www.utmbstarchild.org

Ped-E-News: Winter Holiday Edition

Specialty Care Services available at UTMB Children's Health

Asthma/Allergy Cardiology Child Development and Behavior Diabetes Endocrinology Hematology-Oncology Genetics Immunology Infectious Disease Neurology	Nephrology Premature Infant Follow-up Psychology Special Services Surgery Urology ECI Launch (281) 534-6755 Pediatric Dermatology (281) 337-5134 Pediatric Ophthalmology (281) 996-7564 Pediatric Orthopaedics (281) 334-0620 Pediatric Otolaryngology (409) 986-9686
To make an appointment, please call (409) 772-3695 UTMB recognized for outstanding community service  GALVESTON, Texas - The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has been recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges as a finalist for the 2008 AAMC Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service. Children's Health is one of the areas cited.  Read more here...

Do you know about the Nephrology and Urology programs at UTMB Children's Health? Our specialists diagnose, treat, and manage many disorders affecting the kidney and urinary tract, including kidney failure, high blood pressure, inherited kidney diseases, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and abnormalities in the urine such as blood and protein. They also know how to evaluate and treat problems with growth and development that are specifically related to chronic kidney disease. Our team provides the following services: Dialysis Kidney disease Kidney transplantation Kidney biopsies Lupus nephritis The interpretation of x-ray studies of the kidney The interpretation of laboratory studies related to kidney disease Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring Drs. Balachandra, Lin and Tarry see patients in Galveston and Texas City. To schedule an appointment or consultation, please call (409) 772-3695.
Shivaiah Balachandra, M.D. Pediatric Nephrology	Shwu-Fang 'Sue' Lin, M.D.  Pediatric Nephrology	William Tarry, M.D. Pediatric Urology

UTMB ER now open

The emergency room at UTMB in Galveston is open. Located at 901 Harborside Dr., the ER is receiving patients by both ground and air ambulance and offers the same level of trauma care it did prior to Hurricane Ike (with the exclusion of psychiatric care, for which no inpatient facilities are currently available). UTMB officials estimate that 44,000 people will be treated this year at its campus-based ER.

2009 Holiday Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.  Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.        
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully. 
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet.  Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death -- after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children. 
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.
  

Happy Visiting

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party.  A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
• Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
• Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels. Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

For more safety tips, click here...

Consejos de Seguridad Para Las Fiestas

Volume No.1, Issue No. 8

December 21, 2009

Holiday 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.

December 24—Holiday hours, 12 noon-8 p.m., both locations
December 25—League City, 12 noon-6 p.m. Galveston PUCC will be closed. 
Patients can be seen at the South Shore PUCC or Galveston ER.
December 26 and 27—Regular weekend hours both locations.

For New Years:
December 31 and January 1—Holiday hours, 12 noon-8 p.m., both locations

January 2 and 3—Regular weekend hours.

Two locations for your convenience —

Galveston
Island After Hours Pediatric Urgent Care
2027 61st Street, Galveston
Monday through Friday, 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Holidays, Noon-8 p.m.
(409) 744-KIDS (5437)

League City
After Hours Pediatric Urgent Care
3023 Marina Bay Drive (FM 2094),
Suite 101, League City, Texas 77573
Monday through Friday, 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Holidays, Noon-8 p.m.
(281) 334-6578

H1N1 Vaccine Program

Children's Health has given 3,400 first time vaccines in the past month. The program took the vaccines out to the schools in Galveston.

Hand Sanitizers: Do They Really Protect Us?

• Up to 80 percent of all infections get spread by hands, according to some estimates
• Alcohol in the hand sanitizer disrupts the coating of virus and bacteria particles
• Hand sanitizer does not protect you from whatever you may touch next
• Washing with soap and water is better, but hand sanitizer is the next best thing

CNN. com news story. To read this article in full, click here...

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