History of Raleigh Pediatric Associates

Raleigh Office 1921 Falls Valley Drive Raleigh, NC 27615 Tel: 919-872-0250 Fax: 919-848-3054	Garner Office 800 Benson Road Garner, NC 27529 Tel: 919-779-6423 Fax: 919-662-2021
After Hours Answering Service 919-831-5394

We make it a priority to establish an open, cooperative relationship with our patients. Our goal is to partner with you to achieve optimum health for your child. We will do our best to make each visit a good experience.

We have 15 pediatricians dedicated to serving you and your child in two locations, North Raleigh and Garner.  All of our doctors have had excellent medical training and are certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.  In order to meet your child's needs for health care, we are open every day of the year except New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  Please see our Office Information page for more details on our office hours.

With summer fast approaching, the need for camp, school, and sports physicals will increase.  Please try to call and schedule your child's well exam as soon as possible.  This may help ensure that you see your requested physician at a time that's most convenient for you and your family.  Our electronic medical records system makes it possible for your child to have his/her physical at either of our locations, in Raleigh or in Garner.  We hope this will allow us to serve you better.  Please note the new 2008 NC Immunization Requirements (below) for children entering the sixth grade on or after August 1, 2008.  You may refer to specific school requirements regarding Sports Physicals under General Information (below).

Effective January 1, 2008, there are rule changes affecting the Tdap (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis) and Mumps immunizations.

 

Tdap

 

The following will be required to receive a dose of Tdap if five or more years have passed since their last tetanus/diphtheria toxoid immunization:

• Those attending public school and entering the 6^th grade on or after August 1, 2008.
• Those students who do not attend public school (i.e. private school, home school, or non-traditional schools) if they are 12 years old on or after August 1, 2008.
• Individuals entering a college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008.

Raleigh Pediatrics has been offering the Tdap at the 11-12 year well exam since April 2006.

 

Mumps

 

All individuals will be required to receive a second dose of mumps if entering school, college, or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008.  Raleigh Pediatrics routinely gives the Mumps immunization at the 4 year well exam.

 

Merck & Co., a major vaccine manufacturer, has initiated a voluntary recall of certain lots of its PedvaxHIB^® vaccine and Comvax^® HIB-HBV combination vaccine.  This recall is the result of having identified certain bacteria on the manufacturing equipment used to produce these vaccines.  The recalled vaccine lots have passed standard sterility tests before release, but the recall has been initiated as a precaution.  No problems have been identified in recipients of these vaccines.  Children vaccinated with these vaccines do not need to be revaccinated.  The recall has resulted in a temporary shortage of HIB vaccine and a modification of the HIB vaccine schedule.

 

We are now receiving limited supplies of the vaccine and have begun to immunize all infants at the 2-month well child exam.  Our plan is to have a special clinic before the end of March in order to begin vaccinating those infants who have not yet received the HIB vaccine at the 4-month well child exam.  If the supply is adequate, we will also begin offering the vaccine to all 4-month-old infants at their well child exams.  The next step, once we are certain of vaccine availability, is to offer the vaccine to all infants at the 2-month, 4-month, and 6-month exams.

 

We appreciate your patience during this time of shortage.  For additional questions or concerns, please call our office or refer to the CDC website.

If your child has a diagnosis of asthma or uses asthma medication, you may need to schedule an appointment with our asthma educator, Deb Kirkland.  It's a good time to learn or to review how to recognize and manage asthma triggers and to use medication appropriately.  Yearly pulmonary function testing or spirometry is recommended for all children with asthma who are 5 years and older.  Asthma symptoms should not limit exercise, interrupt sleep, or cause school absences.  Understand how to control asthma and keep your child's lungs healthy.

For information about recent news coverage relating to autism, vaccines, and mitochondrial disease, read the handout "Facts for Parents About Autism and Vaccine Safety" made available by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  For more information on this topic, go the the AAP's website on Autism and Vaccine Safety Information.

For the latest information on the new vaccinations recommended for children, click on this link:  Vaccination Update

The news media have carried several stories concerning a virulent staph infection known as MRSA, or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. These bacteria typically cause skin infections and have not responded to treatment with the usual antibiotics used for such infections. However, there are other antibiotics that are effective and most infections respond well to such treatment.

 

Prevention of staph infections can be accomplished by good skin care, including cleansing any cuts or scrapes with soap and water and keeping open sores covered until they heal.  A topical antibiotic ointment may be used as well. Medical care should be sought for a skin sore that becomes progressively more red, swollen, or tender, or that drains fluid or pus.

 

For more information, see the information sheet provided by Wake County Human Services.

The FDA announced on March 27, 2008, that it is investigating a possible connection between the use of Merck’s Singulair and changes in behavior and mood involving suicidal thoughts and suicide.  Singulair (montelukast sodium), Merck’s top-selling product, had worldwide sales of $4.3 billion last year.  Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist indicated for treating asthma and allergic rhinitis and for preventing exercise-induced asthma.

 

Merck voluntarily updated Singulair’s labeling last October to warn of suicidal thinking and behavior and noted that the labeling update was based on a limited number of postmarketing adverse event reports, adding that a recent cumulative analysis of its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of Singulair, which included more than 11,000 adults and children, found no reports of suicidal thoughts or suicide.  The FDA has requested that Merck evaluate the Singulair study data for more information about suicidal thoughts and suicide. The agency is reviewing the postmarketing reports it has received.

Wake County, Johnston County, and Harnett County Public Schools require Middle School and High School athletes to have a complete physical exam within 365 days prior to the first practice or tryout date. If your child desires to participate in a school sport, be sure to schedule a yearly physical for your child.  For more information regarding school sports requirements, please refer to the following websites:

Wake County Public Schools

Johnston County Public Schools

Harnett County Public Schools

As part of our International Adoption Program, Raleigh Pediatric Associates has started a support group for parents of adopted children. The group meets regularly and addresses issues which are important for adoptive parents. We are excited about this new program and encourage those who are interested to contact our office for more information.

School systems in this area require that all children receive a complete physical within 365 days of starting kindergarten. This consists of obtaining height, weight, blood pressure, vision screen, audiogram, labwork, and updating immunizations. Each county provides a form for the physician's office to complete which should be returned to your child's school after the physical exam. Please bring this form with you to the visit. If the physical is not performed before school begins, you will have a thirty day grace period to get the exam and to complete the form. These appointment slots fill up quickly, so please call early to schedule your child's kindergarten physical.

If your child has an urgent medical problem which requires care outside of regular office hours, he or she may be seen by appointment in either the Raleigh or the Garner office in the evenings, Monday through Friday, from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. The Raleigh office is open for emergencies only on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Our appointment line is open from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m. Parents desiring to bring an acutely ill child to be seen during these times should call the main office at (919) 872-0250. For problems that arise outside of these hours, or if there is no answer at the office number, please call the answering service at (919) 831-5394. They will refer your call to the Pediatric Advice Line or contact the pediatrician on call. Please do not call the Pediatric Advice Line directly.