MICHIGAN PARENT LIGHTHOUSE
DFK SPRING 2008

Its springtime, finally!! It has been a long winter with beautiful snowfalls and white nights. It is time for new beginnings. Personally, it is a wonderful new beginning for me as I returned to work with a whole new perspective about my work and my role as a pediatrician with my dear little patients. My own child has deepened my love for children. My philosophy of always doing for my patients what I would for my own child is being put into action. I have always admired parents and always thought they are heroes and heroines, now I know that for sure. The job of parenting easily goes down as one of the most formidable and sometimes the least acknowledged of all jobs. Once again, hats off to all the parents out there for doing such a fantastic job with their little ones.

OFFICE UPDATES

It is wonderful to come back to the warmth and love from the patients. I want them to know I truly appreciate the time I have had with my baby the past 6-8 weeks.

• I (DR Mavani) am back in the office from Monday to Friday except Wednesdays. I am at their service for well and sick visits. My schedule may be booked and I may be unable to see all the sick patients that same day. But we do offer appointments with our other doctors.
• Dr Sung will continue on Wednesdays.
• Dr Damidi will help out during my vacations as she did during my maternity. She is currently going to be doing some work part time in Flint. If patients would like her number, they can call our office and we will gladly oblige.
• Dr Syed, our hospitalist is available at the clinic in the mornings allowing us to offer early 8:30 am appointments.
• The office hours will be 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 8:30 am - 4:00 pm on Wednesdays through summer and fall.
• The phones will turn on at 8:00 am to offer same day sick or acute care visits.
• Our late evening and Saturday appointments will restart in the winter. We encourage you to make your child’s school physical as soon as possible to avoid the last minute rush before school.
• I will be making rounds at the hospitals alternating with Dr Syed and Dr Massarani, both of whom most of our patients are familiar with.
• Remember there is always coverage at the office and the hospitals and we always maintain our level to the excellence our patients are used to.

ALLERGY NEWS AND REMINDERS

Springtime allergies will test the stability of the asthmatic and nasal allergy patients. Please make your appointments and get your refills for your maintenance medications such as Singulair and Pulmicort before the pollen really starts up.

New medications include Symbicort which is an alternative to Advair and is ideal for control in moderate to severe asthma in teens. We are also excited to offer more alternative therapies in the clinic to chronic allergy patients such as homeopathic Cinerara eye drops which are a safe alternative to Patanol eye drop in most cases of eye itching and allergies. These came be used instead of Patanol thus limiting the use of prescription Patanol only for more severe cases. There is a new homeopathic combination called Tonsillaide which is available at the clinic for chronic and acute tonsillitis.

INSURANCE NEWS

Almost all Blue Cross policies no longer cover shots or well visits beyond a certain dollar amount for the calendar year. Please let us know in advance so we can use Health Department shots instead and prevent you from being billed for the shots.

Please let us know how we can serve you and your child better.

Sincerely yours,

Dr Mavani