Charting Pediatrics

  One of the most concerning trends in child health is the increase in suicide rates over the last two decades in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teenagers and young adults, and we should be alarmed both as pediatricians and citizens. We also need to ask questions about what this says about our society, what kind of promise and opportunity kids see for themselves...

It is not uncommon for newborn babies to have slight imperfections in their heads. Most of the time, these imperfections will fix themselves over time, or once they begin to develop. However, sometimes a more serious diagnosis will require medical interventions. Craniosynostosis is a condition where a baby's skull begins to fuse together too early. This occurs at birth or shortly after and if not...

Sudden unexplained infant death, commonly known SUID, SIDS or crib death, affects approximately 3,400 infants each year. Sudden unexpected infant deaths usually occur when an infant is sleeping, and causes can include suffocation, unknown infection, ingestion and other unknown causes. Not only has there been minimal improvement in rates of sleep-related deaths over the past two decades, but racial...

In 2020, firearm injuries were the leading cause of death in Americans 18 years old and younger. There was a total of 3,230 children's deaths, of which 63% were homicide, 30% were suicide, 4% were unintentional injury, 2% were undetermined and 0.4% were legal intervention. Healthcare providers who interact regularly with parents and children are well - positioned to discuss evidence-based strategi...

No day is the same as the last when you work in pediatrics . Not only are viruses and public health outbreaks always changing, so are regulatory and administrative factors that impact pediatric healthcare and caring for patients. In this episode, we look at the ever-changing landscape of pediatrics , including the evolving trends in pay o r mix and common pediatric diseases including RSV, diabetes...

Sinusitis is a common viral or bacterial infection that causes swelling in the sinuses. Although some patients need prescription medication, often sinusitis can be triggered by allergies or the common cold. In general, s inusitis is overtreated with antibiotics. In the United States, there are five million antibiotic prescriptions for children and adolescents with acute sinusitis , and a round 65%...

Necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, is a life-threatening illness with a mortality rate as high as 50% that almost exclusively affects neonates. The complex pathophysiology of NEC is based on an immature intestinal system that makes babies more susceptible to injury once they are fed. Ultimately, this can result in a breakdown of the gut, necrosis and then sepsis and death. There's still no known c...

An article published this spring reported that between 2008 and 2018, there was a 250% increase in suicide rates among 13- and 14-year-old youth in the United States across categories of gender, race and region. There are many factors that contribute to the startling suicide rates in the U.S., including the instability we experienced after the end of this study with the pandemic disrupting our liv...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn't bring folks together to learn about and discuss important concepts in clinical medicine. Nationally, pediatrics board exam passage rates have been fall ing every year since 2019 , hitting its lowest point of just 80% in 2023. For this episode, we talk with a group of residents who saw conference attendance dwindl ing at their institution and use d Kotter's...

In the emergency department, sepsis is a common problem and often lands patients in the ICU. Although there are many reasons patients may develop sepsis, it's critical to diagnose and treat this condition in a timely manner . In today's episode, we discuss sepsis and the point at which delays in antibiotics delivery increases the risk of mortality .     Roni Lane , MD , works in the Division of Pe...

Pediatricians see an array of patients with unique and individual needs, and each child requires their own specialized and unique care plan. As the rate of children diagnosed with autism continues to increase, it's important that pediatricians adapt and tailor visits to the needs of their patients. In this episode, we discuss some of the simple changes primary care providers can make to ensure pat...

Today on the podcast, we are going to be doing something a little different. As pediatricians and health care professionals, we dedicate our lives and our careers to helping others. Day in and day out we spend our time making sure our patients receive the best care possible to live life to the fullest. Although this can be one of the most fulfilling careers out there, it can also be physically and...

As primary care providers, it's easy to assess a patient based on the symptoms and circumstances they present with when they walk in the door. However, patients who had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have psychological injuries from that trauma that are more difficult to recognize. These patients also have a lifelong risk for health problems. What if healthcare professionals changed thei...

Children spend the majority of their time either at home or at school. In the state of Colorado, most children spend over 180 days, or 1,080 hours, a year at school. With so much time spent in the school environment, pediatric healthcare workers can collaborate with school health professionals by sharing a child's medical history, allergies, and medications to ensure children are receiving the bes...

The transition from adolescent to adult care can often be a series of challenging obstacles for patients, families, and providers. This time of adjustment can be both overwhelming and difficult, especially for patients with congenital health conditions. Moving from a parent supervised visit to an independent patient model takes time and often takes a lot of discussion. In this episode, we are goin...

Learning how to read is a pivotal point in childhood development. Incorporating reading into a family's daily routine not only helps with brain development, but it also fosters an emotional relationship between children and their caregivers. Pediatric healthcare workers can help promote healthy reading habits by educating and assisting their patients and families at their pediatric well visits. Mi...

There has been an overwhelming amount of change and disruption in the lives of kids over the last few years. Without the foundation of stability and predictability, many children are struggling with an array of anxiety disorders. As part of our ongoing Mental Health Serie s, Drs. Cassidy McNitt and Benjamin Mullins discuss how to support these kids and make sure they have access to the resources a...

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, is a common eye infection that presents at pediatrician offices and often keeps kids out of school or daycare. Although conjunctivitis is commonly caused by viral infections, there are other reasons why a patient might get pink eye. As a pediatric provider, it is essential to understand the signs and symptoms of pink eye and to weigh the risks and benefi...

We're exploring something different in this episode and intentionally not discussing pediatric care. In this episode we share the incredible story of an enduring friendship between two pediatricians — a friendship that's been both generous and life-changing.  Guests: Dr. Jennifer England, a pediatrician with Pediatrics at Cherry Creek, and Dr. Sunit Gill, a pediatrician at Greenwood Pediatrics, bo...

As the pandemic continues to shine a light on the mental health crisis in America, the devasting effects of substance abuse and addiction are increasing. Teens across the country continue to use and abuse alcohol, marijuana and nicotine-based vaping, and the rate of deaths linked to fentanyl has hit an all-time high. In the latest episode of our Mental Health series, we are joined by Christian Thu...

How do you know if a sacral dimple needs a closer look? Sacral dimples can be nothing at all, or they may be an indication of something more serious, such as tethered cord syndrome, dermal sinus tract or spina bifida oculate. In this episode, learn how sacral dimples should be evaluated and when providers should run more tests or refer to a specialist. Guest: Dr. Mark Erickson is the Medical Direc...

Implicit bias and systemic racism contribute to health disparities, and they cannot be accounted for only by the social determinants of health (income, education, marital status, employment, etc.). Everyone brings their own biases and lived experiences to the table, and as physicians, it is our responsibility to recognize the role bias plays in our interactions with patients and team members, as w...

Effective communication is needed to ensure the public is getting accurate information when it comes to vaccinations. Over the past few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen an increase of anti-vaccination sentiment and misinformation. In this episode, we discuss the importance of vaccines, the science behind vaccine development, and the impact of effective communication.    This episode was...

When we think about our basic physiological needs, food, water, shelter, and clothing comes to mind yet oxygen is the crucial element for survival. The brain uses about 20% of the body's oxygen supply, which allows it to perform both conscious and autonomic processes and without oxygen brain damage occurs after three to six minutes of anoxia. Since breathing takes little to no effort for most of u...

In this series, we have talked about the importance of family-based therapy and family centered care. Today we are going to discuss what family-based care looks like from the perspective of a psychologist and from a Dad. Today, I am excited to be speaking with Julia Barnes , MD and William Mowle. Dr. Julia Barnes is a licensed clinical psychologist at the pediatric mental health institute here at...