Behavioral and Mental Health, Pediatric Services

Pediatric psychiatrist Virginia F. Barbosa, M.D., joins Norton Children’s Autism Center

Child psychiatrist Virginia F. Barbosa, M.D., has joined Norton Children’s Autism Center, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, and Norton Children’s Behavioral & Mental Health, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. Dr. Barbosa is board certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. For several years, Dr. Barbosa was medical director of…

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Adult Services

Study shows younger African Americans sick with diseases that tend to affect older white people

Younger African Americans are more likely to have conditions like heart disease, stroke and diabetes that among white people tend not to show up until much later in life, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among the study’s findings: “Social and economic conditions, such as poverty, contribute to the…

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Adult Services, Obstetrics

COVID-19 adding to stresses, substance use during pregnancy

As the nation’s attention turns toward the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, providers are seeing many pregnant patients engaging in unhealthy behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use, to cope with the stress of the pandemic. Across all demographics, mental health issues have increased with the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a…

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Nephrology, Pediatric Services

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is gold standard for diagnosing hypertension in children

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimates that 19.3% of U.S. children ages 2 to 19 have obesity, including 6.1% with severe obesity, and another 16.1% are overweight. The current prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in children is 11% and is expected to rise. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the gold…

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Adult Services, Pediatric Services

Providing inclusive care builds trust and openness

Pride Month offers an opportunity to reevaluate our health care standards to ensure we are practicing in a safe, supportive way for all patients. And, as we celebrate this month, it’s important we take this time to reflect, understand and learn in order to better provide more inclusive care. Affirming a patient’s identity We cannot…

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Adult Services, Cardiovascular

A minimally invasive option for mitral regurgitation in high-risk patients

Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a minimally invasive treatment for patients at high risk for conventional surgery. Mitral valve regurgitation sometimes doesn’t need any treatment or can be treated with medication. In moderate to severe cases the valve needs repair to make it close tighter…

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Neonatology, Pediatric Services

Getting babies home and improving outcomes at NICUs

Maybe the most important part of the job for Hannah R. Fischer, M.D., is sending babies home from the hospital after a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Dr. Fischer, neonatologist with Norton Children’s Neonatology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, specializes in managing infants who are premature or have life-threatening conditions….

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Pediatric Services

New option for kids with prolonged symptoms after COVID-19

Since October 2020, Norton Children’s Infectious Diseases, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, has offered a clinic for children who continue to feel unwell long after they recover from acute COVID-19. As the pandemic persists, we are learning more about children with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms. These may be specific and localized, such as headaches,…

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Endocrinology, Pediatric Services

Helping young LGBTQ+ patients feel included in your practice

There are some simple steps that providers can take in their practices that may make transgender and gender-diverse adolescents feel included, socially affirmed and more comfortable talking about their specific needs. One of the most important things a provider can do is ask patients their chosen name and the pronouns they use to refer to…

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Adult Services, Neuroscience

Top 5 things to know about caring for migraine patients

As a physician trained in family medicine who now specializes in headache treatment, I’ve seen migraines from both sides. Here are the five things every primary care provider should know when caring for migraine patients. The ‘sinus headache’ is largely a myth When a patient says they’re experiencing a sinus headache, 90% of the time…

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Pediatric Services

When to refer a child with severe asthma

Children and teens experiencing severe cases of asthma face unique challenges living in the Louisville area. Louisville is routinely among the most challenging cities to live with asthma and among the top cities with emergency room visits for asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. If a child you are treating has…

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Pediatric Services

Coordinating sickle cell disease care for a lifetime

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at high risk for a broad range of acute and chronic conditions affecting many of the body’s systems and carrying a high association with morbidity. Given the broad range of potential manifestations of the disease, coordinating care among primary care providers, specialists, emergency departments, laboratories and hospitals can…

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