just kids | fall 2014
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Children's Hospital & Medical CenterTRANSCRIPT
JustKidsFall 2014ChildrensOmaha.org
PURPLE CRYING?Here’s What to Know 6
TWEENS AND TEENSGet the Care They Need 8
FACT OR FICTION?Common Health Questions 10
Calories Count
for Kids p4
Children’s is bigger, busier and attracting more patients regionally and nationally than ever before.
— Gary A. Perkins, Children’s president and CEO
Your Online Source for Health InfoFor the latest information and news, support groups, events, patient stories, recipes and perspectives from our physicians, check out these online resources:
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JustKids is published by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. © 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
➍ Calories Count for Kids
➎ Staying Active– One Step at a Time!
➏ Understanding the Period of Purple Crying
➐ Children’s Is a Regional Milk Depot
➑ Getting Tweens and Teens the Care They Need
➓ Fact or Fiction: 5 Common Health Questions
Receive Appointment Reminders Via Text Message
Contents
ChildrensOmaha.org JustKids Gary A. Perkins President and CEO Martin W. Beerman Vice President, Marketing
& Community Relations David G.J. Kaufman, MD Medical Advisor Dannee Schroeder Senior Editor
2 To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
What’sNew?
Upcoming Parenting U Classestuesday, oCt. 28 at 6 p.m.preparing For your newbornAnnie Zimmer, MD, Children’s PhysiciansChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center, 8200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68114
tuesday, deC. 2 at 6 p.m.preparing For your newbornChandrika Razid, MD, Children’s PhysiciansChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center, 8200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68114
Call 800-833-3100, or log on to Childrensomaha.org/parentingu to register today.
Construction is underway for the new Carolyn Scott Rainbow House, which
will be located at Farnam and Beverly Drives, close to Children’s. Since 1983,
the current Rainbow House at 7815 Harney has been a “home away from
home” for parents and family members of children receiving care at
Children’s who live 60 miles or more away from Omaha.
In 2013, the Rainbow House served approximately 2,000 families
from more than 25 states. The evolving needs of patients and families,
as well as a steady increase in hospital volume and growing demand
contributed to the decision to build a new facility.
“Children’s is bigger, busier and attracting more patients regionally
and nationally than ever before,” explains Gary A. Perkins, Children’s
president & CEO. “There are many nights when the Rainbow House is
full, and important new services, including the Heart Transplant program
and Fetal Care Center, will continue to stretch our supply of rooms.”
The new three-story, 43,500-square-foot Rainbow House will feature
56 guest rooms, compared to 31 in the current Rainbow House.
Families who stay at the new Rainbow House will enjoy a large
kitchen and dining area and each family will have access to a private
mini-refrigerator. When they need a break from the hospital, families
will be able to relax and socialize with other guests in the Rainbow
House media room, game room, children’s playroom and fitness center.
They’ll be able to take advantage of two guest laundries, an outdoor
patio and a playground during their stay.
There is no formal charge to stay at the Rainbow House–just
a suggested donation of $10 per night. Like Children’s Hospital
& Medical Center, no child or family is ever turned away because
they are unable to pay.
The new Rainbow House will open in January 2015.
NEW Rainbow House OPENS SOON
ChildrensOmaha.org 3
Calories Count FOR KIDS
healthy eating
4 To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
According to a national survey, nearly one in
three children and adolescents is overweight.
In the last two decades, the number of obese
children has doubled. Overweight children face
an increased risk for heart disease, asthma and
diabetes when they grow up. And studies show
that obese children tend to become obese
adults, which poses even more health risks
down the road. In the meantime, they are often
the brunt of teasing and bullying from their
peers. But you can stop the cycle.
According to a study published in
The New England Journal of Medicine, when
it comes to weight loss, cutting calories is key.
If you have an overweight child, making these
simple changes will help reduce calories,
which can lead to weight loss:
• Make sure your child eats breakfast
every day. Eating breakfast prevents
overeating later.
• Eat meals together at the table. Watching
TV while eating is distracting and can lead
to mindless overeating.
• Never force your child to eat when he or
she isn’t hungry. It’s OK if your child doesn’t
clean his or her plate.
• Stock your home with low-calorie snacks
like fresh fruit, carrot and celery sticks and
low-fat yogurt instead of junk food like
chips and cookies.
• Don’t buy sugary drinks like juice and
soda—even if they’re labeled “natural” or
“organic.” Offer your child water, plain or
flavored seltzer or low-fat milk instead.
• Limit trips to fast food restaurants to no
more than once per week. Fast food is
high in calories and low in nutrition—
even most items that are marketed as
healthier options.
By making lots of little changes over time, your
child’s health—and weight—will improve.
In addition to eating healthy, encourage physical activity and active play. Children need a minimum of one hour of physical activity every day.
Here are some easy changes you can make to help your kids exercise more during the day:• Makeaplanforphysical
activityforyourfamilyeachday.If you don’t have a full hour at one time, plan three 20-minute sessions throughout the day.
• Keeptheactivitiessimple.It can be as simple as walking together or playing a game. All you need is a piece of chalk
to play hopscotch. Or, your child might like spinning a hula hoop in the front yard or tossing a flying disc at a grassy area.
• SettimelimitsforTV.Children should have no more than two hours of screen time a day. If your family does watch TV, be active during commercials, such as stretching or doing sit-ups.
• Makesurephysicalactivitiesarefunfor your children so they’ll be more likely to participate again.
Be sure to praise your child for being active. Encouragement is always a good thing.
ChildrensOmaha.org 5
HEAlTHY KOHl’S KIDS
Healthy Kohl’s Kids is a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores focused on educating children and families on the importance of good nutrition and fitness. The program’s website, Childrensomaha.org/HKK, features up-to-date fitness and nutrition info and advice for children and parents. The site also has a library of healthy recipes with how-to videos of young chefs making nutritious meals and snacks.
Healthy Kohl’s Kids invites parents to engage via social media on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter (@HealthyKohlsKid). Share your own healthy recipes, activity ideas and fitness- and nutrition-related links, and receive updates about future Healthy Kohl’s Kids events.
Staying Active–One Step at a Time!
ChildrensOmaha.org 5
baby care
6 To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
You’ve fed, burped, changed, and rocked your
baby, but he or she is still crying—and crying.
You may wonder if something is wrong with
your baby. If your baby has no apparent signs
of illness or injury, chances are he or she is
simply going through a normal phase in
development.
In the past, an inconsolable crying infant
used to be labeled as “colicky,” but experts
now describe this time as the Period of
Purple Crying.
The Period of Purple Crying begins around
2 weeks of age and peaks during the second
month. The amount of crying will then
decrease through ages 3-5 months. All babies
will go through the Period of Purple Crying,
with some babies crying a lot more and
others very little.
Your baby will not turn purple during these
crying episodes. It’s just an acronym used to
help describe what babies and parents will
experience. The word Period is used to indicate
this is a temporary stage in your baby’s
life—and it will end.
The acronym PURPLE stands for:
peak of Crying: Crying peaks during
2 months of age and decreases after that.
unexpected: Crying comes and goes
unexpectedly, for no apparent reason.
resists soothing: Crying may continue
despite all soothing efforts by caregivers.
pain-like Face: Infants look like they
are in pain, even when they are not.
long-lasting: Crying can go on for
30-40 minutes at a time, and often for hours
evening Crying: Crying occurs more in
the late afternoon and evening.
Inconsolable crying can frustrate parents, but
remember to never shake your baby. Often,
frustrated parents feel that shaking their baby
is a harmless way to make the baby stop
crying. In fact, the main reason a baby is
shaken is due to inconsolable crying. However,
shaking a baby is not harmless. This forcible
shaking causes fragile blood vessels in the
brain to shear off and break. Almost 25 percent
of all babies with Shaken Baby Syndrome die.
If you are frustrated and feel the urge to shake
your baby, place her in the crib for a few
minutes and simply walk away or have
someone else take care of her until you
are calm again.
Experts recommend these tips to soothe
your crying infant:
• Carry infant in a sling
• Go for car rides
• Rock gently
• Vacuum
• Sing to baby
• Bathe baby
• Breast-feed
• Use a pacifier
• Skin-to-skin contact
• Direct eye contact/kiss baby/
direct contact
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Understanding the Period of
purple Crying
For babies whose mothers cannot supply sufficient milk for their little ones’ special needs, donor milk is a wonderful alternative. In fact, breast milk has been called “liquid gold” for its ability to help these babies grow and thrive.
Mothers who breastfeed their babies may have excess milk and look for ways they can donate it. A safe way to donate milk that is ethical, as well as life-saving for sick, hospitalized babies, is to have mothers donate to a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) Milk Bank. The closest milk bank to Omaha is located in Denver.
Children’s Hospital & Medical Center now serves as a milk depot for the Denver Milk Bank.
“Children’s works through the Denver Milk Bank to provide milk to babies in our NICU,” said Christina Schill, RN, BSN, IBCLC, lactation consultant. “Through the Milk Depot at Children’s, now we are able to give back to the Denver Milk Bank.”
Because Children’s Milk Depot is not a milk bank, it is only responsible for:• Receiving and storing frozen
milk from qualified donors who were approved by the milk bank
• Providing lab services for the blood draw
• Shipping the milk and blood to the milk bank for processing.
“When people think babies, they think of Children’s, and we believe it is important to give back to the Denver Milk Bank, while also providing this essential service to mothers and babies in the region,” said Christina.
Donor milk is much like blood donation. Some mothers have an abundance of milk and wish to share with mothers who do not. Mothers donating milk go through a stringent screening process, and must be pre-approved. Children’s serves as a conduit between the mothers and the Denver Milk Bank.
Here’s how the process works at Children’s:• Mothers who call Children’s Milk
Depot are directed to contact the Denver Milk Bank for a brief phone interview regarding their lifestyle.
• The Denver Milk Bank will send the mother paperwork and tubes for her to use for blood draws. These are sent directly to the donor mother’s home address. The mother will also receive a donor number to use for future donations. Donor moms can opt for a one-time donation.
• Once the donor mother receives her blood tubes by mail, she will call Children’s Milk Depot to set up a time to drop off her milk and have her blood drawn.
• Children’s Milk Depot will then ship the blood and the milk to the Denver Milk Bank.
Children’s Is a Regional Milk Depot
ChildrensOmaha.org 7
MOrE MIlK INFO
For more information, contact Children’s lactation consultants at 402-955-6152 or email [email protected].
HAVE A HEAlTH QUESTION?If you have questions about children’s health, you’ll find a variety of information on our website. Visit Childrensomaha.org/Healthandsafety.
adolescent health
8 To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
They’ve gone from playing with dolls
and toy trucks to needing a weekend
curfew. Tweens and teens are in that
awkward stage where they are neither
children nor adults, yet they are
dealing with important physical
and emotional changes.
Adolescence is a vital time for
routine health care, yet their rate of
primary care visits is lower than that
of any other American age group.
Teens and tweens are forming habits
that will affect their health for the rest
of their lives. That’s why the American
Academy of Pediatrics and other
experts recommend that teens get
a checkup once a year.
Pediatricians are uniquely equipped
to care for adolescents through age 21.
They are specially trained to address
not only the physical changes taking
place, but the emotional and social
struggles as well. Plus, they know your
child almost as well as you do, and
your teen or tween may feel more
comfortable confiding in them than
in mom or dad.
Clued-In on Adolescents’ ConcernsDuring your child’s annual visit, his
or her pediatrician may:
• Provide guidance on how to
prevent sports-related injuries.
• Discuss the benefits of a healthy
diet and regular exercise.
• Check if your child has high blood
pressure or high cholesterol.
• Perform a Pap test on your
teenage daughter, if appropriate.
• Give your teen any needed
immunizations.
• Talk about the dangers of tobacco,
alcohol and drug abuse.
• Check to see if your teen might
have an eating disorder or a
problem with body image.
Remember that pediatricians have
been trained to care for young adults
up to age 21. And pediatricians are
concerned with more than just
physical well-being. Some teens
today are being drawn toward risky
behaviors that could endanger them
now or in the future. Those behaviors
may include sensitive topics like
substance abuse or sexual activity,
but some adolescents’ concerns about
confidentiality may keep them from
speaking up.
Pediatricians are actively involved
with the prevention, early detection
and management of these problems
that affect children and adolescents,
including:
• Behavioral difficulties
• Developmental disorders
• Functional problems
• Social stresses
• Depression or anxiety disorders
Remind your teens about the
importance of regular health checkups.
And when your teen visits the
pediatrician, make sure they have
some private time to talk with the
doctor in confidence.
Getting Tweens and Teens the CareTheyNeed
ChildrensOmaha.org 9
Fact or Fiction: 5 Common Health QuestionsWe’ve all heard them–those simple tricks or bits of advice for your child’s health. Whether coming from your neighbor, colleague, family member or television commercial, it can be hard to determine what is true–and what isn’t. We’re tackling five common misconceptions when it comes to children’s health.
1Does mayonnaise really work for treating head lice?
no. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, there is no clear
scientific evidence that supports the notion
that mayonnaise effectively treats head lice.
Some people have wondered the same thing
about olive oil, margarine, butter or similar
substances, but again, no proof exists to
support these household goods being used
to treat head lice.
2 Does yellow or green nasal mucus mean that your child has something worse than a cold?
not necessarily. When a cold first starts, the
mucus from a runny nose is clear. After two to
three days, as immune cells begin fighting back,
the mucus changes to white or yellow. Then,
as bacteria that normally live in the nose start
recovering, the mucus may change to a greenish
shade. On the flip side, your child may have
a terrible ear infection or other condition,
but his or her mucus is still clear.
A better way to determine if your child has
something worse than a cold is to determine
if other symptoms of infection are present,
such as a fever or pain in a particular area.
3 Can young children really experience mental health
problems?
yes. Mental health concerns can pop up in
very young children. Most of the time, these
mental health problems can be clinically
diagnosable. Unfortunately, most children
ask the experts
10 To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100
FIND THE rIGHT DOCTOrSelecting a physician who’s a good fit for your family is important. You—and your child—should feel comfortable with the physician. To find the right one for your family, call Children’s Find-A-Doctor service at 1-800-833-3100 or visit childrensomaha.org/findadoctor
and adolescents with diagnosable mental health
problems don’t receive the treatment they need. If
your child has unexplained changes in mood or
behavior, don’t ignore them. Talk with your pediatrician
who can help refer you to a pediatric mental health
provider. Seeking professional help early can make
a difference in your child’s development.
4 Vaccine-preventable diseases are almost nonexistent in the
U.S., so is it safe for my child to skip vaccinations?
no. While vaccination has helped reduce most
vaccine-preventable diseases to very low levels in
the U.S., some of them are still prevalent around the
globe. It’s possible for travelers to accidentally bring
diseases back into the U.S. And for diseases that
still exist within the U.S., if enough people aren’t
vaccinated, that relatively small number of cases
can grow into a full-blown epidemic.
It’s important to have your children receive all of
their vaccinations on time in order to protect them, as
well as those around them. A very small number of
people can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons. The
only chance of protection for these few is if everyone
around them gets vaccinated.
5 Can acne be cleared up quickly?
no. Despite the flashy television ads and promises
on product packages, acne treatment doesn’t work
overnight, or even in a few days. Improvement with
at-home treatment requires four to eight weeks. Once
acne clears, you must continue to treat the skin to
prevent breakouts. Prescription and over-the-counter
(OTC) products can treat the condition. OTC products
are usually the first step, but if they aren’t working,
it’s time to see a dermatologist.
ChildrensOmaha.org 11
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8200 Dodge StreetOmaha, NE 68114402-955-5400
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Selecting a physician who’s a good fit for your family is important. You—and your child—should feel comfortable with the physician. To find the right one for your family, call Children’s Find-A-Doctor service at 1-800-833-3100 or visit childrensomaha.org/findadoctor
TIP: When choosing health insurance, be sure to select a
plan that includes in-network (Tier 1) coverage for care provided by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and its physicians.
FIND THE rIGHT
DOCTOr
Text message reminders are available for families who have upcoming
appointments with Children’s Lab, Radiology, Behavioral Health, Children’s
Physicians or Specialty Pediatric Center outpatient clinics. The process for
enrolling in text reminders involves two steps:
1 You must share your cell phone number with a front
desk staff member.
2 Then, text “CHmC” to 622622 to receive hospital text reminders,
or text “pHysiCians” to 622622 to receive Children’s Physicians
text reminders. Families who have appointments with both a hospital
specialist and with a Children’s Physicians pediatrician must perform
both texts in order to receive text reminders from each entity.
Standard message and data rates may apply. Sign up today for an easy way
to remember upcoming appointments!
Families today are busy and constantly on the go. That’s why Children’s Hospital & Medical Center has made it easier to keep up with your child’s health care. You can now receive appointment reminders via text messages.
RECEIVE APPOINTMENT REMINDERS VIA TExT MESSAGE