Meet the Team – Briana Arteaga
When you visit the office, she is most likely to greet you at the front desk. We invite you to get to know our northeast Florida native and celebrity look-alike, Briana Arteaga. Q: Where are you from? A: Jacksonville Beach, Florida Q: Well, being a native of northeast Florida, do you have any favorite activities? A: Usually I go to the gym, or just relax at home. Q: Do you have children? A: Not yet, but I would like to have 3. Q: Wow! Three kids, how fun! What about pets, do you have any? A: Yes, I have a dog named Harley and a cat named Sam. Q: How would you describe your job at Pediatric Care Center? A: I would say my job is busy, yet rewarding. Q: Are you what you wanted to be when you grew up? A: Not yet, but I am getting there! Q: Around the office is there one question you get asked a lot? A: Yes! I am always asked “Has anyone ever told you, you look like Selena Gomez?”. It’s fun. Well, we can tell there is a resemblance… Q: Can you tell parents what trends in illness you’ve seen recently so they are aware? A: Sure. Recently we’ve seen cases of the flu and lots of strep throat and RSV. Q: What tips would you offer parents coming in for their next visit? A: Come prepared at your next visit with a list a present and/or past symptoms, and any related questions. Q: We ask everyone to share a funny story about times in the office. What is one of your stories? A: Last Christmas season, I asked many kids what they wanted from Santa. Most said the usual…toys, bikes and dolls. One particular boy, who was 3 years old, caught me off guard by saying “an iPad”. Needless to say, I asked him to ask Santa to send me one too! That is pretty funny Briana! Thank you for sharing a little of you today!
Crib Safety
In recent months the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled multiple items involving cribs. Most of the recalls were due to suffocation of infants. We want to make sure your little one has safe and incident free slumber and provide a few tips for crib safety. Infants should never be placed to sleep with their face down. Either lay them in the crib facing you, or on their side. To avoid the potential for suffocation, you should not place stuffed animals, plush toys, soft bedding, pillows in the crib with your child. Consider using Easy Breathe Mesh bumpers rather than traditional bumpers. There should be no more than 2 finger length of space between the mattress and the crib. Remove all plastic from the mattresses, including plastic mattress covers. Be sure to sheet covers should be pulled taut. Please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website for more information on crib safety and recent recalls.
Meet the Team – Khemara Ham-Sy
This month we are featuring a special team member expecting the arrival of her first child! Meet Khemara Ham-Sy Khemara was born in a refugee camp in Thailand as her parents migrated across the globe from Cambodia to America in search of freedom and the American dream. Such an amazing journey! We decided to catch up with Khemara before she left on maternity leave, to give you a chance to learn more about her. Q: So, when is your baby due? A: December 2010. We are having a boy and we are very excited! Q: Tell us about your job at Pediatric Care Center. A: I am the office manager for the beach office. I can be found doing any and everything around the office. I love what I do! Q: Are you what you wanted to be when you grew up? A: When I was little, my dream was to become a pediatrician. I am still working towards my degree in nursing. But, I am surrounded by kids everyday and I love it! Q: What’s the number one question you are asked in the office? A: Is Dr. Benitez here today. Q: Tell us one funny story from the office. A: There is NEVER a dull moment when I come to work. The dancing moments are always funny! Especially when Dr. Pitocchi is doing the superman or when Crystal and Katrina come around the corner singing a tune. Q: Sounds fun! So, how do you relax after work, what is your favorite activity? A: I like to spend quality time with my family. Q: Do you have any pets? A: No pets for now. You are going to have so much fun with your new baby boy! Ok, just two more questions to help our parents coming to the office… Q: Have you seen any trends or illnesses that parents have had questions about recently? A: I would say that now with cooler weather coming, respiratory infections may increase, and last year the flu season was very active. Q: Any tips for parents to make the most of their visit? A: Write your questions and concerns down on paper, so they can be answered when you visit.
Meet the Team – Carolina Renteria
She typically works the later shift at Pediatric Care Center, so if you’ve had to come in for an early evening visit, you’ve probably met her. This month’s featured team member is Carolina Renteria! Carolina is a native of Columbia, South America. Did you know Columbia has the 2nd largest population in South America and 29th largest in the world! Wow! We took a few moments to find out what Carolina does when she is not at the office… Q: What’s your favorite after work activity? A: Relaxing at home and playing with my labrador/cocker spaniel ‘Papi Chulo’ Q: What’s the number one question you get asked in the office? A: Alot of people ask if we are really open 24 hours Q: How would you describe your job? A: I love it! We have a great team and work together through everything. Everyone is nice and helpful! Q: Do you have kids? A: Not yet, but I would like three. Two boys and a girl Q: Do you have a favorite funny story from the office? A: Yes, once Dr. B was leaving a room doing a cheer that two patients taught him. The three of them ended up doing the cheer together in the office. That was funny!
We’re Open on Labor Day!
We are excited, Monday is the first day in our new office, and we are open for business! The new office is located near Baymeadows and 9A, at 8177 Point Meadows Drive. Appointments for new or existing patients can be made by calling 519-6555. We wish you a happy and safe holiday weekend! Rest assured we are here if you need us…at BOTH locations! Pediatric Care Center is not a substitute for emergency or trauma-related medical care. If you feel your child is experience a life-threatening event, immediately call 9-1-1.
Position Opening at Pediatric Care Center
Registered Nurse (RN) Position opening at Pediatric Care Center in Jacksonville, Florida. RN needed for 8p-8a shift at Pediatric Care Center. Responsibilities include the care of overnight patients at our facility for observation, IV hydration or IV antibiotic treatment and the coordination of overnight patient telephone calls and visits. Current Florida RN License and 1year IV experience required. Pediatric nursing experience preferred. Pediatric Care Center has recently been listed in the Jacksonville Business Journal as a 2010 Best Places to Work and a top 50 Fasted Growing Private Companies in Jacksonville. Come join our team! Resumes can be sent to 24hourkidcare@gmail.com
Dr. Benitez in TU
Take a look at Mark Wood’s column today in the Florida Times-Union about Dr. B’s trip to Haiti. Click here to read the article!
Dr. Benitez Haiti Update #9
The following posts are updates as written by Anna Benitez, Dr. Benitez’ wife, relating Dr. Benitez’ experiences while he was in Haiti as part of the MIMA Foundation medical mission. I got him!! He is home and safe. He says it was a “tremendous experience” and he is very glad he went and is proud of the work the group did there. On a more personal note, I am surprised to see he is a bit traumatized from the trip. We have done a lot of missionary trips, to some of the poorest countries in the world, but this one seems to have had a strong effect on him. He says the devastation is extreme and the misery is tremendous. Please continue to pray for the workers that are there, the people that are affected and hope that the rebuilding of the country is in the best interest of the people. When I asked him what he wanted me to say in this note, he said “tell them I’ll be back to work on Friday!” Anna
Dr. Benitez Haiti Update #8
Dr. Benitez will be landing in Orlando at 10:30 this morning. Welcome home!
Dr. Benitez Haiti Update #7
What a day … how do women send their husbands and sons off to war, for months and years … I don’t know how they do it. OK, they booked a small plane that flew them to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, arriving at 4p, YEA! For those that don’t know, Norberto and his son both went to medical school there so it’s almost a home away from home. They are having a hard time getting a flight home. They still haven’t left the airport trying to find someone that will book a flight for them to leave sometime tomorrow but all the airline desks are closed for the night. They are working with management to see if they can get something done tonight. In the meantime, they still haven’t eaten (the Haitian airport had bottled water but no food) and their day started at 4a this morning so frustrations are running high. Norberto was very upset that the Haitian government tried to make them pay an “airport tax” of $30 a piece before they could leave Port au Prince. They eventually had one of the Americans tell the Haitians that that wasn’t going to happen and it was “waived”. He said the airport reminded him of something out a movie about Vietnam, military guys with guns, planes and helicopters coming in and out, cargo everywhere. Hopefully, we can get some of the pictures emailed when he comes back. I will let everyone know when they have reached the states, in the meantime he is at least out of Haiti and that was the biggest challenge. Thanks for all the prayers! There were so many people that were working to get them all home, from Richard Quinn (our good friend that works with Homeland Security here at the port) to the Indiana Congressman, I even got a call from the “Commander of slot positions” from the Dept. of Defense … it makes you proud to be an American, Anna