Charting Pediatrics

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...

A question that commonly presents to those of us in primary care is what role dairy should play in a child's diet. Rich in nutrients and health benefits, most dairy products are key components for building and maintaining strong bones. Today, we are going to be discussing both the blessings and the challenging implications dairy can have on a child's health. Today, I am happy to be speaking with m...

Many children struggle with certain behavior challenges such as aggression, impulsivity, and poor listening skills. Although this is normal for a typically developing child, over 90% of children with Down Syndrome experience one or more behavioral problems on a weekly or daily basis. These behaviors not only impact the child, but also can become major stressors for parents and caregivers. In this...

Each year hundreds of children are listed for liver transplants across the United States. Whether these children have chronic liver disease or acute liver failure, too many children spend months or even years waiting for an organ. Historically, deceased organ transplants have been the most common type of organ donation. However, the outcome for many children with chronic liver disease is to experi...

Many people view mental and physical health as two separate and unrelated issues. However, there are many intersections between the two. For example, it is not uncommon for children and adolescents to develop and experience emotions as physical symptoms. Children who experience Somatic Symptoms, or SSRDs, account for 10-15% of medical visits to primary care providers. Today, we are going to be tal...

Children these days face a myriad of social pressures. Kids come from different homes and backgrounds. They grow at different rates. They walk, talk, and act differently. This diversity and individualism can be something to embrace, but often leads to insecurities about being different and not fitting in socially. These insecurities can have detrimental effects on the mental health of kids during...

Happy Holidays from the Charting Pediatrics team! 

In past episodes of Charting Pediatrics, we have discussed the health equity challenges that organizations and healthcare systems face and the importance of a diverse workforce. Differences such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status are all associated with the disparities we see in health care systems each day. An important step to help providers close this gap, starts within healthcare profes...

About 14 out of every 1,000 healthy infants born full term develop a fever during the ages 8 days to 60 days old. While most fevers do not lead to severe illness, it can be challenging to immediately identify the cause of a baby's fever and identifying infants who may be at risk for developing serious bacterial infections. In this episode, we will discuss the updated AAP guidelines for well-appear...

Data from multiple countries have shown an uptick in eating disorder presentations in youth during the pandemic. Here in Colorado, we have certainly seen an increase in medically unstable eating disorder patients admitted to the hospital. As part of our series this year on mental health today we will focus on disordered eating, which encompasses a spectrum of different problems in children. I am j...

In our series, the Resident Files , we feature the thoughts and work of talented pediatric residents here in Colorado and around the country. The section on pediatric trainees has implemented several initiatives into making pediatrics a more diverse and inclusive workforce. This group is working towards achieving child health equity in a global sense. The equity, diversity, and inclusion work grou...

Although Acute Appendicitis(AA) is the most common acute surgical conditions encountered by children, multiple aspects of the approach to management of AA remain well debated. Despite recent advancements in management, including scoring systems, imaging, antibiotics, the variations in management options, from appendectomy to a laparotomic approach to non-operative management (NOM) remain topics of...

Today, a vast majority of teenagers and adolescents dedicate their time to athletics. In fact, nearly 8 million students participate in high school sports. With the increasing popularity of club sports, most kids are practicing and playing their dedicated sports year-round. Participating in organized sports allows kids to become a part of a team and improves both physical and mental health. Howeve...

It is no surprise that more and more kids are experiencing stress and anxiety. With the recent current events including COVID-19, these last few years have been stressful for everyone. As kids get older and begin to take on more responsibility and experience more changes in life, stress becomes more apparent. Today we are going to talk about strategies that provider can incorporate into clinic, th...

Today's episode is underwritten by Transamerica, a proud supporter of Charting Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado. Transamerica is committed to helping improve the overall wellness within all communities. Their partnership supports the urgent need in our community of pediatric mental health. Thank you Transamerica. When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, it is important for the...

Getting your tonsils out used to mean spending a few days in the hospital and getting ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, or T&A, is the second most common childhood surgery performed. It is important for pediatricians to have a detailed understanding of indication for referral, pre- and post-surgical management, and how this procedure has evolved over time...