COVID-19 Updates
Posted on June 12, 2020
May 28, 2020
To meet the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuously striving to provide accessible and high-quality medical care while also ensuring that the Clinic for Special Children (CSC) is a safe place for our patients and their families. Beginning June 8, 2020, we plan to increase the CSC’s capacity for on-site visits, home visits for the Cherished Lives program, research studies, and immunization clinics.
To view the full letter from our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, please click HERE.
May 14, 2020
After careful consideration and due to COVID-19 public health safety guidelines, the 2020 Union County and Lancaster County Benefit Auctions for the Clinic for Special Children have been canceled. The Union County auction was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2020 and the Lancaster County auction was originally scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2020.
Click HERE to read more information, including a letter from the Union and Lancaster Auction committees and CSC leadership.
April 14, 2020
Our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, has released an updated open letter to provide the Plain community with timely, critical information regarding COVID.
April 7, 2020
Our Executive Director, Adam D. Heaps, MS, MBA has released a letter sharing words of hope and gratitude during this challenging time.
March 20, 2020
Our Medical Director, Dr. Kevin A. Strauss, has released an open letter to provide the Plain Community critical information about COVID-19, what it means for them, and how we can work together to protect our loved ones.
March 17, 2020
Ensuring safety and well-being is at the heart of our mission. In that spirit, The Clinic for Special Children (CSC) is taking steps to protect our patients and their families from COVID-19.
How Can We Control COVID-19?
Although there is no treatment for COVID-19, protective measures can limit its impact in communities (Figure from CDC). 
In the absence of protective measures, the number of people infected (red shaded area) quickly overwhelms total hospital capacity (gray dashed line). Implementing protective measures early in the course of the pandemic (gray shaded area) has two effects: (1) The peak of the outbreak is delayed, giving medical systems more time to respond; and (2) Fewer people become infected.
What is the CSC Doing to Help?
- For the foreseeable future, CSC will postpone all non-essential gatherings and events, including the Kumme Essa dinner
- CSC will convert non-urgent appointments to scheduled phone calls; CSC will remain open for our patients who are sick or have urgent needs.
- For urgent office appointments, CSC will employ special precautions to minimize the risk of contagion.
- Objects of common contact (e.g. toys, books) will be removed from waiting areas.
- CSC will frequently sanitize common surfaces, use masks and gloves for patients who might be contagious, and limit all non-essential physical contact (e.g. handshakes).
What Can You Do to Help?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after visiting with people outside the home, shaking hands, using the bathroom, or before preparing food.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid sharing hand towels.
- Limit shaking hands; ‘elbow bumps’ or ‘fist bumps’ are much safer.
- Unless necessary, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- If you or a family member is sick, stay home unless you need a doctor’s attention.
- Cover all coughs and sneezes. If you use a tissue, throw it away. If you use your hand, wash it.
- Frequently disinfect common objects and surfaces in your home.
- Avoid large, non-essential gatherings, even if everyone appears healthy.
- Respect government recommendations to cancel unnecessary gatherings and limit contact with other people. Countries that abide by such restrictions have fewer infections and fewer deaths.
Protective measures save lives. This is our time to work together to protect the people we care about. Until COVID-19 runs its course, we encourage you to stay calm, stay safe, stay clean, and stay home.