Pediatric Services

Mystery solved: Sudden onset of obsessive behaviors following infection

A 5-year-old girl arrived in the Norton Children’s Hospital emergency department in December with behavior that was frightening her parents and her siblings. Earlier in the month, the girl began moving abnormally and had become prone to emotional outbursts. One day she repeated the word “puppy” over and over and then laughed hysterically. The next,…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Unique diabetes sports and activity program helping active youth manage diabetes

The Christensen Family Diabetes Sports & Activity Program is the only program of its kind nationally focused on helping active children and young adults manage diabetes on and off the playing field. Activity is one of the big variables during the day causing fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and everyone is different. You can’t put…

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Pediatric Services

Jun Zhao, D.O., named physician lead for outpatient care at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute

Jun Zhao, D.O., pediatric hematologist/oncologist, has been named physician lead for outpatient care at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Dr. Zhao will work with Ashok B. Raj, M.D., medical director, Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, and division chief of pediatric hematology/oncology for the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department…

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Pediatric Services

7-session online program helps teens quit tobacco and vaping

N-O-T: Not on Tobacco, an American Lung Association program led by trained Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness facilitators, is helping kids in the Louisville area quit tobacco and vaping. About 90% of teens who participated in a N-O-T program nationally have either quit or reduced their use of tobacco, according to the American Lung Association….

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CME, Pediatric Services

Tips for health care providers reporting child abuse and neglect

All individuals in Kentucky, regardless of profession, are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Health care providers, due to their knowledge and expertise, can offer investigators a wealth of information and insight into children’s medical conditions and injuries. Making reports to investigators clearly, effectively and without delay can significantly alter the…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Changing the trajectory of patients’ lives with advancements in diabetes technology

An artificial pancreas is the Holy Grail of diabetes technology. We are not there yet, but new technology is moving us closer by managing insulin more precisely than ever before — and changing the trajectory of patients’ lives in the process. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM), sometimes called a continuous blood glucose monitor, actually measures…

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Medical Group, Pediatric Services

March 2021 Norton Children’s Medical Group New Providers

Laura B. Bishop, M.D. Pediatric Hospital Medicine Swapna K. Chandran, M.D. Pediatric Otolaryngology Clayton B. Cummings, M.D. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Hazar Hassuneh, M.D. Pediatric Hospital Medicine Vicki L. Owczarzak, M.D. Pediatric Otolaryngology Ndah Akwesi Poteh, M.D. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Wayne Stark Jr., M.D. Pediatric Emergency Medicine M. Kathryn “Katie” Alonso, APRN Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Mary Jeanne…

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Pediatric Services

Helping your pediatric patients adhere to their asthma action plans

Establishing an asthma action plan for your pediatric patients is a great first step, but helping them and their families adhere to it could be even more important. Self-management through an asthma action plan that guides patients in adjusting their medication improves quality of life, reduces use of health care and leads to fewer days…

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Pediatric Services

Erythrocytapheresis minimizes iron load and improves growth in sickle cell patients

Erythrocytapheresis (automated red cell exchange) increasingly is used to replace sickled red cells in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients as an alternative to transfusion. The procedure doesn’t significantly raise the total hemoglobin — a frequent result of other methods — when replacing sickled red cells with healthy donor cells. Erythrocytapheresis removes the patient’s sickled red…

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Adult Services, Medical Group, News, Pediatric Services, System

Patients will get test results faster

Starting on April 5, 2021, patients will have immediate access to most test results and progress notes through their MyNortonChart accounts. New federal laws taking effect that day require health care organizations to give patients immediate access to progress notes and test results as soon as they are completed. (These new laws do not replace…

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Behavioral and Mental Health, Pediatric Services

Referring kids for mental health care as pandemic persists

The COVID-19 pandemic created not only a physical health crisis, but a mental health crisis that will likely outlast the virus, according to Kristie V. Schultz, Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist with Norton Children’s Behavioral & Mental Health, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. “While life-threatening physical health effects may impact some personally, the mental…

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Pediatric Services, Urology

Pediatricians can prepare families for the possibility of persistent cloaca with prenatal ultrasound

Cloaca — a severe anorectal malformation where the genital, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts share a common channel — can be observed through prenatal ultrasound, and pediatricians should be alerted to the possibility of persistent cloaca, according to a study published recently in Global Pediatric Health. Prenatal ultrasound findings may raise suspicion of a persistent cloaca,…

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