Start Line Pediatrics

Happy Father's Day to all Dads!

Whether it's spending the day on a sports field today, or by the grill, or just sitting at home and watching your grass grow on this beautiful, sunny day, hope you have a perfect Father's Day!!!

Well, Happy 6th Birthday to us!

We continue to be honored and humbled by all of you who put your trust in us everyday and call us your child's medical home.

Our vision and philosophy have not changed since we opened our doors on June 5th, 2018: To provide our patients and families better access and follow up for the best quality care over time; that ‘concierge’ feel, without the concierge price tag and to provide an ‘unhurried’ experience where we really get to know our patients and families; where you feel heard.

Our goal and mission at Start Line Pediatrics: To return to medical care with the patient and family truly at the center and to care for our Start Line families as we would want our own children and family cared for.

From the consistent feedback that we get, it sounds like you agree that we are meeting our goals and that our staff is the best! My deepest gratitude goes to them for their hard work, dedication, compassion, flexibility and genuine care for each other. It's a wonderful thing to witness.

To patients, families and staff, I can't thank you enough and I look forward to many more years together.

Irfan Rahim and all of us at Start Line Pediatrics

On Memorial Day we pause to honor and remember the fallen service members, men and women, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Let us not forget we are the land of the free because of the brave who answered the call to serve and defend our country with courage and selflessness, knowing the risk was great, but the cause was greater. We hope you all have a safe and healthy weekend.

The office will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

Why we still wear masks and request you wear a mask if you have any sick symptoms (a bit of a long message, please read).

You may be surprised when we request you wear a mask in our office space if you are sick, or even if you have what may seem like allergy symptoms. Reason: While the general population can now come out of COVID-illness isolation once they are fever-free for at least 24 hours and feel better, health care workers still have to remain out of work for a MINIMUM of 5 days if they have COVID even if they feel 100% better. Even after 5 days they are still not allowed to return to work until they test negative for COVID, or until a total of 10 days have passed from the start of their symptoms. Even though this is mandated by CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts no longer provides paid COVID leave so staff take personal sick / vacation time off while they are out.

Our promise to deliver that small-town doc feel to you, where you don’t see a different face every time you walk into the office means we do not have a large staff to draw from. As you can imagine, losing just one staff member for 10 days can be extremely disruptive to our daily workflow. So, our request that you wear a mask, even if it may seem you only have allergy symptoms (which over the years now we have had many people test positive for COVID when they thought they only had allergy symptoms), is really to help protect our staff from possible exposure to someone with COVID.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

Tick season is in full swing! We’ve received many phone calls with concerns about tick bites. The best prevention of Lyme disease, which is caused by the deer tick, is doing a good tick check at the end of the day, after your child has been outdoors, especially in tall grass or wooded areas. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, using insect repellants, and tucking pant legs under socks when going for hikes in wooded areas can be helpful as well. But, four-legged family members can bring ticks home too, so important to check pets for ticks as well.

Ticks can hide in easily missed areas, such as under the hairline, armpits, and groin area. It is thought that a deer tick must be attached at least 36 hours before it can transmit Lyme, so removing them as soon as possible will help minimize the risk of Lyme disease. Best way to remove the tick is using tweezers and grasping the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible and pulling it straight out; do not apply any oils or lotions on the tick.
There is benefit in a one-time dose of antibiotics after a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease after a tick bite ONLY if it’s known that the tick was attached for at least 72 hours, tick was engorged, and the dose is given within 72 hours of removing the tick. Signs and symptoms of Lyme can include fever, rash, joint pain, and fatigue. Not all tick bites require antibiotic treatment.

University of Rhode Island has a website which is a great resource for everything you’d ever want to know about a tick and tick bites. You can also upload a picture of the tick and they can confirm what type of tick it is.

https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter

As always, please call the office if you have any questions!
All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Wishing all of our moms your version of a perfect Mother's Day!

Ta-Da! Just one brilliant performance after another from these ladies! Happy Nurse's Week to Marissa, Meghan, Shannen and Alyssa! What a great team they are and how fortunate we are to have them! 👏👏👏👏

Happy Administrative Professional Day! We are fortunate and grateful to have the best of the best with Linda, Melissa, Courtney, (and not pictured) Cheryl and Caitlin.

They are the front line of our practice who show up every day with a professional and positive attitude, and take care of all of the details that make Start Line Pediatrics run smoothly!

Start Line Families,

Office hours for Marathon Monday.

Good luck to all of the participants of the 2024 Boston Marathon!

Due to road closures around the office, we will delay opening until 1:30 pm. While the office will be closed, our phones will be open as usual at 8:00 am, and we will be able to schedule Telehealth visits in the morning if needed.



All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

www.startlinepediatrics.com

On Monday, Hopkinton will be all abuzz as the start line of the 128th Boston Marathon. We wish all runners their very best run but especially our own Caitlin Thomas and her mom, Deb. This is Caitlin's first Boston Marathon so please join us in wishing her well! You got this, Caitlin and Mom! 💐🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️

Sorry, we can't come to work today, there's an eclipse! 🌙 Thank you for holding down the fort, Melissa and Meghan.

Dear Start Line Families,

Due to the predicted snow storm starting in the early hours of the morning and lasting throughout the morning tomorrow, for the safety of our patients and staff, we will delay opening the office until 1:00 pm.

Our phone lines will remain open as on a normal day and our nurses and providers will be available to respond to your calls and questions, and we will still have the ability to schedule Virtual Telehealth Visits if needed. We apologize for any inconvenience; please stay safe.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

www.startlinepediatrics.com

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving Day. We will be open regular hours Friday and Saturday. We are grateful for all of our Start Line families who have put your trust in us to take care of your children. I am personally thankful for having such an outstanding team at Start Line, their unwavering dedication and commitment to providing exceptional care is second to none.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

www.startlinepediatrics.com

We are excited to welcome our new Behavioral Health Specialist, Lisa Casey who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 25 years of experience working with diverse populations and in a variety of clinical settings. Please call the office directly to schedule an appointment with her, you do not need a provider referral; but check with your insurance to understand your Mental Health coverage.

Lisa received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. She has solid experience with children and adolescents and their families, and is very comfortable with a broad range of diagnoses, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, ADHD and behavioral issues. Before coming to Start Line Pediatrics, Lisa worked for the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI) in varied roles including Outpatient Therapy, In-Home Behavior Services, Clinical Supervisor roles, and more recently as Clinical Director. Prior to this, Lisa worked in Residential Treatment for 10 years where she was a Clinical Supervisor and Clinician and worked in the Firesetting Treatment Program. Lisa also has experience in therapeutic day schools, Community Based Acute Treatment and dual diagnosis treatment, working with children with autism. After years in supervisory roles, Lisa has returned to the direct care that she has missed. In addition to her days at Start Line, Lisa is also working for South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) as a Clinician.

Lisa loves spending time with family and friends. She loves animals and nature, stand up comedy, music and concerts and game night!

Lisa is passionate about children. ” They’re fun. I’ve dedicated my career to them. That’s where my passion is.”

A Veteran's Day salute from all of us at Start Line Pediatrics. A sincere thank you to all Veterans and their families for your service!

PAW Patrol was out in full force at Start Line today! Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween night (and hope you stay warm out there)!!!

Start Line Families,

Time to talk Flu Vaccine! We have started our Flu Clinics, and you can schedule your child’s Flu Vaccine appointment right through their MyChart account. Please do not call the office to schedule an appointment, it can only be scheduled through their MyChart Account. We have only released our September Clinic dates for now.

As a reminder: 6 months of age is the youngest a child can get the Flu Vaccine, and any child under 9 years of age who has never received the Flu Vaccine before will need two doses separated by a month this season to get the full protection.

If your child is due for a COVID vaccine, we can also give the COVID vaccine at the same appointment. Please add in the comment section that you would like both vaccines. As you may have heard, there will be a new monovalent dose this Fall (no specific dates for release of this vaccine yet) and it will be recommended for anyone 2 years of age and older. That's all of the information we have at this time for this vaccine. More info to come...

Be well,

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Important Notice: Office Closed Saturday, 12AUG23 for Staff Appreciation Event

Start Line Families,

We wanted to inform you about an upcoming event that will impact our clinic's operating hours. In recognition of the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff, our office will be closed for Urgent Care hours on Saturday, 12AUG23, for a Staff Appreciation Function. Our team has been working tirelessly to provide the best possible care for your little ones, and this event is a small way for us to express our gratitude for their exceptional efforts.

While we understand that this may cause some inconvenience, we believe that acknowledging and celebrating our staff's commitment is essential in maintaining the high standards of care you've come to expect from us. Our after-hours Nurse Practitioner On Call service will be available to answer any questions you may have and will direct you to the appropriate location should your child require medical attention during the closure.

We apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause and appreciate your understanding and support in recognizing the hard work of our dedicated team.

Irfan Rahim
Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

On the Cape or Nantucket for a weekend, a week, or the Summer and need urgent care? We are part of the Boston Children's Physician Group (PPOC) and are pleased to announce that several PPOC practices on Cape Cod and the South Shore are now opening their doors to our Start Line Pediatrics patients who are vacationing in these areas. Depending on your insurance, you may need a referral from our office.

Link to interactive map with locations of these practices:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1fWNDNfZh46M_UQvFjt1HPeK0qmNrGqOH&usp=sharing

Why go to one of these practices rather than an Urgent Care Clinic? Better continuity of medical care for your child because:
1. You'll be seen by a Pediatric Clinic we trust.
2. We will have immediate access to your child's notes as we are on the same Electronic Medical Record system.

Have a safe and healthy summer from all of us at Start Line Pediatrics!

Start Line Families,

Albuterol Inhaler Recall

Please see link for full details, but there has been a recall of the following 6 batch numbers of albuterol inhaler from Cipla (they all have a NOV23 expiration date):

1. IB20045
2. IB20055
3. IB20056
4. IB20057
5. IB20059
6. IB20072

The reason for the recall is that the device may not deliver the recommended dose. Please let us know if you have one of these inhalers and we will send a new prescription for your child.

Start Line Pediatrics

Cipla Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Six Batches of Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol, 90 mcg (200 Metered Inhalation) Due to Container Defect Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA EQ; and hereafter referred to as "Cipla"), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Cipla US is voluntarily recalling six batches of Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol, 90 mcg (200 Metered Inhalation) manufactured in November 2021 to the consumer leve

Start Line Families, (Closed July 4th and Summer Hours)

We will be open Monday, July 3rd, but closed on Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. As always, our after hours Nurse Practitioner Service will be available for any questions or concerns. A provider is on call as well.

Our Summer Hours begin on Monday, July 3rd and go through Labor Day weekend, and are: Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday mornings from 8:00 am to noon (for urgent care hours only).

Have a safe and happy July 4th weekend, and summer.

Be well,

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics
www.startlinepediatrics.com

Well, Happy Birthday to us! Start Line Pediatrics is 5 today!

My vision at the outset was threefold: To provide our patients and families better access and follow up for the best quality care over time; that ‘concierge’ feel, without the concierge price tag. To provide an ‘unhurried’ experience where we could really get to know our patients and families; where they did not feel rushed asking questions and sharing what is important to them. And lastly, I wanted a pediatric medical practice where at the end of our day, staff could feel good, knowing that we had done our best.

These were not goals to be checked off and replaced with new ones, but a hope, and now our philosophy and mission at Start Line Pediatrics: to return to medical care with the patient and family truly at the center and to care for our Start Line families as we would want our own children and family cared for.

We are honored and humbled by all of you who put your trust in us. You are the best! I am also humbled by my staff who amaze me every day with their unwavering dedication, compassion and for the last 3 years, perseverance, as we navigated through the COVID pandemic. Often physically and mentally exhausted, they rose to every challenge thrown at us with a can-do spirit.

To patients, families and staff, my deepest gratitude and appreciation.

Irfan Rahim and all of us at Start Line Pediatrics
(Unfortunately not all staff pictured, only those working in the office today.)

It’s been a loooong three years but there’s a lot to celebrate and smile about today! Just in case you’ve forgotten what we look like! 😁

Start Line Patients and Families,

Today, the COVID Public Health Emergency measures that have been in place for 1,150 days will end, and along with it the mask mandate in healthcare settings. With guidance from our Infectious Disease specialist colleagues at Boston Children's Hospital, we have updated our Office Mask Policy, and we are changing some procedures in our office. Please read the entire message.

Masks

Beginning Friday May 12th, healthy patients and families will not need to wear a mask in our office. However, we will still request you wear a mask if you have any of the following:
- A fever or other flu-like symptoms
- A known COVID-19 infection and are in the isolation period
- A known exposure to COVID-19 within the last 10 days

For the safety of our patients and staff, we ask that you respect this request.

Individuals who prefer to wear a mask while in our office regardless of their symptoms or exposures are welcome to.

If COVID-19 is suspected or positive, our staff will continue to wear full PPE that you have become accustomed to.

Additionally, we have given our staff the option of masking for well visits. This does not mean that they are sick, simply that they are opting to mask.

Screening

We will continue to ask COVID screening questions, but not in the detail that we have in the past. Please let us know if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days or have any of these symptoms: fever, chills, body aches, fatigue, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or loss of taste or smell.

Please note that if there is a rise in COVID cases in the community, guidelines may change and masks may become required again in our office.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have made our way through many changes throughout the pandemic.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

Tick season is in full swing! We’ve received many phone calls with concerns about tick bites. The best prevention of Lyme disease, which is caused by the deer tick, is doing a good tick check at the end of the day, after your child has been outdoors, especially in tall grass or wooded areas. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, using insect repellants, and tucking pant legs under socks when going for hikes in wooded areas can be helpful as well. But, four-legged family members can bring ticks home too, so important to check pets for ticks as well.

Ticks can hide in easily missed areas, such as under the hairline, armpits, and groin area. It is thought that a deer tick must be attached at least 36 hours before it can transmit Lyme, so removing them as soon as possible will help minimize the risk of Lyme disease. Best way to remove the tick is using tweezers and grasping the tick’s head as close to the skin as possible and pulling it straight out; do not apply any oils or lotions on the tick.

There is benefit in a one-time dose of antibiotics after a tick bite to prevent Lyme disease after a tick bite ONLY if it’s known that the tick was attached for at least 72 hours, tick was engorged, and the dose is given within 72 hours of removing the tick. Signs and symptoms of Lyme can include fever, rash, joint pain, and fatigue. Not all tick bites require antibiotic treatment. University of Rhode Island has a website which is a great resource for everything you’d ever want to know about a tick and tick bites: https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter

As always, please call the office if you have any questions!

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

On 18APR23 the CDC simplified COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, so going forward only the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is being used for all ages. As a reminder the bivalent vaccine was released last Fall and has the advantage of the additional protection against a couple strains of the Omicron variant of the COVID virus.

So, the current recommendations are:

Children 6 months to 5 years of age: 3 doses of the Pfizer brand of the vaccine, which is what we have at Start Line. If your child has had less than 3 doses so far, they will finish off their series using the bivalent vaccine.

Children 5 years of age and older who have not had a bivalent dose yet, only need one dose of the Pfizer bivalent vaccine to be considered fully immunized, this is even if they’ve never had any COVID vaccine doses before.

We have some COVID vaccine clinics available in the month of May, please go through your child’s MyChart account to schedule this appointment. Please do not call the office since receptionists will not be able to schedule these appointments.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

PNP Rachel Tay learned about Bellhop Health, a new, free digital resource for parents and caregivers looking for help supporting their child’s development from birth to 3 years of age. Developed at Boston Children’s Hospital, the app suggests highly personalized activities & exercises to do with your child at home. If you have a child under 3 years of age and are interested in trying it out, visit bellhophealth.com and sign up today.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

Start Line Families,

Office hours for Marathon Monday.

Good luck to all of the participants of the 2023 Boston Marathon, and hope all of you who are cheering along the marathon route are able to stay dry and warm!

Due to road closures around the office, we will delay opening until 1:30 pm. While the office will be closed, our phones will be open as usual at 8:00 am, and we will be able to schedule Telehealth visits in the morning if needed.

All of us at Start Line Pediatrics

www.startlinepediatrics.com