Summer 2024

Hello from Muskegon Pediatrics!

We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful summer… Michigan summers are the best!

Here’s some important information and reminders we thought you might like to know.

School Forms

It is time to plan for the school year! Remember we can complete the required school forms at your child’s yearly well child check up appointment.

If your child has had a check up and needs a form completed, you can send it to us through your child’s portal, found at www.muskegonpediatrics.com or call the office at 231-638-4120.

Most kindergarteners will need their hearing and vision checked for registration. If your child has had a check up in the last year, we did those at the check up and we provide you with the information. If your child has not had a check up yet, please call 231-638-4120 to schedule an appointment.

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Care Closet

If you are in need of diapers, wipes, clothing, underwear, bras, feminine products, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste or deodorant please call our office so we can help, 231-638-4120.

If you have any items to donate, we would greatly appreciate them! Diapers and wipes are always needed, along with gently used children's clothing.

Our care closet is open to everyone in the community, not just our patients. Please have your family members or neighbors call (231-638-4120) if they are in need and we will gather the items together.

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Fun things to do around town

If you are getting bored going to the beach… here are a few things you can check out around town:

• Lakeshore Museum - free for Muskegon County Residents with events and activities weekly

• Muskegon Art Museum - has a fun spot for kids to do art. Free admission on Thursdays.

• Hackley Library and the Muskegon Area District Libraries have story time, fun kits to take home and beautiful children’s sections for the child to enjoy

  • MADL Events

• Muskegon Farmers Market

  • EBT accepted

  • Try the new food challenge - every visit get 1 new vegetable/food to try with your kids to see foods they may like, but never tried.

  • Power of Produce - get tokens to try new veggies

• Parks, parks, parks - we have an abundance of parks to explore - parks for just walking, parks for playing on playgrounds, parks with both. Take a snack or lunch to spend time trying a new park with your kids.

  • Muskegon County Parks

  • City of Muskegon Parks

• Splash pad next to the post office in Muskegon - so much fun!

• Parties in the Park Schedule

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Influenza Vaccine Clinic Save the date for September 21st and October 19th. We will again have our annual drive-thru influenza vaccine clinic. Stay tuned for more information.

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Mental Health

It’s normal for children to experience a wide range of emotions as they grow from babies to young adults. Life can be hard for adults too. If you are concerned about your own or your child’s mental health, you can call the crisis line at any time. The number is 988 and it’s not just for emergencies.

Also, if you are looking for counseling resources feel free to contact our office for a list of resources.

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Prescription Refills

There are two ways to request a prescription refill.

You can call our office and leave a message on the prescription refill line.

You use the portal to request a refill.

We do not receive requests or honor prescription refills from pharmacies. Please contact our office first if you are in need of refills.

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Free Health Care for those without Insurance or Underinsured

The Mission for Area People is now offering free walk-in medical care to uninsured or underinsured residents of Muskegon County. The clinic is open Mondays and Wednesdays 9am-12pm. It is located at 2500 Jefferson St. Muskegon 49444

Remember, healthy parents will lead to healthy families and kids! Please take care of yourself.

Best Wishes,

Dr. King

September 2023 Update

Greetings from Muskegon Pediatrics!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and a successful start to the school year. As the school year takes off and germs start to spread, remember that honey (for those over the age of 1 year) and nasal saline can be your child’s best friends for helping with stuffy noses, coughs and sore throats.

Influenza Vaccine

We are now offering the influenza vaccine for the season. For those older than 2 years of age we have the nasal flu vaccine, which is a spray and no poke, fuss-free option.

Drive-Thru Flu Clinics

Mark your calendars for September 23rd and October 21st. Between 8-11am, we will be hosting drive-thru flu vaccine clinics for children over the age of 2 years of age. It's a fuss-free way for your kids to receive the nasal flu vaccine without leaving the car. Registration links will be provided closer to the dates.

If you are unable to come to the drive thru clinics, if your child is less than 2 years of age or if you would like your child to get the injectable flu vaccine (the flu shot), please call 231-638-4120 to schedule your child’s visit.

Advances in the care of RSV

RSV is a virus that causes significant breathing problems in young children, causing some children to be hospitalized. Last year we had a particularly horrible RSV season with many children hospitalized. Since 1998 there has been a medication called Synagis available to babies with significant health problems to help them fight off RSV and protect them from serious problems from RSV. It has been cost prohibitive to provide to children other than those with other serious health problems.

This summer a new drug, Nirsevimab, was approved for use for all babies from birth to age 8 months. This new drug works the same way Synagis does, but it is cheaper and lasts longer; only one dose a season is required. This drug works by giving your child the antibodies to fight off RSV when your child should come in contact with RSV. This decreases the likelihood of serious problems.

It is recommended that all children ages birth - 8 months receive this medication starting in October of 2023. At this time Muskegon Pediatrics intends to offer this to our patients. We are currently awaiting information from insurance companies to make sure it will be a covered benefit and for it to be available to order. Once we have it in our office, you will receive a notice from us.

If you have any questions, please call the office (231) 638-4120.

Care Closet

If you are in need of diapers, wipes, clothing, underwear, bras, feminine products, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste or deodorant please call our office so we can help, 231-638-4120. Please share this information with others, we are here to help anyone in need.

If you are able to donate, we would appreciate donations of children’s clothing, coats, shoes, diapers, wipes, and hygiene items. Our closet can only continue with the generosity of others.

Stay Connected

If you have any questions our team is just a call away at (231) 638-4120.

Warm wishes,

Dr. King and the staff at Muskegon Pediatrics

A Healthy Start to 2023!

Muskegon Pediatrics will continue to provide you with the #BESTCARE. Here is some important information for our patients.

Camp Scholarships Available

There are scholarships for camps available from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Here is the press release for more information:

The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs is excited to let you know about our Camp Scholarship opportunity! Camp scholarships are not just limited to face to face, virtual camps are considered as well.

Effective immediately, we would like to invite families to apply to receive a Camp Scholarship for up to $250. The Camp Scholarship is designed to assist families with sending their child with special health care needs to a camp of their choosing. Applications are being accepted now through the end of March 2023. Applicants do not have to be enrolled in Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) to be eligible for a camp scholarship. Families will be required to submit a completed Camp Scholarship Application along with an Attendance Registration Form, which will need to be filled out by the Camp Director. We are attaching the required forms as one PDF file. Please feel free to share this with families within your network or families may request the forms through the Family Phone Line at 800-359-3722. Funding is limited, so please encourage families to apply as soon as possible.

COVID vaccine

We continue to offer the Pfizer COVID vaccine for patients ages 6 months and older. All patients can have the Bi-Valent COVID vaccine. If you or your child needs a booster vaccine or if you are unsure if you need one, please call the office to schedule an appointment 231-638-4120.

Influenza vaccine

We are currently experiencing a surge of influenza in our state. If your child still needs an influenza vaccine, please call the office at 231-628-4120 to schedule.

What is influenza? Many people mistake influenza for the “stomach flu”. The vaccine for influenza protects against the influenza virus which causes high fever for 5+ days, harsh cough, runny nose, and sore throat.

Care Closet

We have winter coats, gloves, and hats available. If you are in need of diapers, wipes, clothing, underwear, bras, feminine products, soap, toothbrush/toothpaste or deodorant please call our office so we can help, 231-638-4120.

If you are able to donate to our care closet, we appreciate any donations of toiletries, diapers, and wipes.

If you, your neighbor, your coworker, or your friend is in need of clothing items, hygiene products, or winter clothing please contact our office, 231-638-4120.

Prescription Refills

As a reminder, there are two ways to request a prescription refill.

1. You can call our office and leave a message on the prescription refill line.

2. You use the portal to request a refill.

We do not receive requests or honor prescription refills from pharmacies. Please contact our office first if you are in need of refills.

Insurance Updates

Please share any new insurance information with us so when your child does need to be seen, there are no delays when your child needs care.

Patient Centered Medical Home

As a reminder, we are committed to being your child’s patient centered medical home. What does that mean? It means that we will take a lead in helping you coordinate your child’s medical needs. This means we are available to you after hours to help guide you on caring for your child when urgent needs arise, we help coordinate care with other physicians your child may need to see, and review visits your child may make to the emergency room to make sure there are no other ongoing needs. To learn more about patient centered medical home you can go to Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) | Muskegon Pediatrics.

Fun things to do around town

• Lakeshore Museum - free for Muskegon County Residents with events and activities weekly

• Muskegon Art Museum - has a fun spot for kids to do art. Free admission on Thursdays.

• Hackley Library and the Muskegon Area District Libraries have story time, fun kits to take home and beautiful children’s sections for the child to enjoy MADL Events

• Parks, parks, parks - we have an abundance of parks to explore - parks for just walking, parks for playing on playgrounds, parks with both. Take a snack or lunch to spend time trying a new park with your kids.

Muskegon County Parks

City of Muskegon Parks

• Winter Sports Complex - winter luge, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and winter zip line

Here's to a healthy and happy year in 2023!

Sincerely,

Dr. King