With the current threat of COVID-19, Riley Pediatric Physicians, a somewhat new pediatric facility has been in the process of transitioning to virtual appointments to lower the chances of infecting those at the facility.
A few pediatric doctors formed their own practice on the south side of Muncie after there was a contract dispute with their former practice leasors, Meridian Pediatrics.
Tammy Rhoad is a registration specialist at Riley, and has dealt with checking patients in and out. This has been a relief to her, because she happens to be my mother, and wants to avoid catching anything that she could give to her parents, who she has been shopping for, and my sister and me.
“I’m not out with the patients as much, and we wear masks around the office to prevent the staff or anyone else from spreading the virus if they were to have it,” Rhoad said.
While they don’t have any COVID-19 tests, the doctors can meet face-to-face through a screen or phone call to discuss symptoms the patients are having. If the symptoms correspond with those associated with the Coronavirus, doctors could suggest you get tested. Those appointments can be made by phone call.
“With the doctors not seeing any sick kids in the office, it keeps us safe, and prevents the doctors and staff from being infected so they can continue to provide the best care they can,” Rhoad said.
Getting tested will become a lot easier starting next week when one of the 20 new testing sites opens up in Muncie. Those experiencing symptoms can go to the testing site, rather than going to the hospital or other health facilities that have tests, but risk infecting other people.
Starting next Monday, Riley will be changing the protocol, and will only allow babies up to 18-months old to come in for wellness checks, and are not allowing more than 10 patients in the morning (8 a.m.-noon), and no more than 10 patients in the afternoon to be seen.
Read More
United Way’s 'Cradle to Career' initiative impacts elementary schools across the Muncie Community
By Katherine Hill / April 12, 2024Stepping inside any elementary school classroom during independent reading time, it’s not uncommon to look out amidst a sea of wandering eyes flickering from line to line, discovering what happens when you give a mouse a cookie and how hungry a caterpillar can be.
The diner that always finds a way to survive
By Blake Williamson , Trevor Rhoad and Madeline Boldery / May 3, 2020A family business that stands at the corner of Madison and 18th St. on the south side of Muncie has had a whirlwind of a few years.
Muncie Community Schools takeover
By Blake Williamson , Matt Sharp , Trevor Rhoad and Madeline Boldery / May 3, 2020Two years ago, Muncie Community Schools was on the brink of financial collapse. In 2018, Muncie Community Schools received a D grade from the Indiana Department of Education. and was placed under an emergency order from the state when Ball State University and a handful of legislators crafted a controversial plan to step in, setting the stage for a new kind of public school system.
