www.utmbstarchild.org
Volume No. 2, Issue No. 1
January 21, 2010

Ped-E-News

UTMB Children's Health wishes you and yours a Happy 2010!

Many of you find our specialty care an excellent resource for your patients and family. As we kick off this new year, we would like to take this opportunity to let you know about the exciting new developments at UTMB Children's Health.

Pediatric Inpatient Unit:
Our 16-bed Pediatric Inpatient Unit offers treatment for infants, children, and teens with acute illnesses (pneumonia, UTI, cellulitis, etc.) as well as coordinated interprofessional care for chronic medical conditions and/or special health care needs, such as failure to thrive, feeding problems, complications of prematurity, genetic disorders, birth defects, seizures, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, etc. We co-manage pediatric surgical sub-specialty patients (Ortho, ENT, Burn Service, Trauma Service, etc.). The full range of Pediatric medical sub-specialists are available for consultation.

Neonatal Nurseries:
The Neonatal Nurseries, include the normal Newborn Nursery and the Infant Special Care Unit.  Newborn Nursery currently admits 500-600 normal babies per month. The ISCU admits all Level II and Level III babies. We continue to offer the full range of respiratory care, including ECMO, nitric oxide and high frequency oscillatory ventilation. Subspecialty consultation is readily available with the exception of complex cardiovascular surgery.

PICU:
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) reopened December 1, 2009, and offers critical care services for infants, children and adolescents with severe illness or injury.

Child Life:
As an important part of the multidisciplinary team and with focus on the psychosocial needs of children, Child Life is available to provide a variety of support mechanisms for children and their families. Professionals are available to assist with procedural preparation, procedural support to assist with coping skills and distractions, developmentally appropriate and medical play opportunities, family and sibling support and education, bereavement support, education assessment and support, and school re-entry. 

Ronald McDonald House:
The Ronald McDonald House of Galveston is a “home-away-from-home” for the families of children who are seeking medical treatment at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Shriners Hospital for Children - Galveston and Transitional Learning Center. The House is more than a place to stay; as an alternative to an isolated hotel room, the families and children enjoy cheerful surroundings and the support of other families, volunteers and staff.

We are excited to share these steps with you and hope that you find this information useful. Our outpatient services are available in many communities on the mainland and our plans to extend our inpatient services are continuous. Look for more news in the coming months.

UTMB’s Pediatric Otolaryngology

UTMB’s Pediatric Otolaryngology Consultants are comprised of Dr. Harold Pine and Dr. Shraddha Mukerji. Their main goal is to advance the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, and throat disorders in infants, children, and adolescents by utilizing the latest advances in the field of otolaryngology. They offer a full range of pediatric ENT services, working with an amazing team of pediatric audiologists and speech pathologists as needed. Some of the outstanding pediatric services provided by these physicians include treatment of:

• Airway Problems
• Chronic Sinus Infections
• Congenital Lesions of the Head and Neck
  
• Foreign Body Removal
• Hearing Loss
• Recurrent Ear Infections
• Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Tonsil and Adenoid Problems
• Vertigo Disorders

Dr. Pine is currently seeing patients in Galveston and Dr. Mukerji in Texas City. To schedule an appointment with either physician, please call (281) 338-0829.

What Does an Otolaryngologist Do?

A board certified otolaryngologist has been trained in medical and surgical skills to treat these areas of the head and neck:
Skin & Face
Including cancer, cosmetic surgery (face lift, skin resurfacing, eyelid surgery), and rehabilitation of facial paralysis.
Nose & Sinuses
Including allergy, sinus infection, breathing, tumors, cosmetic surgery and reconstruction, and disorders of taste and smell.
Ears
Including balance disorders, infections, tumors, repair of external ear deformities, and hearing testing and treatment by surgery or with hearing aids.
Mouth
Including fractures of the jaw and other facial bones, diseases of the mouth and repair of birth defects.
Throat & Voice Box
Including swallowing and breathing problems, infections, tumors, birth defects, speech and voice diagnostics and therapy.
Neck
Including tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, saliva-producing glands, and other neck tumors/cancer.

Specialty Care Services available at UTMB Children's Health

UTMB Pediatric Eye Doctor Seeing Patients on Saturdays

Pediatric eye doctor John S. Davis, MD, will see patients on Saturdays at the UTMB University Eye Center in Friendswood beginning in January. "We're expanding office hours to two Saturdays a month to make it more convenient for busy families. It should make it easier for working parents and their school-aged children," Davis said. Davis is a specialist with experience in treating all eye problems affecting children, including

glaucoma, cataracts and strabismus (eye alignment disorders). He also specializes in complex strabismus problems affecting adults. Appointments are being scheduled 8:30 a.m.-noon for the following dates: Jan. 9; Jan. 23; Feb. 6; Feb. 20; and March 6. To make an appointment during office hours, call the UTMB University Eye Center, Friendswood, at (281) 996-7564. To schedule an appointment after hours call the UTMB Access Center at (409) 772-2222.  UTMB University Eye Center in Friendswood, the first multi-specialty ophthalmology treatment center to serve the Friendswood area, is located at 400 W. Parkwood, Suite 120. More information is available at www.UTMBeyecenter.com.

Hours for After Hours Pediatric Urgent Care

Open Evenings ~ Weekends ~ Holidays
On-site Lab and X-rays

We provide a caring environment for you and your child. There’s always a pediatrician on-site to quickly address your child’s urgent health care needs.

Two locations for your convenience —

Copyright 2009 The University of Texas Medical Branch.
Published by UTMB Department Pediatrics    •   Phone: (409) 772-5273  •   Fax: (409) 772-4599
301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas, 77555-0351  •  UTMB Maps & Directions