Neel French, MD, SC

9/24/2021 DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF NEW PATIENT APPOINTMENTS RECENTLY, WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE NEW PATIENTS UNTIL 2022, UNLESS YOU ARE IN AN HMO/POS PLAN AND YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO OUR PRACTICE. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

COVID AND COVID VACCINE INFO UPDATE

9/22/2021

DELTA Variant COVID-19 BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE SURGING IN CHICAGO. WE HAVE HAD 43 NEW CASES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THESE PEOPLE ARE MILDLY TO MODERATELY ILL AND WERE VACCINATED WITH PFIZER, MODERNA OR JANSSEN VACCINES. ONE PERSON WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID PNEUMONIA. 99% OF COVID CASES IN ICU'S ARE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, SO VACCINATION IS STILL VITAL.

MASKING AT INDOOR EVENTS PUBLIC PLACES AND CROWDED OUTDOOR FUNCTIONS IN ILLINOIS IS NOW REQUIRED. VACCINE MANDATES ARE ALSO BEING ADOPTED AND REQUIRED BY EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND BY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER OF GOV. PRITIZKER IN ILLINOIS WITH A RECENT EXTENDED DATE FOR COMPLIANCE.

3RD SHOT COVID VACCINES (MODERNA OR PFIZER) ARE NOW ADVISED FOR PATIENTS WITH SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTS ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSION OR PATIENTS WITH IMMUNE DEFICIENCY OR ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE MEDS THAT MAY HAVE BLUNTED THEIR INITIAL COVID VACCINE RESPONSE. THERE IS NO RECOMMENDATION FOR TESTING ANTIBODY LEVELS.

PLEASE CONTACT NEEL@NEELFRENCHMD.COM IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE IN THIS CATEGORY

This is from the CDPH HAN 8/16/2021

Who Needs a 3RD SHOT COVID-19 Vaccine NOW?

Currently, CDC is recommending that moderately to severely immunocompromised people receive an additional dose. This includes people who have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
Advanced or untreated HIV infection
Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them.

9/19/2021: PFIZER VACCINE BOOSTER SHOTS

ON 9/17/2021, THE FDA APPROVED ONE BOOSTER DOSE OF PFIZER VACCINE 8 MONTHS AFTER THE 2ND PFIZER COVID VACCINATION FOR PATIENTS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR FOR PATIENTS 18-64 WHO MAY HAVE INCREASED RISK FOR SEVERE COVID AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND OTHERS WITH INCREASED EXPOSURE TO COVID. PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED MODERNA OR JANSSEN VACCINES NEED TO WAIT LONGER FOR FDA AND CDC RECOMMENDATIONS. I WILL NEVER HAVE PFIZER VACCINE UNLESS THE ULTRACOLD STORAGE IS MODIFIED. I WILL HAVE CERTAIN DAYS WHERE I PROVIDE MODERNA VACCINES BOOSTERS IF AND WHEN THE FDA APPROVES BOOSTER DOSES FOR MODERNA VACCINE RECIPIENTS

RECENT DATA SHOWS THAT A JANSSEN BOOSTER RAISES ANTIBODY LEVELS SUBSTANTIALLY.

AT THIS TIME, I AM UNSURE IF I WILL ORDER MORE JANSSEN VACCINE.

New AMITA COVID Vaccine AND CDPH MASS VACCINATION SITE Information:

Patients and community members can visit https://www.amitahealth.org/covid-19/vaccine, which will contain a scheduling link for direct registration. Dedicated patient outreach and communication will continue to encourage everyone to receive the vaccine, while providing the latest information and facts available for our patients whom may still be undecided about receiving the vaccine.

The mass vaccination sites, located in Cook County, are currently open to any eligible Illinois resident. Register at: myshotcookcounty.com or call 833-308-1988 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday) for an appointment: THE SITES HAVE CHANGED AND ARE NO LONGER IN DES PLAINES, FOREST PARK, TINLEY PARK, WRIGLEY FIELD, UNITED CENTER OR SOUTH HOLLAND

Pharmacies (some accept walk-ins)

Pharmacies within national or regional drug and grocery stores will let you search for open appointments at all participating locations, and many eligible Chicagoans report having luck finding open slots this way. Each pharmacy has its own requirements for proof of identity, so read your appointment instructions carefully. Required identification may include a work or state ID, proof of employment, consent forms, confirmation emails and/or your insurance information.

Chicago’s COVID-19 vaccine website: www.chicago.gov/covidvax This website is for health care providers as well as the general public. It will be updated frequently as new information about COVID19 vaccines becomes available.

DR FRENCH IS A PRIVATE PHYSICIAN, HOWEVER SOME OF HIS ACCEPTED INSURANCE PLANS ARE CONTRACTED THROUGH Amita Health Clinically Integrated Plan (AH CIN).

The site number for HMO IL, Blue Advantage HMO, and Blue Precision HMO is site #494-AMITA ST JOE CHI and the site number for Blue Cross Medicare Advantage HMO is #741-AMITA ST JOE CHI.

Humana HMO (site#694) is also coordinated by AH CIN.

CALL 888-747-2264 TO SELECT DR. FRENCH AS YOUR PCP FOR HMO IL,

BLUE ADVANTAGE HMO, BLUE PRECISION HMO , HUMANA HMO,

AND BLUE CROSS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE HMO

MARKETPLACE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS 2021

WE TAKE: Blue Choice Preferred PPO, Blue Precision HMO (site #494 AMITA ST JOE CHI); French MUST be your PCP); Cigna Connect AND Bright (FRENCH must be your PCP)

WE DO NOT TAKE Ambetter from Illinicare; Blue Care Direct; Blue Focus Care

MAINSTREAM HEALTHCARE PLANS

ACCEPTED: Blue Choice PPO (BCS); Blue Cross PPO; Aetna, United, UMR, Meritain, Humana, Cigna, PHCS, Smart Health (Amita PPO), Medicare, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage and Humana Medicare; Blue Cross Community and Meridian are THE ONLY Medicaid plans that are accepted.

Traditional Medicaid may be your secondary IF your have Medicare as Primary Plan.

NOT ACCEPTED: Cigna Local Plus, Cigna Plus, AARP Medicare Complete, County Care, Illinicare

COVID-19 PANDEMIC ISSUES

WE HAVE DIAGNOSED OVER 280 PATIENTS IN OUR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 ILLNESS SINCE MARCH 2020.

WE REQUIRE THAT ALL PATIENTS WEAR A FACE COVERING IF ENTERING OUR OFFICE; WE RARELY SCHEDULE TELEMEDICINE VISITS VIA FACETIME, SKYPE. OR ZOOM ONLY IF NECESSARY AS THESE PLATFORMS HAVE SEVERAL LIMITATIONS. YOU MAY E-MAIL DR FRENCH TO REQUEST A TELEMED VISIT OR RX REFILLS: neel@neelfrenchmd.com

IF YOU HAVE COVID-RELATED SYMPTOMS LIKE FEVER OVER 100, COUGH, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SORE THROAT, CHANGES IN TASTE OR SMELL, CALL THE OFFICE TO BE TRIAGED.

I WISH ALL MY PATIENTS AND STAFF GOOD HEALTH!

Neel French, M.D.

Hours/Directions/ Parking

Monday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

Tuesday: 10:00AM-7:30PM

Wednesday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

Thursday: 9:00AM-5:30PM

2-3 Fridays per month: 8:00AM-4:30PM

2 Saturdays per month: 8:00AM-12PM

*Valet park $10 (9-5 M-TH;9-1F)
*Park Chicago (only $3/hour)
*Side street parking WEST of Clark Street is NON-ZONED during daytime.
*Broadway #36 or Clark #22 bus to front door (Deming)

Neel French, M.D., S.C.

2551 N Clark St, Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60614, US

(773) 857-2650; Fax (773)857-2645

Hours

See Above Please

2551 N. Clark Street, Suite 303, Chicago, IL 60614