Make pediatric practice great again!
April 1st 2016I began the January 2016 Peds v2.0 article “Expediting medical documentation” by stating that my “theme” for this year’s articles is the “retaking” of pediatric practice for ourselves and our patients. I continue this discussion by borrowing a slogan from one of our presidential candidates, in the hopes that pediatricians can be motivated to implement needed reforms that will make practices more efficient, improve the care we provide to patients, and enhance the lives of pediatric providers.
Nutrition guidelines crack down on added sugar
March 22nd 2016The new federal nutrition guidelines are being applauded for putting a hard limit on the amount of added sugar Americans should consume, but there is criticism that other, earlier recommendations on meat consumption were dropped from the final guide.
How to fill gaps in sexual health education
March 15th 2016With fewer than half of high schools teaching the full range of sexual health topics recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pediatricians can play a big role in talking to adolescents and supporting parents in promoting sexual health.
Risk factors for severe allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
March 8th 2016The risk of severe rhinoconjunctivitis among school-aged children is significantly increased by comorbid eczema, maternal history of allergic diseases, and exposure to high pollen counts, whereas living with fur-bearing pets during infancy appears to be protective, according to the findings of a nationwide Japanese online survey
Why the jump in SSI benefits for kids?
March 1st 2016The number of children on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability has surged in recent years, and even after much discussion over the last 5 years, people are still trying to determine all the reasons. Some are asking whether we are doing the best we can for the children involved.
Toddler with blistering acrodermal rash
March 1st 2016The anxious parents of a previously healthy 19-month-old boy bring the child to the emergency department for evaluation of progressive rash that began 4 months ago. The skin eruption began as small blisters on his knees, which became tense and ruptured, eventually evolving to red-pink scaly plaques. Over the next few months, the boy developed similar lesions on his hands, elbows, neck, perineal area, and face, with sparing of the mucous membranes.
Spirometry establishes asthma control in children
March 1st 2016To provide children with asthma the best care, pediatricians and other healthcare providers who have them as their patients need to become educated on and facile in using a tool that is critical to the accurate diagnosis of asthma and asthma control. That tool is spirometry.
Are physicians missing the chance to recommend HPV vaccines?
February 25th 2016Physicians who opt against recommending HPV vaccination because they assume their patient is too young or not sexually active, or that the parent will refuse, are missing an opportunity to protect against a dangerous virus, according to a new study.
Does Medicaid mean poorer care?
February 18th 2016Although low-income families gained greater access to private insurance since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, a new study urges caution for policymakers looking to replace public programs that outshine private insurance for children’s healthcare.