What is “Med Peds”? Each of Creekside Medical’s six doctors are pediatricians who have been certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. They are also each internists who have been certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Our doctors have all completed a Med/Peds residency, which is an intensive four year program combining training in Pediatrics AND Internal Medicine. Med/Peds doctors see the same types of patients as family and general practitioners. However, Med/Peds doctors receive more intensive training in pediatrics and internal medicine, enabling them to provide specialized care for the whole family. What’s exciting about Med/Peds doctors is that parents can have a board certified pediatrician for their children and can see the very same doctor as a board certified internist for their own health care needs.

How are phone calls answered? We make every effort to efficiently direct your call to our staff member who is best capable of caring for your needs. We have well trained nurses who provide advice based on published protocols. 100% of your calls are reviewed by your doctor so that we may ensure that you have received accurate advice, as well as giving your physician the opportunity to add anything we think you or your child may need. If there is no protocol available for your question, your concerns will be forwarded to your doctor for review. Our staff will then call you back with your doctor’s response once he or she has reviewed your information.

What is your walk in policy? We make every effort to schedule each patient adequate time with his or her doctor and to minimize your waiting time. Unfortunately our schedules do not accommodate walk-ins. However, we’d be happy to schedule an appointment for your urgent medical needs. Please call for an appointment.

While the doctors at Creekside Medical all have admitting privileges at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, we utilize the hospitalist team for both our Internal Medicine as well as our Pediatric patients, apart from newborns.

A hospitalist is a specialist who provides medical treatment to patients while they are in the hospital. They specialize in all aspects of a patient’s care – from admission until discharge. Because hospitalists don’t maintain a private practice, their time is devoted solely to caring for hospitalized patients. Should our patient’s condition change rapidly there is always a hospitalist on site who can assess the patient quickly. We work closely with the hospitalists and make every attempt to ensure that they have access to all information from Creekside that would be helpful in their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The hospitalists keep us abreast of our patient’s hospital course so that we may work as a team, ensuring a smooth transition out of the hospital.

While we think PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center is also an excellent hospital, our proximity to Legacy enables us to round on your newborn at Legacy Salmon Creek. Each of the doctors at Creekside take turns rounding on our newborns, and one of our  physicians will see your baby every day he or she is in the hospital from birth until discharge.

Beginning September 2013 we will be providing Phlebotomy services thru Quest  for those needing lab work during their scheduled doctor appointment.  We will be happy to provide you with a lab order which you may take to the lab of your choice if you prefer not to have labs drawn the same day as your appointment. Please call your insurance company PRIOR to your scheduled appointment to see which lab your insurance plan prefers. If you need labs done outside of a regularly scheduled doctors appointment, you may go to Quest, Legacy or PeaceHealth Southwest.

Again, please check with your insurance company to see where your coverage is best. Most of our patients get their studies done at Vancouver Radiology, Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, or PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center.

If you believe that you or your child needs emergency care, please either call 911 or proceed directly to the emergency room—you do not need to call us first. We do our best to provide thorough advice during regular office hours. We respectfully ask that you limit your after-hours calls to issues that are urgent and cannot wait until the next business day. For any urgent need that cannot wait until regular clinic hours, please call the clinic and the outgoing voice message will direct you to our answering service. They will promptly page the physician on call. Please note that we do not do routine refills after hours, nor will we call in antibiotics or narcotics under any circumstances.

We accept most major insurances. Please check with your insurance company to ensure we are a preferred provider. We do not treat Workers Compensation/Labor and Industries cases.

There is typically a $25 dollar charge on all forms. Depending on how extensive the form is, there may be a greater charge. One exception includes sports physical forms, which we are happy to fill out for your student provided that they have had a complete physical within the prior two years here at Creekside. Another exception is Medication in School forms which can be filled out free of charge, provided we have seen your student within the previous year for their medical condition. Please allow us up to two weeks to complete your forms

Please contact Creekside Medical as soon as you know that you will be unable to make your appointment. We request at least a two business day’s advanced notice for cancellations and reschedulings. We make every effort to make sure appointments are available for you and your family when you need to be seen. When you call at least two business days in advance to cancel or reschedule your appointment, this allows us to offer that appointment time to other sick patients who would like to see their doctor. Missing appointments or not canceling with a minimum of one business day’s notice can result in being billed a $35 no show fee that your insurance will not cover.

We are happy to fill out your child’s sports physical forms during his or her general physical/well child check. If your student has had a physical with us in the previous two years we may be able to fill out his or her form without a visit. Two weeks notice is requested for forms.

We make every effort to schedule you with your primary care provider. However, if he or she is unavailable, you may be offered an appointment with one of his or her partners.

Ideally we prefer to see our patients here in our office. An illness you had last month may seem unrelated to your current health concern, but it is always better for you if your doctor has a thorough understanding and record of your complete health history. We understand that it has been difficult to get urgent appointments with us in the past, and we have been equally frustrated by that. We have been fortunate enough to expand our practice to six doctors which greatly increases the number of urgent same-day appointments in which to care for you. If you need to go to an Urgency Care clinic after hours or on the weekends, you may proceed directly to the after hours clinic that is most convenient for you.

We would like to see you in our office before we refer you to a specialist to decide if there is anything we can offer for your medical issue. Many insurances require a referral from your primary care physician, and may not pay for your referral if you have not been evaluated here first. Creekside Medical’s referral coordinator will handle your referral. While we make every effort to ensure that the doctor to which we are referring is covered by your insurance, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to make sure the specialist is covered under his or her plan.

Each of the doctors at Creekside Medical believes in the judicious use of antibiotics. Antibiotics only work for bacterial infections, not for viral infections. Prescribing antibiotics when they are not necessary will not only NOT help you heal faster; it will increase your chance of developing a serious antibiotic-resistant infection and may cause you unnecessary side effects.

The FDA has removed over the counter cough and cold products for children under the age of two. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against the use of these products in children under the age of six, as these products have never been proven to be of benefit in this age group and are potentially harmful in overdose. Nasal saline, bulb syringe, and a cool mist humidifier may be helpful in children of this age group. Back to top

Although, vaccines are an important part of a well child check, we do much more at your child’s physical than administer vaccines. This is an important time to assess growth, development, health, and safety. For this reason and to ensure we have reviewed your child’s immunization record and determined which shots are due, we administer routine vaccines during a well child check. If your child is unable to receive shots the day of their physical, we will arrange a visit for him or her for the necessary shots. As a general rule we do not do immunization-only visits for children who have not had a physical within the previous year.

1. Well woman, pap smears, and routine gynecologic care (with the exception of obstetric care, IUD placement, and diaphragm fittings)
2. Annual physicals for men
3. Well child checks
4. Newborn care
5. Chronic disease diagnosis and management
6. Sick visits
7. Health education
8. Skin procedures such as simple mole removals, biopsies, sutures, and small cyst drainages

If you’re unsure if you’re eligible, please visit the state Department of Health’s Phase Finder website https://form.findyourphasewa.org. If you’re not yet eligible, you can sign up to receive a notification when you are eligible.  If Phase Finder states you are eligible, please print these results and return them with your pre-vaccine scheduling paperwork.  We will use the results of this form to determine whether or not we can schedule your vaccine appointment yet.

Are you currently a patient of Creekside Medical? If so, please download these forms:

• • Patient Consent for COVID Vaccine
  • V-Safe

Please complete and return the CDC Vaccine Questionnaire via email (), fax (360-816-1327), mail, or in person in our office.   If you are less than 65 years of age, please also include your saved Phase Finder results indicating your current eligibility. Once these forms have been received, someone from our office will reach out to you with the next steps for scheduling. 

If you are NOT currently a patient of Creekside Medical, please download these forms:

• • Non Patient Consent for COVID Vaccine
  • V-Safe

Please complete and return the CDC Vaccine Questionnaire and Benefits Form via email (), fax (360-816-1327), mail, or in person in our office. If you are less than 65 years of age, please also include your saved Phase Finder results indicating your current eligibility. Once these forms have been received, someone from our office will reach out to you with the next steps for scheduling.

The most detailed and up to date information can be found here: 

https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-vaccine

Those included in Phase 1a and Phase 1b Tier 1 (B1) are now eligible to be vaccinated 

There are several websites people can visit to seek vaccination appointments. However, vaccine supply is very limited across the state. Appointments may be limited or unavailable. Options include:

Washington Department of Health’s Vaccine Locations website. This site lists pharmacies and other health care facilities with vaccine (by county) and includes links to additional information and appointment systems.

Clark County Fairgrounds vaccination site

The Washington State Department of Health is operating a vaccination site at the Clark County Fairgrounds. The site will open Tuesday, Jan. 26 and operate 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Friday. Vaccine will be administered by appointment only. The state Department of Health estimates vaccinating up to 500 people per day, with capacity increasing in the coming weeks as vaccine supply increases.

Public Health recommends those who are eligible to be vaccinated and are awaiting a referral from Public Health also seek an appointment at the fairgrounds vaccination site.

Schedule an appointment on the Albertsons/Safeway website or call 1.800.525.0127, then press #. If you can’t get through, please call the state’s alternate number, 888.856.5816. 

The most current information can be found here: https://clark.wa.gov/public-health/covid-19-vaccine

Those in Phase 1a and Phase 1b Tier 1 are now eligible to be vaccinated.

Phase 1a

• Tier 1:
  • high-risk workers in health care settings
  • high-risk first responders
  • patients and staff of long-term care facilities
• Tier 2 (after completion of Tier 1):
  • all workers in health care settings

Phase 1b

• Tier 1:
  • All people 65 years and older
  • People 50 years and older who live in multigenerational households

    There are two categories of people who are eligible under the “multigenerational household” definition:

    1. People who are 50 and older AND are not able to live independently AND are either:
       • Receiving long-term care from a paid or unpaid caregiver OR
       • Are living with someone who works outside the home

• • 2. People who are 50 and older AND are living with and caring for a grandchild.

       No one younger than 50 years is eligible, and no one 50 and older who is caring for a partner, friend or child is eligible.

Creekside initially will be administering the Moderna vaccine.

Yes! Creekside is committed to vaccinating our entire community, whether or not you are our patient. 

However, please be aware that getting a COVID-19 vaccine at Creekside, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and does not make you a patient of Creekside Medical.  You’ll need to speak to your own physician/primary care provider or seek care at an urgency care if you have any problems or concerns with the vaccine.

Below are a few reputable sites with excellent information:

• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/
• https://www.nejm.org/covid-vaccine/faq
• https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-frequently-asked-questions
• https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-12/covid-19-vaccine-patient-faqs.pdf

The CDC currently advises that you should not be vaccinated if you have an allergy to any of the components of the vaccine (See the ingredient list FAQ below).  If you have had a severe or immediate allergic reaction of any severity within 4 hours after getting the first COVID-19 shot, you should not get the second shot.

The CDC and FDA on Friday Jan 22nd published anaphylaxis data for Moderna’s vaccine in MMWR. Of more than 4 million first doses administered between late December and early January, 10 cases of anaphylaxis were reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. This translates to 2.5 cases per million doses. All but one case occurred within 15 minutes of vaccination. None of the patients died. For comparison, early data suggested an anaphylaxis rate of 11.1 per million doses with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — a rate that a CDC official characterized as “exceedingly rare.”

If you indicate a history of a serious allergic reaction on your CDC Vaccine Questionnaire, you may be asked to schedule a televisit with your physician/PCP prior to scheduling your vaccine.  You may also be asked to wait for 30 minutes after your vaccine to be observed for any reactions to the vaccine.

The most accurate and current information regarding allergies and the COVID-19 vaccine can be found from the CDC and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology below:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/allergic-reaction.html
https://acaai.org/news/acaai-provides-further-guidance-risk-allergic-reactions-mrna-covid-19-vaccines

If you are receiving the mRNA COVID vaccine, you should expect local (e.g., pain, swelling, skin rash at the injection site, some swelling of the lymph nodes on the same side as the vaccinated arm) and systemic (e.g., fever, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle pain, joint pain, or inflammation) post-vaccination symptoms. These are expected side effects, not allergic reactions. They usually resolve within a few days.  (source: https://acaai.org/news/acaai-provides-further-guidance-risk-allergic-reactions-mrna-covid-19-vaccines).

Because COVID vaccines have not yet been well studied in pregnant or breast feeding women, the decision is a personal one.  Below are some sources and information that may help you in your decision-making.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine Task force states the following: Patients undergoing fertility treatment and pregnant patients should be encouraged to receive vaccination based on eligibility criteria. Since the vaccine is not a live virus, there is no reason to delay pregnancy attempts because of vaccination administration or to defer treatment until the second dose has been administered. Because COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are not composed of live virus, they are not thought to cause an increased risk of infertility, first or second trimester loss, stillbirth, or congenital anomalies.

The full statement can be found here: https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/covid-19/covidtaskforceupdate11.pdf

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology states that  COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet criteria for vaccination based on ACIP-recommended priority groups and that COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to lactating individuals similar to non-lactating individuals when they meet criteria for receipt of the vaccine based on prioritization groups outlined by the ACIP. Their full position statement can be found here: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/12/vaccinating-pregnant-and-lactating-patients-against-covid-19

The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine can be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/2591/SMFM_Vaccine_Statement_12-1-20_(final).pdf

The CDC recommendations can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html

The Moderna vaccine does not contain eggs, preservatives or Latex. (source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html).

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine contains the following ingredients: messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate, and sucrose. (source: https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download)

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for people as young as age 16 and is the only one authorized for any youths. Pfizer recently announced that its trial in adolescents ages 12-15 is fully enrolled and it could seek authorization in the first half of this year.

Moderna’s vaccine has been authorized down to age 18, and it is enrolling adolescents ages 12-17 in trials. Janssen is expected to seek emergency use authorization of its vaccine for adults in the next several weeks and could start trials in adolescents about four to six weeks later. AstraZeneca’s Phase 3 trial in U.S. adults is ongoing, and it could start trials in adolescents early this year.

Over the next several months, all four companies are expected to work on planning for trials in younger children, which may involve testing vaccines at lower doses than for adults.

More information and the complete American Academy of Pediatrics article can be found here: https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/01/27/acip-covid-vaccine-pediatric-trials-012721