Pediatrics | Pediatric Surgery

Things to Know About Midwives and Pediatrics

The use of midwives has been an accepted and popular practice since Biblical times. Midwives are primarily responsible for the care of a mother and child during the childbirth process. Many midwives are former or current pediatrics nurses that have taken on a separate certification specifically for midwifery. The concern within the pediatric society is not for the practice of midwifery but for the dangerous of midwives being used during high risk pregnancies.

Midwives are trained on a general level to help with low risk pregnancies and deliverers. Midwives do not carry a medical degree of any kind and do not have certification within the fields of medicine. This distinction has made many major insurance companies choose to offer no coverage for midwives during labor and delivery. Due to complications that may arise during the labor and delivery process, many pediatrics professionals feel that the use of a midwife is a bad judgment call and can have dangerous consequences.

If an expectant mother is looking for a midwife they should consider several key factors. Look for a midwife that has a degree or certification as a pediatric nurse or general RN degree. A midwife with either of those credentials will have further and more in-depth training than a midwife with only a certification in midwifery practices. Check the local state and county laws. Though it is rare there are some areas that do not legally allow midwives to practice.

As mentioned earlier, midwife services may or may not be covered under insurance. It is always best to check with the insurance provider of the policy holder to make sure that midwife and the services they offer are covered. Many hospitals and doctor’s offices also offer midwife services on community bulletin boards and forums. Remember to check with a doctor prior to hiring a midwife for the labor and delivery of the new baby.

Filed Under: Health, Pediatrics Tagged With: Childbirth, Midwifery

Pediatric Massage Therapy

As Pediatric Medicine evolves so do natural and alternative therapy options for children and infants. One of these developments has been in the area of massage therapy. Certification programs are available for healthcare professionals and massage therapy professionals that want to expand their learning and current certifications to help children and infants. There are a few things to know about the certification prior to seeking a pediatric massage therapist or becoming a certified pediatric massage therapist.

An important factor to keep in mind regarding Pediatric Massage Therapy is that the training is very limited. Training sessions are generally held over a two to three day period and in some cases are considered to be weekend certifications that are held at retreats or special conferences. To become a Certified Pediatric Massage Therapist this training is required. If a massage therapist does not have this certification then they are not certified for pediatric massage and have not received proper training. It is important to remember that training for basic massage therapy does not include the special considerations related to pediatric patients and massage.

Another key factor to keep in mind when either wanting to become certified or wanting to hire someone with the CPMT certification is that there is no pre-requesite for the course. A person seeking certification or who has obtained certification does not have to have prior medical or massage training. This may be a concern for many parents who would like the therapist to have other knowledge that is connected to the massage therapy session rather than just the massage itself.

This certification is offered thorughout Canada but may not be offered in local areas of the United States. It should be noted that weather someone is seeking certification or seeking a certified individual, certain laws may prohibit or not recognize the CPMT certification. It is always best to check in the local area for laws governing this type of certification and for laws governing the business practices related to the certification.

Filed Under: Health, Pediatrics Tagged With: Massage, Massage Therapy and Bodywork

Benefits of Pediatric Massage

Making advancements with technology and medicine within Pediatrics smetimes means tepping back and looking at what has been done before. A back to baiscs approach, especially with children, can often be revisited and looked at from a different prospective, This is the case when it comes to pediatric massage. Pediatric massage is a technique practiced by massage therapists and certified pediatric massage technicians or CPMTs.

The benefits of pediatric massage are varied and opinions of the practice run the gammit. The benefits, however, do seem to be conentrated within children who were born premature. In fact, one of the key benefits offered through pediatric massage is geared to help premature infants with the pain and discomfort of growth. Premature infants may experience severe discomfort during their growth stages and with certain technqies a CPMT can help to ease the discomfort in joints and muscles.

In addition to offering relief for aching muscles and joints, pediatric massage also offers a spossible solution to weight gain in premature infants. There are some helathcare practioners within pediatrics that believe a crucial benefit of pediatric massage are the techniques that encourage body growth and weight gain. The techniques and training methods for this form of massage are sometimes only available to parents through a CPMT.

A final benefit of pediatric massage is the relif of colic symptoms and gas related to constipation. These benefit of pediatric massage is used widley by massage therapists for both infants and toddlers. The movement and techniques of the pediatric massage will put light pressure on certain parts of the body allowing for the gases to release easily. As the pressure releases so does the discomfort in the child. With just these three benefits it is clear why the pediatric society and community look fondly upon the practice of pediatric massage.

Filed Under: Pediatrics Tagged With: Massage, Massage Therapy and Bodywork, Pediatrics

Food Management Magazine Honors Texas Children’s Hospital

Each year, Food Management magazine awards noncommercial foodservice providers for exceptional accomplishments or innovation in the industry. The competition considers a variety of areas within foodservice, such as planning for special events, wellness initiatives, convenience retailing, facility design, and new menu items. In 2010, the editorial staff at the magazine evaluated more than 150 entries according to predetermined criteria for the competition. Judges looked at the impact of the achievement, evaluated the effectiveness of it, considered its impact on other organizations or areas, and examined the innovation in comparison to standard practices. After judging the entries, the magazine award Texas Children’s Hospital with the 2010 Best Concept award for the hospital’s Beanie Club program.

The Beanie Club program helps staff members at the hospital teach patients about food nutrition and its relation to health. As part of its initiative, the program helps families and patients pick more nutritious items from the menu through a reward program. When families purchase seven Beanie Club selections from the menu, the hospital rewards their healthy decisions with a free meal. To advertise the program, the hospital designed a green bean mascot, featured on promotional materials throughout the facility. The judges felt the program was, “especially appropriate in a juvenile acute care setting.” The magazine recognized the hospital for offering better choices for patients who often have to stay at the hospital for long periods of time due to serious childhood health issues.

The latest award only helps to confirm Texas Children’s Hospital as the exceptional facility that it is. The nationally recognized hospital is one of the top 10 facilities for children’s medical needs, according to U.S. News and World Report. It offers one of the largest pediatric care networks in the nation and has branches throughout the Houston area. In 2010, the hospital embarked on a $1.5 billion project, called Vision 2010, through which the hospital will add a neurological research institute, a suburban-based hospital, and a high-risk-birth obstetrics facility.

Filed Under: Child Care, Health, Nutrition, Pediatrics Tagged With: Facilities, Health, Medicine, United States

Learn How to Survive Giving Birth at a New Hospital

: Image by bookchiq via Flickr

When a hospital announces it’s moving to a new location or opening a new facility, most people view the change as something positive. But if you have a due date around the scheduled transition, you could walk into trouble. When a hospital changes facilities, there are several things that can go wrong. Nurses may have to sign into the new operating system and receive clearance before they can administer medications. This can result in patients not receiving medication on time.

Employees may not know where the new storage areas are for supplies, leading to delays in care. One woman who delivered at a new hospital had to have her family bring towels from home because nurses couldn’t locate the linens. Doctors may not have basic equipment at the new location. A patient who happened to be the first person to have a c-section in a new facility helped the doctors make a list of everything missing from the room (during her c-section), including a clock to time the birth and and special lights.

If you’ll be giving birth at a new facility, here are some tips:

~ Talk with your doctor about your time frame. The first 48 hours are the toughest ones because that’s when the staff’s discovering issues.

~ Pack extra supplies, including toiletries and towels, in case the nurses can’t find supplies.

~ Ask your doctor to walk through the rooms she’ll be using during your delivery to determine whether items are missing before your scheduled due date. This is a good time to make sure she has anything she might need during an emergency and to learn the layout of the facility.

~ Prepare yourself to be flexible. Transitioning to a new facility can be stressful for patients and staff, and there may be something beyond your doctor’s or the nurses control. Do your best to stay calm. When possible, have a family member of friend with you who can go talk to nurses, find your doctor, or track down the food you ordered an hour ago while you’re stuck in bed.

Filed Under: Child Care, Conditions and Diseases, Pediatrics Tagged With: Caesarean section, Health, Hospital, Medicine

Discover the Best Children’s Hospitals for Your Loved One

: Image via Wikipedia

Illness is hard on a family, especially when the person suffering is a child. When you’re under stress form an illness, you don’t need to add any more by worrying about the hospital where your child gets treatment. Working with a top-ranked facility can help alleviate the stress, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your child is getting the best care possible.

Each year, U.S. News surveys pediatric centers across the United States. Thousands of doctors responded to the survey and indicated where they would send the sickest children depending on illness. Special areas of care included cancer, kidney, neonatology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, pulmonology, diabetes and endocrinology, heart and heart surgery, urology, and neurology and neurosurgery.

Overall, 62 of the 170 children’s health facilities surveyed ranked in the top 10 for at least one category, but eight hospitals ranked in the top 10 for each category. These eight hospitals are Children’s Hospital Boston, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, St. Louis Children’s Hospital-Washington University, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley-Komansky Children’s Hospital, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

While any top-ten ranked children’s hospital is sure to give you the best care possible, you may want to consider treatment options at one of the top three facilities for the specific illness your child has. These hospitals are on the cutting edge of research and have the latest treatment options, including experimental ones. From the list of the top-ranked facilities, the following hospitals hold the top three spots for at least four of the 10 categories.

Children’s Hospital Boston ranks first for heart and heart surgery, kidney disorders, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and urology; second for diabetes and endocrinology and neonatology; and third for cancer, gastroenterology, and pulmonology.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia ranks first for diabetes and endocrinology, neonatology, and pulmonology; second for urology, cancer, gastroenterology, and heart and heart surgery; and third for neurology and neurosurgery and orthopedics.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks first for gastroenterology, second for pulmonology, and third for kidney disorders and neonatology.

Filed Under: Child Care, Diagnosis, Pediatrics Tagged With: Health, Medicine, Orthopedics, Pediatric

Parental Behavior Condemns Children to Premature Death

According to Steve Field, who represents 42,000 primary care physicians as the chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, parental influence can be the determining factor in whether a child will grow up to be a healthy adult. Field recently wrote a letter to the Sunday Observer to bring the issue to the media. In it, he blames parents who smoke in front of their children and those who feed their children junk food for committing a type of child abuse. This belief stems from research showing a connection between these habits and the development of illnesses in children exposed to the behavior.

By modeling the behavior, parents may increase the risk of an entire generation developing health issues like diabetes and heart disease. In some cases, it may lead to premature death. When general practitioners tell a patient he needs to lose weight, the patient will often ignore the warning. It’s the same for a doctor who tells a woman to quit smoking. Many patients view general practitioners as spoil sports. Field points to hard evidence backing the warning as the reason for it. He hopes the connection between a parent’s behavior and its affect on the children’s health will inspire parents to take responsibility for their vices.

For some, changing behavior may require additional help and expense. People who have smoked their entire lives may need long-term support to kick the habit. Individuals suffering from obesity may need to work with a nutritionist to learn how to eat correctly and when to eat. If the parent doesn’t understand how to eat with nutrition in mind, how can she teach her child how to eat a balance diet?

While every visit to the doctor is a chance for a practitioner to catch early warning signs, Field believes the future of child health may depend on parents improving their lifestyles and making healthier choices.

Filed Under: Child Care, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Pediatrics Tagged With: General practitioner, Health, Heart disease, The Observer

Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?

: Image via Wikipedia

If your child has trouble concentrating at school, seems to be hyperactive, or struggles to learn, she may not be getting enough sleep. According to Dr. Brian McGinley, who works with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center as an assistant pulmonary medicine professor, failing to get adequate sleep may compromise a child’s immune system and increase the risk of developing dangerous conditions like cardiovascular disease. To help parents understand the amount of sleep children need, McGinley and colleagues at the Pediatric Sleep Disorder Clinic have issued guidelines.

Children 1 to 8 weeks old need more sleep than older children, but the sleep is broken into smaller sessions. As parents know, newborns often wake at set intervals through the night. Overall, newborns should sleep a minimum of 10.5 hours each day, with the normal range reaching up to 18 hours. From three to twelve months, children begin to develop a circadian cycle and will start sleeping more at night and be more active during the day. By nine months, 80 percent of infants will sleep through the night. The range for this group is nine to twelve hours a night. Children may take thirty-minute naps throughout the day with some children napping up to four times.

From one to four, children need 12 to 14 hours of sleep at night. The increase at night may stem from the reduction in naps. Most toddlers won’t nap more than twice a day. By age seven, most U.S. children will no longer nap. Kids from five to twelve years of age need an average of 10 to 11 hours of sleep. While it can be tough to enforce, older children (from 13 to 18) need a minimum of 8.5 hours of sleep with a range up to 9.5 hours.

When a person gets the right amount of sleep, he will fall asleep and wake-up spontaneously. In the morning, he’ll feel refreshed rather than tired. To determine the correct amount of sleep, parents may want to find out how long their children sleep during the summer, when they don’t have to be up early for school.

Filed Under: Child Care, Conditions and Diseases, Pediatrics Tagged With: Child, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Sleep disorder