Pulse oximetry identifies newborns’ heart defects
April 22nd 2013Universal newborn screening for critical congenital heart defects using pulse oximetry has been successfully implemented in New Jersey with minimal burden on hospitals staffs, according to the first analysis of process data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Using smaller plates could trim childhood obesity
April 8th 2013Encouraging young children to serve themselves at meals is thought to develop social and motor skills, but a new study has found that when children served themselves using large-sized dinnerware they placed more food on their plates and ate more of it.
Temporary medical practitioners fill staff needs
April 8th 2013Health care organizations are using temporary nurse practitioners and physician assistants to fill the gaps in their medical staffs associated with the nationwide physician shortage, especially in primary care, according to a survey of 2012 staffing trends.
Top 10 Common Medication Errors -- Drug #7 -- Ciprofloxacin
April 4th 2013A prescription was called into the local pharmacy for ciprofloxacin suspension (200 mg via G-tube bid [10 mg/kg/dose]). After the patient received 2 doses of the medication, the parents noticed that the G-tube was clogged off. What’s the problem here?
Making a difference Point of care screening for hyperlipidemia
April 1st 2013Many pediatricians find point-of-care (POC) office lab tests advantageous because these avoid callbacks and allow pediatricians to direct care at the time of the office visit. It has been my experience that when parents are called with a lab result, there is an opportunity for ineffective or even failed communication.
Neurologists say no study drugs for healthy kids
March 18th 2013Prescribing drugs solely to boost thinking and memory functions in children and adolescents who do not have neurologic disorders is not justified, says the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in a new position paper on the use of neuroenhancing drugs in children.