Primary Care Perspectives

Dr. Cindy Christian, a medical expert on child welfare, discusses the alarming rise in child abuse rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. She examines how reduced visibility of children to mandated reporters has led to an increase in unreported cases. The conversation delves into pediatricians' roles in identifying signs of abuse, specific injury patterns to watch for, and the importance of documenting concerns accurately. Dr. Christian also highlights the transformative role of telemedicine in monitoring and addressing these critical issues.

Preterm birth results in multiple challenges, both short term in newborn intensive care units, and long term in the neurodevelopmental outcomes of these babies. gretchen Lawhon, PhD, RN, CBC, FAAN, a clinical nurse scientist at Abington-Jefferson Health’s Division of Neonatology, discusses how scientific advances continue to inform how we care for these vulnerable patients, with an emphasis on protecting a baby’s developing brain in the context of their specific behaviors, environment, and family unit. Published March 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, emergency medicine physician and Medical Director of the Poison Control Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, covers all things lead – common sources of lead exposure, long-term effects on children, screenings for blood lead levels, lead poisoning, and management of lead poisoning. Published March 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Pediatric cardiologist Shohba Natarajan, MD, talks about identifying and treating patients at risk for early cardiovascular disease. She identifies pediatric diagnoses that put a child at risk, what to look for in family history, and discusses the important role that primary care pediatricians play in cardiovascular disease screenings and identifying patients who may not otherwise be considered high risk. Published February 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Pediatric endocrinologist Marissa Kilberg, MD, gives a refresher on the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and endocrine labs, including a breakdown of what is being looked at and how to best evaluate adrenal function of a pediatric patient. Published February 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Roy Wade Jr., MD, PhD, MPH, MSHP, a researcher and pediatrician at Primary Care, Cobbs Creek, discusses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their life course impact on the health and well-being of kids. He talks about how primary care pediatricians can assess for ACEs and help address these experiences by collaborating with agencies in our community that are directly addressing these issues with patients and families, current research trends and advocacy efforts, and much more. Published January 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2020 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Lan Chi “Krysti” Vo, MD, an attending psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the current landscape of mental health care in the United States, the need for specialized child and adolescent psychiatrists, and how telepsychiatry has the potential to expand access to mental health services for more patients. Published January 2020. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2019 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Sara Fridinger, MD, a pediatric neurologist from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the nature of febrile seizures in young children. She highlights that while common between 18 and 24 months, they can be alarming for parents. Sara differentiates between simple and complex seizures, offering practical advice on managing them and knowing when to seek help. She also clarifies that febrile seizures are not linked to long-term epilepsy or developmental issues, reassuring families about safety and care protocols.

Sarah Fesnak, MD, an attending physician in the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses the evaluation and management of lacerations in primary care. Appropriate referrals to the Emergency Department and the wound follow-up after repair are reviewed. Published December 2019. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2019 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Sabrina Gmuca, MD, MSCE, and David Sherry, MD, pediatric rheumatologists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, explain the intense pain experienced by children with amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS), common causes and presentations of amplified pain, and evidence-based interventions that can help manage pain in these patients. Published November 2019. This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be considered as medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgment in making recommendations to their patients. ©2019 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.