Volume 11, Issue 5
MAY 2009   

 

 
   Fact: This holiday was created
   by Anna Jarvis and in 1912 she
   trademarked "second Sunday
   in May" and "Mother's Day"
   and created the Mother's Day
   International Association. On
   behalf of the entire staff at APL,
   we wish mothers all the best on
   Sunday and for years to come!

 

 
    As a courtesy to our patient families we want to
    bring you the latest information on H1N1 (Swine
    Flu) from the CDC.
 
    View answers to frequently asked questions on
    the description of H1N1, exposure, prevention,
    treatment and more. To keep track of confirmed
    cases throughout the United States, click here.
   

   
     (NewsUSA) - In many states, shoppers at local drug or discount stores may find themselves standing
     next to a health care clinic. That’s right, amid the over-the-counter cold medications, greeting cards
     and vitamins, clinics that offer diagnoses of conditions such as swimmer’s ear and bladder and ear
     infections are popping up in drugstores, supermarkets and discount stores across the nation.

     These in-store clinics, also known as retail-based clinics, are often staffed by physician’s assistants
     and nurse practitioners who, in a normal medical office setting, would practice alongside a physician. 
     However, in the case of retail-based clinics, some states do not require that the supervising physician
     be on-site during the diagnosis and treatment of many illnesses.
      

    

Parents need to be cautious when considering seeking care for their children at in-store clinics. Professionals who staff these clinics might not be specially trained in pediatrics and are not aware of your child’s medical history.

Whether it’s information about your child’s immunizations or allergies, having the patient’s medical record on hand is paramount to safe, effective treatment options – options that might best be decided by your child’s own pediatrician, who has access to this information.

Consistency is also key to proper health care. With every visit and phone call, the pediatrician is learning about your child’s health care
     needs, enabling her to make decisions with complete knowledge and information. This is why children’s 
     health care is ideally delivered or coordinated through the child’s “medical home,” the office of the
     primary-care pediatrician. And while in-store clinics are accessible, convenient and, in some cases,
     less expensive, their staff has a limited number of conditions that they are permitted to treat, and they 
     don’t offer the comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment that your child’s pediatrician would.

     So, the next time you stop into your local drugstore for an over-the-counter fever reducer for your child
     and spot a health clinic, think twice before choosing this venue for your child’s treatment.

     For more details about in-store clinics, contact the American Academy of Pediatrics at:  www.aap.org
 

At APL, no question is too silly and remember the first five-thousand are free.

 


 
 
   Every year in the United States nearly 5 million people are bitten by a dog.
   It is a common source of injury and rates among the top ten causes of injury
   to children. Dog bites account for far more emergency room visits than
   accidents from skateboarding, inline skating and horseback riding combined.
   The majority of dog-related attacks occur in children between 5 to 11 years of
   age. However, there are simple guidelines for both children and parents to
   follow to help prevent this potentially devastating injury.
 
   Children as well as adults should learn the basics of “canine body language”.
   For example, an angry dog may place its ears up and forward, stare right at you, show all of its teeth,
   tense their body and lean forward while having their tail high and stiff. An angry dog tries to look bigger
   and may bark, growl or remain silent.  A dog that is afraid has its ears pulled back, avoids eye contact,
   may back away with its body low to the ground and tail tucked between its hind legs trying to look smaller.
   A happy dog has a relaxed face and body, mouth may be open but upper teeth won’t show, and may
   have its tail low and wagging as it walks around and sniffs objects of interest.
  
    Practice and teach your child to “WAIT” before petting a dog:
  
        Wait to see if the dog is with its owner and looks friendly.
        Ask the owner for permission to pet their dog.
         Invite the dog to sniff you and use a quiet voice to talk to the dog. Stand with your hands curled at
          your sides while waiting for the dog to come to you.
        Touch the dog gently to pet and never pet near the face, head or tail. Also instruct your child to stop
          and walk away slowly if the dog looks afraid or angry, if the owner does not allow petting, or if the
          dog does not come over to sniff him.
 
   Here are a few other rules to remind your child about dog safety: Hugs are for people, not for dogs.
   There should be no screaming or running around dogs and never go near a dog that is sleeping, eating
   or feeling sick. Don’t go near a dog that is in a car, behind a fence or tied up, even if you know him. Dogs
   like to chase so if you’re on a bike or skateboard and a dog runs up to you, stop and put the bike or
   skateboard between you and the dog. Lastly, if a strange dog comes near you, be “boring”. Stand like a
   tree with your arms in front of your chest and look at the ground, not at the dog. Or lie like a rock if you are
   already on the ground and pull your knees to your chest, cup your hands over your ears and cover your
   face with your arms.
 
   There are some additional safety tips for parents to consider as well. Be aware that neutered dogs are
   far less likely to bite than sexually intact dogs, and female dogs are less likely to bite than male dogs.
   Also before adopting or purchasing a dog, make sure to select the proper breed for his environment.
   You can refer to the website of the American Veterinary Medical Association for this type of advice
   (www.avma.org). Extremely useful information can also be found through other organizations that are
   working to educate about dog bite prevention such as “Prevent the Bite” (www.preventthebite.org), the
   American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) and the United States Postal Service (www.usps.com). 
 

 
We have made it easy for you by
centralizing calls for both offices.
To make an appointment, talk to
a nurse or to contact a physician,
dial our main office number.
 
(847) 398-0400 Main Number
(847) 398-9590 Fax
 
algonquinpediatrics.com
arlingtonpediatrics.com
 

   Last month when we asked our patient families
   to give us their opinion on various healthcare
   topics...the response was overwhelming! Below
   are the results and topics you want to learn about:
    
          65%   Internet Safety Tips
     (Talk booked for 6-30-09 with the Algonquin Police Dept.)           20%   Immunizations and Autism
          15%   Other
 
     Thank you for your participation and your input!
 

Our motto: "We treat our patients like our own children and grandchildren."

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