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Will Parental Rights Legislation Returning to Preventative Health
Care – We’re Ready to Welcome You
Usher in Pediatric Care Passports?
Over the past year, many individuals and families have
In the haste to pass legislation to codify the delayed nonemergent medical care as a result of the
rights of parents to direct all health care services COVID-19 pandemic. While hospitals throughout the
offered to or provided to their children, the country suspended some services temporarily at the
Florida Legislature has muddied the water for height of the outbreak, all – including ours at Broward
physicians that may be called to render acute care Health – have been operating normally for many months
and first aid to an injured child outside of the hos- with safeguards implemented to ensure the safety and
pital setting. wellbeing of our patients and visitors. However, it’s
House Bill 241, which passed both chambers becoming more and more clear that Floridians are contin-
and is on the way to the Governor, requires par- uing to postpone regular medical care, and as a physician,
ents to provide written consent before a physician I’m concerned.
can offer or deliver care to their children. Comfort A recent study from the Robert Wood Johnson
language had been added to the Senate version of Foundation (RWJF) and National Public Radio (NPR)
the legislation that would have exempted acute found that among the general U.S. population who BY ANDREW TA, MD
care from the requirement to secure written con- BY FRASER COBBE reported delaying medical care (20%) due to the COVID-
sent. Unfortunately, that language did not make 19 pandemic, more than half experienced negative health consequences as a result.
the final version of the legislation. If you’ve been postponing medical care – whether routine or for a disease you’ve
Clearly it was not the intent of the Legislature to erect roadblocks to prevent been diagnosed with – now is the time to reach out to your medical provider and
physicians from rendering urgent care to injured children. But the failure to schedule an appointment and get up to date on any screenings, vaccinations, chronic
include any clear exemptions in the legislation leaves physicians navigating a web disease management or other services you have gone without this last year. The
of statutory provisions, none of which directly addresses if and when they can impacts of continuing to put off the care you need can be substantial, and in some
proceed with the delivery of urgent care without written permission of a parent. cases even devastating or catastrophic. It is not worth the risk. Your health cannot
Imagine all the inopportune instances where kids tend to get injured beyond wait any longer.
the careful watch of their parents: sleepover accidents, sports injuries, adventur- As a physician, it is natural for me to advocate for regular, preventative care for all
ing outdoors, car accidents. Kids have an amazing knack to invent new ways to patients, but I also understand the concerns about visiting a medical facility during a
hurt themselves. The omission of clarity in the legislation is a missed opportunity pandemic. Early in the pandemic, they were warranted. Today, however, they are no
to create certainty for parents and physicians when every moment matters for an longer valid. Your healthcare providers are ready to treat you – safely.
injured child. Our teams at Broward Health have been working to help ensure all our facilities and
As a community, we need to demand that certainty is restored with common medical offices continue to be sanitary and prepared for patient visits. Providing high-
sense language that protects the rights of parents to direct their child’s care but quality care that’s safe for all our patients has always been our most important priority
also frees the hands and minds of physicians to timely respond in urgent situa- as we work every day to fulfill our mission to the community we serve.
tions. This alarming trend is a threat to the overall health and wellness of our community
No one wants to see an age where an urgent care consent form is a standard and in the entire state of Florida, which is home to a large population of seniors. In
accessory when kids leave home. fact, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nearly a quarter of
Medicare beneficiaries forewent any medical care for up to six months last year. In the
Fraser Cobbe, Executive Director, Dade County Medical particular case of aging adults, the importance of routine medical care cannot be over-
Association, can be reached at fcobbe@miamimed.com. stated. Providers can only deliver world-class healthcare services to patients when
able to see their patients.
I realize during this time, many people have turned to the convenience of virtual
care, which has provided a great interim solution to address healthcare needs.
However, it cannot take the place of seeing a physician face to face. Physical visits in
the office are necessary to provide the highest quality of care in many specialties,
especially when treating the most critical and chronic conditions. I also cannot over-
stress the need for an annual physical with your primary care physician in preventing
disease and protecting your health and quality of life.
As we start to return to normalcy and plan reunions with the people we’ve missed,
I encourage you to make plans to reunite with your medical provider. I assure you,
they will be happy to welcome you back.
Dr. Andrew Ta is Chief Medical Officer, Broward Health.
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