Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources
We are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation. As pediatricians, we know you have questions daily. We encourage you to use and also share information found on this page that may be beneficial to you, your colleagues, and most importantly children and families. We will continue to update this page with resources.
Please reach out to us with questions or concerns at covid19@illinoisaap.com
Resources for Your Practice
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued guidance for practices: Testing for COVID-19 is not recommended for persons with mild and moderate illness, unless a diagnosis may impact patient management. Patients who can be safely managed at home should be given instructions to self-isolate for 7 days following onset of symptoms and 72 hours after being consistently afebrile (without the use of antipyretic medication) with resolving respiratory symptoms.
Resource from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
ICAAP has developed this fact sheet to provide pediatric providers with information and resources on immunization routine visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources from AAP
The National American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provided guidance on well-child and sick visits, clinical guidance, PPE and coding, telemedicine and telephone care resources, and information for families and physician wellness.
Key Takeaways include:
- Continue to offer well-child check-ups. Consider conducting well visits for newborns, and for infants and younger children who require immunizations.
- Be flexible. Consider modifying your clinical schedule and physical space to minimize risk. Increase capacity to deliver telehealth when possible.
Responding to Coronavirus in Pediatric Practice: A Message from AAP President Dr. Sally Goza is available on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
Webinars
The National American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognizes we are all practicing pediatrics in circumstances we have never encountered before in our careers. To give you some practical guidance, AAP experts have recorded two new webinars on COVID-19.
- Strategies for pediatricians to increase infection control practices in their office to protect patients and health care workers.
- Helping clinicians understand how to talk to and support children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to help parents talk to their children.
The Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) website has COVID-19 information, resources and webinars regarding the care of pregnant women and newborns.
Telehealth
- The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) provided notice on Monday, March 16th to expand telehealth services
- On Thursday, March 19th, HFS submitted an 1135 waiver to the federal government to expand coverage - including telehealth using non HIPPA approved venues
- Governor Pritzker also issued an executive order removing existing barriers to telehealth in our state
- HFS has information on billing and coding for telehealth services for Medicaid
- HFS posted a new Provider Notice regarding Telehealth Services Expansion Prompted by COVID-19
- Visit AAP for best practices on implementing Telehealth services
Medicare and COVID-19
Medicare has temporarily expanded its coverage of tele-health services to respond to the current Public Health Emergency. Visit the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) for the most up to date information.
The Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP) and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) have taken steps to expand coverage for tele-health services. View the IAMPH Telehealth Recommendations PDF to learn about telemedicine requirements, tele-psychiatry requirements, eligible tele-health providers, new tele-health billable codes, and more.
Serving Vulnerable Populations
More than 1 million households in Illinois struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care and technology. COVID-19 pandemic is making this more difficult.
The Great Chicago Food Depository benefits outreach team can help with eligibility information, applying, or re-certifying for benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid benefits. For families ready to apply or have a few questions, contact their Public Benefits Outreach Team at (773)843-5416 or apply online with the Department of Human Services.
The Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program has created a flyer called WIC Here For You During COVID-19, which contains information about WIC (office hours, services, locations), guidance on nutritious foods, qualifications for WIC and SNAP, and contact numbers.
Statewide Resources
From Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Housing, Coronavirus, and the Law: FAQ page
- Online legal help (learn about the law, your rights and how to go to court)
List of Illinois Homeless Shelters by County
No evictions in Illinois through May 30th
Chicago Resources
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless has created a list of resources with hotlines and information on for homelessness prevention and emergency shelter services.
If your clinic participates in the program and would like MORE books to distribute during this challenging time and encourage families to read together as a way to calm anxiety and keep routines - please reach out to Cindy Ogrin, cogrin@
Translating Reach Out & Read to Telehealth
In response to demand from our provider network, Reach Out & Read National has created some materials providing guidance on:
- How to deliver Reach Out & Read via telehealth
- How to address stress and anxiety through shared reading
- How to create a personal connection virtually
Please help us to promote this short training video and telehealth tip sheet, which can be found on the new telehealth page on the Reach Out & Read National website.
On March 13th U.S. Citizenship, Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a statement clarifying that USCIS will not consider treatment or preventative care for legal immigrants related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination. See the full USCIS statement.
Emergency Medical Services for Children
Well-Visits Help Keep Children Healthy & Safe
Click here to download the infographic above
Resources for Families
As the best protection method from COVID-19, the CDC and the state of Illinois are requiring face masks/coverings to be used when outside. But what about children? This resource will help answer your questions.
- Access COVID-19 special education resources and guidance for parents and professionals from the Family Resources Center on Disabilities (FRCD)
- The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) and the Innovation & Improvement Center (IIC) have created an infographic for Youth and Children with Special Healthcare Need
- Illinois Doc Assist has information for talking to children about COVID-19
- AAP Voices piece by AAP President Sally Goza 'Fighting Racism and Discrimination in the Wake of Coronavirus'
- Teaching Kids Hand Washing During COVID-19 is available on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
- HealthyChildren.org has developed articles on COVID-19, social distancing, and more
- Tips to help parents navigate screen time while they are home due to COVID-19 related school closures
- Read Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Critically Ill Children: A Narrative Review of the Literature or view the infographic from the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Read how to protect women's, pregnant persons' and infants' health during the COVID-19 pandemic from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago
- Access information about children and pregnant women's health from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
- Help Children Understand Coronavirus: Tips from the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics is available on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
- Document of resources updated by your friendly neighborhood pediatricians for Chicago families during COVID-19
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- Contains resources related to food, housing, kids, and how to help during this time!
- Note: ICAAP is not responsible for the management of this document.
Other COVID-19 Resources
Self-register for SIREN (State of Illinois Rapid Electronic Notification) to receive important notifications from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Select IDPH and then you can select your hospital or the Illinois Chapter which is listed under “DPH Partners”.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has links to all of the relevant information on the front page of their website.
Updates on Medicaid and coverage for children can be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website.
Access statewide information from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Access citywide information from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CPDH) website.
Healthychildren.org has lots of good information for families.
Access all webinars and information for clinicians from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sign up for alerts from the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Responses.
COVID-19 resources for individuals and families in Illinois provided by Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Seattle Children’s infectious disease, hospital operations, and emergency medicine experts recently shared their experiences from the front lines at the first epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. The session concluded with a Q&A on how you can prepare.
Contact Us
We know this is an unprecedented time. Feel free to send us a note at covid19@illinoisaap.com with additional resources, questions, concerns, issues so we can be sure to help and support you and the children and families you serve!