The challenges of sustaining team care during covid-19: The coordinators' perspectives

Background/Purpose: In the setting of COVID-19, the commitment to provide multidisciplinary care for children with craniofacial diagnoses has created multiple challenges for families, children, and health care providers. Team coordinators have been particularly tasked with managing a constantly changing rule book in complying with institutional guidelines and public health recommendations requiring consideration of use/availability of PPE, technology limitations and a significant increase in family requests for resources and reassurance. This panel will present an overview by 4 highly experienced team coordinators and examine the challenges of providing team care for children and families in a safe, comprehensive yet efficient manner. Methods/Description: Exploring both virtual and in person formats, areas to be addressed include patient compliance, the growing waitlists for team visits, the need of families for resources and support, and the increased undocumented time required to provide counseling and reassurance. Strategies will be shared which have been developed to manage urgent patient/family needs including newborn feeding, VPI assessment, wound care, and COVID-19 specific questions.