Helping our kids appreciate
November begins our month of thanks—what better way to start but with Veteran’s Day. We offer heartfelt appreciation to the veterans in our practice—the moms and dads of our patients and even some of our former patients who have grown up and have served or are serving today. We realize the sacrifice you have made to keep us safe—many thanks. It is impossible to shield kids from all the chaos that is happening in our world. Kids who have parents serving in the military may express a higher level of stress as they hear about the casualties of war. Even if you don’t have the news on, they may...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - November 11, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
PHA welcomes Lisa Martin, MD to the practice!
Lisa Martin, MDLisa Martin, MD, MPH earned her medical degree and completed her residency at the University of Chicago. Afterwards, she pursued a fellowship in general academic pediatrics at Children’s Memorial Hospitalwhile earning her public health degree from Northwestern University. She has spent the last ten years teaching medical students and pediatric residents at Loyola's Stritch School of Medicine as well as caring for patients in Loyola's outpatient clinic. Dr. Martin is passionate about training future physicians and she continues to be an affiliate faculty member at Loyola.Starting...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - November 1, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Changes at PHA Source Type: news
Avoiding Homework Headaches
Brittany Jimenez, RN From the desk of Brittany Jimenez, RNThe kids are back in school. The homework and projects have begun. HELP!! Here are a few ways that parents can help their children to develop good study skills and have a successful school year!Talk to your child’s teacher before a problem arises. A quick email to your child’s teacher can be informative- are there any upcoming assignments or projects due? Is my child paying attention in class and turning in assignments on time? Does m...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - October 25, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner. As parents it can be stressful to hear from your child’s teacher anything negative. Resist the urge to immediately defend your child without knowing the facts. Remember too that many times kids will skew a situation in their favor. Here’s some things to remember:Listen to what the teacher’s concerns are. Take a deep breath and count to ten before responding. Think before your speak. Your child is special. BUT so is EVERY child! Children aren’t perfect and will make all sorts of mistakes so...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - October 11, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Health Insurance Marketplace Opens Today.
Starting today the Health Insurance Marketplace opens. Open enrollment runs October 1st to March 31st and is expected to take effect January 1, 2014. If you have insurance through your employer, you will fair better financially since they pay a portion of your premium than if you purchase a plan independently. But if you have no insurance, here’s some of the important things to consider when reviewing the insurance plans offered at the marketplace:1. Are your physicians and hospitals in-network for the specific plan you are interested in?2 . Will you be eli...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - October 1, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Insurance Benefits Source Type: news
E-Cigarettes
The cost of cigarettes has sky-rocketed. As expected, this has caused revenue for tobacco companies to decline here in the U.S. In an effort to recapture sales, e-cigarettes are now on the market and promoted as a cleaner and cheaper alternative to use. While regular cigarettes cannot be advertised on television, e-cigarette ads are common. Still a relatively new alternative, use of electronic cigarettes has already doubled in one year (2011-2012) among middle school and high school students. Although the percentage of those using e-cigarettes is still in the minority (1.8 million young peopl...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - September 27, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news
Flu Clinic has begun & Local Happenings
Our annual flu clinic is now open for commercial pay patients. For our Medicaid/AllKids and uninsured patients who are in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, we are awaiting our shipment of flu vaccine from the state and will update the blog when we have received them. You may schedule an appointment for the flu clinic by calling the office at 630-717-2300. These clinics are designed for flu shots only and are scheduled with a nurse. If your child is sick, needs a checkup or needs other vaccinations please let the receptionist know when you are scheduling.***************Timothy Wall, MDHealthcare reform will affe...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - September 19, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Volunteer Opportunities Source Type: news
Food Allergies: Back to School Reminders, Chicago-area FARE Walk
From the desk of Shelly Flais, MD:Shelly Flais, MDFood allergies are on the rise; if your family is not affected by a food allergy, it is likely that your kids have a friend or classmate who is. Food allergy is a serious medical condition affecting up to 15 million people in the United States, including 1 in 13 children- roughly two in every classroom. The most common food allergies for kids are milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. A friendly reminder as our kids return to school this month: if your child has a food allergy, make sure your home and school both have a current autoinjecta...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - August 29, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Food Allergies Source Type: news
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(Source: Pediatric Health Associates)
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - August 29, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Glued to the phone?
Many children are socially awkward today. The lack of face to face interaction can hamper a child’s ability to know how to handle situations. While texting is a form of interaction, it does not allow our children to learn important skills in life such as teamwork, learning to share, reading body language or holding a conversation. While on vacation, are your kids so busy texting that they are missing the experience? You’ve spent lots of money and your available time off for this family time---have the kids leave their phones behind so they can take in the scenery, enjoy time with the family and ...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - August 23, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Avoiding Heatstroke
With the sweltering temps the past week, we’d like to remind parents that children should not be left alone in a car even for a minute. Temperatures inside a closed automobile rise quickly and can go well over 100 degrees. So far this year fifteen children who were left in a hot car have died. If you see a child left unattended in a vehicle, no matter what the temperature, you should call 911. Children playing hide ‘n seek see cars as good places to hide so remember to keep your car locked, even in the driveway and garage to ensure that children cannot get inside on their own. ...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - July 22, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news
Arsenic levels in apple juice
Last week you may have heard on the news about arsenic in apple juice. Arsenic is a substance that occurs naturally in the environment but also from things like pesticides and fertilizers that were used in past decades. For over 20 years the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tested fruit juices such as apple juice for arsenic. Testing has shown low amounts present (approximately 3 parts per billion). In contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows maximum arsenic levels of 10 parts per billion in our drinking water.Image Courtesy of FoodClipArt.comThe American Academy of ...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - July 16, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Healthy Habits Source Type: news
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Thanks for your patience while we experienced some computer diffculties this past week. (Source: Pediatric Health Associates)
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - July 12, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Play…why is it so important?
Brittany Jimenez, RN From the desk of Brittany Jimenez, RNAs adults we can often forget how much fun play is to a child. We think, “they are just playing” but did you know that children are learning about themselves and the world through play? Play is essential in language development. From the baby games of “Peek-a-boo” and “So Big” to a backyard game of tag - play builds vocabulary, stimulates imagination and gives children an opportunity to learn and try new words. Children are free to make choices when engaged in play. They can play out scenarios that give them power to express emotions of happ...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - June 24, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
To Swaddle or Not to Swaddle?
Kimberly Gubbins, CPNPFrom the desk of Kim Gubbins, CPNPAs long as we can all remember, babies have been tightly wrapped in swaddles. There are many positives to swaddling an infant. A swaddle keeps a baby warm and helps them sleep. Most believe that swaddling aids in longer sleep hours due to a baby’s innate startle reflex. This is a reflex they cannot control and if swaddled, they are kept from waking themselves more frequently. In the last few years we have seen some worrisome repercussions from the art of swaddling. Two of the main negatives of swaddling include hip dysplasia and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)...
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - June 11, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Changes at PHA Healthy Habits Source Type: news
