As a child with spina bifida grows, complications associated with the disease may surface and potentially deteriorate some of their physical and mental functional abilities. The goal of treatment is to monitor for these issues and try to prevent them.
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which an area of the spinal column does not form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back.
Gracias por acompañarnos estamos aquí en DMG estamos en el Departamento de Salud Mental y comportamiento y quiero saber qué es lo que tienes ahí platícame Qué significa eso Este es un corazón se es una actividad que hago con mis pacientes
Muy buenas tardes gente la Tricolor aquí me encuentro con arlín en dmg Sears y nos va a estar platicando de su rol aquí tan importante para los niños nombre serlín yo trabajo aquí desde el 2019 mi error es que integrar el cuidado…
Hola qué tal Muy buenos días Nos encontramos otra vez en dmg aquí me encuentro con Gabriela Gabriela Muchísimas gracias por tomarte un tiempo de tu vida tan ocupada aquí y vamos a empezar Qué es una trabajadora social una trabajadora es más una persona para poder ayudar a esas familias agarrar los recursos…
(DMG CRS) Los trabajadores sociales médicos se aseguran de que los pacientes y sus familias tengan acceso a la atención y el apoyo adecuados. Nuestros trabajadores sociales facilitan el tratamiento médico centrado en la familia durante las citas en persona y de telesalud.
By Troy Nelson, MD, pediatrician and medical director at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services
Whether it’s childhood immunizations or vaccinations for the flu or COVID-19, getting a vaccine is an anxiety-causing process for many children. If your child has special needs or a complex medical condition, getting vaccinations can be more stressful for both you and your child.
Here’s some tips for supporting children with special needs getting vaccinated.
As pediatricians, our goal at DMG CRS’ primary care clinic is to make every child’s appointment positive and comforting. Partnering with parents or guardians is key to this goal and making your child feel confident and safe with their medical providers. We’re here to listen and support you in managing your child’s health and wellness.
This article was originally published by dmgaz.org on August 2, 2022
By Pamela Murphy, MD, pediatrician in the Spina Bifida Clinic at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services
As a pediatrician, I am asked frequently about childhood vaccinations. Are they safe? Do they cause one disease while trying to prevent another? As a parent or guardian, it’s our responsibility to provide safe care for our children and asking questions and getting the facts from credible sources are part of that responsibility.
U.S. public health officials and physicians have been combating misconceptions about vaccine safety for more than twenty years. Despite these efforts, childhood immunization rates have fallen in the past two decades resulting in resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough (pertussis) and measles. For example, in 2010, California saw more cases of whooping cough than any year since 1947, according to research published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
August is Immunization Awareness Month. Let’s look at what childhood vaccinations are recommended when and address the most common misinformation about childhood vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has easy to review children’s vaccines schedules by age group on their website. All the vaccinations listed below are available at DMG CRS’ primary care clinic.
In addition to any vaccines missed that were recommended during early childhood, the CDC recommends the following vaccines for kids ages 7-18:
If your child has certain health conditions that put them at increased risk for serious diseases, your pediatrician may also recommend the following vaccinations be administered:
The CDC also recommends children ages six months and older receive the COVID-19 vaccination, and children ages five and older also get the booster. The COVID-19 vaccination is not available at DMG CRS. For more information on COVID-19 vaccinations for children, including locations providing these vaccinations, visit the Maricopa County Public Health website.
According to PublicHealth.org, the following are the top three myths about childhood vaccinations.
Myth #1: Vaccines increase the risk of autism.
This hypothesis originated in 1997 from study by a British surgeon who concluded that the MMR vaccine was increasing autism in children in the United Kingdom. The article “has since been completely discredited due to serious procedural errors, undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, and ethical violations.” The physician author lost his medical license, and the paper was retracted.
Myth #2: Infant immune systems can’t handle so many vaccines.
The cells in the immune system are constantly being replenished, making it near impossible for a baby’s immune system to be overwhelmed by immunizations. In fact, babies are exposed to numerous bacteria and viruses every day; vaccines are minor in comparison.
Myth #3: Natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity.
While in some cases, catching a disease and getting sick (i.e., “natural immunity”) results in a stronger immunity to the disease than a vaccination, the risks outweigh the benefits. For example, if a child were to catch the measles, they would face a one in 500 chance of death from symptoms; in contrast, having a severe allergic reaction to the MMR vaccine is less than one-in-a-million according to the CDC.
As families travel more, especially internationally, the risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases increases. Even if the disease is not prevalent in the United States, it may be in other countries. COVID-19 gave us a strong example of how quickly a virus can spread from one continent to the next.
DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services’ (DMG CRS) primary care clinic specializes in medical care of all children. We know that, especially if your child has a complex condition, getting vaccinations can be challenging and concerning. Your child may have increased anxiety resulting from their medical conditions making getting immunizations even more scary for them. You may have questions about how vaccinations fit into your child’s therapy plan. Our pediatric primary care providers are here to answer your questions and provide compassionate, experienced, and individualized care to support the health of your child and your family.
Article originally published by dmgaz.org on August 1, 2022
By Troy Nelson, MD, pediatrician and medical director, DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services
The baby formula shortage in the United States has prompted the need to find solutions to decrease the risk of a shortage impacting the country again. According to a recent article by NPR, often overlooked in the race to fill the gap is the most natural alternative: mother’s milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends “exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for one year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant.” Despite this recommendation, 2018 data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that only one in four babies born in the United States met this target; in Arizona, 50 to 60 percent of babies met this target.
So, why do mothers stop breastfeeding? According to the CDC, how long a mother breastfeeds is impacted by:
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding as well as medical experts in women’s health and pediatrics continue to push education about the benefits of breastfeeding. Let’s look at the benefits to you and your baby.
According to HealthyChildren.org, an AAP website, breastfeeding provides emotional, mental and physical health benefits to a mother, including:
Release of good hormones: During breastfeeding, hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin are released which produce peaceful, nurturing, and relaxing sensations that promote bonding with your infant.
Quicker uterus recovery: Oxytocin, released during breastfeeding, helps return the uterus to its regular size more quickly and can reduce postpartum bleeding.
Potential reduced risk of disease: Some studies have found that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes.
Natural contraception: Exclusive breastfeeding delays the return of the mother’s menstrual period, which can help extend the time between pregnancies.
Less expense: Formula can cost four to ten dollars a day or $1460-$3650 annually.
Ease of preparation: Human milk directly from the mother is the right temperature, so no taking time to warm bottles of formula.
Ease of travel: Whether you are going out to run an errand or for the day, no need to bring a bag of temperature-controlled formula.
Environmentally friendly: You get the satisfaction of knowing you are not contributing baby formula cans and packaging to landfills.
Breast milk provides a baby with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. According to the CDC, the benefits of breast milk for your baby include:
The best source of nutrition for most babies, because as the baby grows, the mother’s milk will change to meet the baby’s needs.
Shared antibodies from the mother with her baby
Supports proper brain development through docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in breast milk
Helps protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases and decreases the risk of:
If you have questions about breastfeeding or want more information, please contact your women’s health provider or pediatrician. We’re here to help you make the right decision for you and your baby and provide the support and resources needed for you to care for your newborn.
This post was originally published on June 8th, 2022 at DMGAZ.org
By Megan Aros-O’Malley, PhD, pediatric psychologist at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Unfortunately, children in the United States are currently facing a mental health crisis. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in five children has a mental or behavioral health condition such as anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, or disruptive behavior disorder. However, only about 20 percent of these children received care from a mental health provider.
Parents are often the first to recognize that their child is struggling emotionally and/or behaviorally. A few signs that a mental health difficulty could be arising include (but are not limited to):
Untreated mental health conditions can have many short- and long-term impacts on children’s development, social and behavioral functioning, and home and school life.
Fortunately, help exists. DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services (DMG CRS) Behavioral Health clinic has pediatric psychologists and counselors available to meet the mental health needs of children of all ages. DMG CRS behavioral health providers collaborate with families to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that can include services such as consultation, psychotherapy, and/or psychological testing. Furthermore, with more than 25 pediatric medical specialties on-site, DMG CRS behavioral health providers are skilled at partnering with other pediatric specialists to provide whole-child care that incorporates physical and mental health domains.
This post was originally published on May 5th, 2022 at DMGAZ.org
