look out for motorists and other riders.
SouthernMED is currently seeking individuals to fill various clinic-based positions, such as CNAs, RMAs, Nurses and Providers throughout the state. Check our our open positions here: https://southernmedpeds.apscareerportal.com/account
SouthernMED is excited to expand our texting service to now include immunization record requests. Families can text SHOT or IMMS to (803)866-7337 to provide the necessary information and submit their request for processing. Our clinical staff will process these requests as quickly as possible, though we do ask for up to 5 business days to finalize requests.
SouthernMED is excited to introduce our NEW AND IMPROVED text-to-schedule option!
Effective February 8, parents can now request appointments by texting “APPT” or “Appointment” to (803) 866-7337.
Parents provide key demographic details and appointment preferences, and our team takes that information to book an appointment directly. No more waiting on hold, no more voicemails or playing phone tag, parents receive their confirmed appointment in mere moments through our HIPAA compliant service.
Text-to-schedule is available during normal business hours from 8:00am – 5:00pm. Requests received after hours will be addressed the following business day in the order that they are received.
Please note that parents who use our text-to-schedule option imply express consent to receive communication from our practice via SMS for the purpose of confirming the requested appointment. SouthernMED will not initiate conversations via text message, nor will they utilize the texting option for reasons or concerns unrelated to appointment scheduling.
SouthernMED Pediatrics will be adjusting our office hours during the holidays to give staff some much deserved time celebrating with their families. Our office hours will adjust as follows:
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Seasonal flu epidemics typically run from late Summer/early Fall to the Spring yearly. Children consistently have the highest infection rates of flu in the community during these seasonal epidemics and, therefore, play a pivotal role in transmission. During the Covid-19 pandemic there have been many questions about whether a child may have covid or flu since they have multiple similarities; both being respiratory illnesses that can range in severity of symptoms from asymptomatic to severe, and both typically presenting with one or more of the following tell-tale signs:
Both viruses are spread by droplets and aerosols, which means that coughs, sneezes, speaking, singing, and even breathing close to another person can spread the virus. Transmission can also occur if one touches a contaminated surface and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.
High-risk groups in the population are susceptible to more severe illness with both of these viruses. It is important however to determine which virus your child has in order to best treat their illness. If your child presents with any concerning symptoms or has had a known exposure to influenza or Covid-19, please contact the office to discuss evaluation.
Serious complications from flu infection can include:
If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, then immediate evaluation is required and you should take them to the closest urgent care or emergency room:
Antiviral treatment for the flu has shown to reduce flu-related complications in some pediatric patients. It is mostly recommended for children who are hospitalized, have a severe or progressive case, or have underlying conditions that increase their risk of complications of flu. Antiviral treatment for flu may also be considered for any previously healthy, symptomatic outpatient not at high risk for flu complications if the patient has a confirmed flu diagnosis and the antiviral treatment can be initiated within 48 hours of illness onset. Children whose siblings or household contacts are younger than 6 months or have a high-risk condition that predisposes them to complications of flu may also benefit from antiviral treatment.
Antiviral treatment does have potential side effects though, so it is important to discuss your child’s care with your provider to determine if antiviral treatment is recommended.
High-risk groups in the pediatric population for severe illness as well as complications of flu include:
According to the CDC, there was an unusually low number of cases of influenza in the 2020-2021 Flu Season when compared with previous years. Reports of pediatrics flu-related deaths have been followed since 2004, with the lowest number being 37 during the 2011-2012 season, up until the 2020-2021 season which only had one report of a pediatric flu death. The highest number of pediatric flu-related deaths was 199 in the 2019-2020 season. The low number of flu cases from the 2020-2021 flu season are thought to be correlated to Covid-19 mitigations measures, as well as a record number of influenza vaccines given in the US from the Fall of 2020 until Spring of 2021. Those mitigation measures included face masks, staying home, hand washing, school closures, reduced travel, increased ventilation of indoor spaces, and physical distancing.
Let’s keep our kids safe!
To slow the spread, make sure to wash hands, cover your cough/sneezes with your elbow or upper sleeve, use disinfecting wipes on surfaces that are frequently touched, mask up, and get vaccinated!
Influenza vaccination is particularly important during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to reduce the burden of respiratory illness and hospitalizations.
The CDC and AAP recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine. It is important to do this early during the season as it can take 2 weeks after the vaccination for immunity to develop. If your child is younger than 6 months, the best way to protect them is by preventing flu with caretakers or household contacts. Pediatric flu vaccines are quadrivalent vaccines meaning they will cover 4 separate strains of flu: two A strains and two B strains. Each year the flu vaccine is updated to better match the virus strains that are expected to circulate in the US during that season, which is why it is important that you get your flu vaccine yearly.
The first time a pediatric patient between the ages of 6 months and 8 years of age gets a flu vaccine, they will need a total of two doses of the vaccine at least 28 days apart. Few side effects have been reported with flu vaccines including fever in the first 24 hours and soreness at the site of injection for 1-2 days. There is now strong evidence that egg-allergic individuals can safely receive the flu vaccine without any additional precautions beyond those recommended for any vaccine. Children who have had a previous allergic reaction to the flu vaccine should be evaluated by an allergist to determine whether future receipt of the vaccine is appropriate.
Flu vaccines will become available to SouthernMED Patients starting the second week in October. Please call to schedule your family’s flu vaccine appointment(s) and together we can keep them healthy!