Three Things You Didn’t Know About Pediatrics
When most people think of pediatricians, they think of baby doctors. Of course, the littlest humans are well taken care of by pediatricians but they do more than just care for babies. Pediatrics associates of Jacksonville are highly skilled doctors who specialize in many aspects of children’s health, from babies to young adults. Pediatricians are also experts at making children feel comfortable, and they communicate well with nervous parents. Pediatricians are highly trained doctors who have specialized in children’s medicine as part of their medical training. Children are not just tiny adults, and they require different knowledge when it comes to providing them with excellent healthcare. The pediatrics associates of Jacksonville at Pediatric Care Centers have a specific interest in the health and wellbeing of children of all ages. 3 Surprising Facts About Pediatrics 1) Pediatrics aren’t just for babies and young children When people talk about pediatrics, they are talking about the healthcare of children, including newborns, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and teenagers. Pediatricians care for kids at every stage, all the way up to 18 years old, and sometimes even 21 years old. 2) Pediatrics involves the overall health and well-being of children The pediatrics associates of Jacksonville not only take care of the regular illnesses and injuries of childhood, but they also take care of more serious diseases and disorders. Pediatricians can also diagnose and treat developmental and behavioral issues, like Autism and ADHD. 3) Some pediatric offices offer 24-hour care Some of the exceptional pediatrics associates of Jacksonville work around the clock to ensure your child has the right care, no matter what time of day it is. The clinics at Pediatric Care Centers offer an alternative to the emergency room in the middle of the night. Our clinics reserve the afterhours services just for our registered patients. Regular Checkups are Key The relationship between pediatrics associates of Jacksonville and their patients is something that grows over time. When children come in from a young age for wellness checks, they are able to develop a trusting relationship with their doctors. For many pediatric associates, that long-term relationship is an important part of providing excellent care. Not only does the child feel more comfortable with their doctor, but the doctor is better able to notice subtle differences in their patients. Excellence in Jacksonville One of the absolute best groups of pediatrics associates of Jacksonville can be found at Pediatric Care Centers. Our team of professionals are dedicated to the healthcare of our patients from newborns all the way to older teenagers. We pride ourselves in treating the whole child. Pediatric Care Centers are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for our registered patients. Excellent pediatrics associates of Jacksonville work together at Pediatric Care Centers to ensure your child gets the best patient-centered experience possible. Our state-of-the-art healthcare facility is able to accommodate a variety of needs, including wellness checks, illness appointments, lab testing, respiratory monitoring, asthma breathing treatments, IVs, vision exams, hearing exams, minor stitches, and even ADHD management. Learn more and schedule an appointment to meet with our team today.
COVID-19 Updates
As we continue to see rising cases, Pediatric Care Center is committed to keeping our employees and patients safe. We ask for everyone’s assistance during these transitions. Please answer the COVID 19 questionnaire accurately. You will not be turned away because of your answer. This is simply guiding the staff on best practices to keep everyone safe. We are discharging families that are inaccurately reporting their symptoms or exposures. Avoid bringing additional individuals to appointments that do not need to be seen. This minimizes unnecessary exposure. No adults appearing for the visit can have COVID-related symptoms. They will be asked to stay in your car. If you have COVID-related symptoms please call the office upon arrival to check-in. We will greet you at your vehicle when a room becomes available. Please do not enter the building. Due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee you will receive a COVID test during your visit. At this time, the FDA has approved the COVID 19 vaccine for ages 16 and up. Our providers are waiting for official guidelines from the Academy of Pediatrics and further research before we determine if we will be offering this vaccine. We will keep you posted on those changes on our Facebook page.
Employee of the Quarter: Victoria Billings
Employee of the Quarter ~ Carlos Tandron
Carlos is not only outstanding in customer service when dealing with our patients but he is a true team player. He has worked at all three locations, all possible shifts, including overnights and weekends, and is always willing to help anywhere the managers need him. He has a fun personality and motivates others to stay positive! We are lucky to have him on our team! How long have you worked with us? Exactly 18 months Where are you from? Jacksonville, FL Where did you go to high school? Bishop Kenny What did you study at school? Health Science What are your hobbies? Running, Working out, beach/pool time Do you have any children or pets? No What are your future goals? Continue to work in healthcare What is your favorite part of your job? The people that I work with are amazing! Best moments at work are? Holidays when we get to do Potlucks with the entire office
Questions About Billing? We’re Here to Help
Pediatric Care Centers has five staff members in our billing department dedicated to filing your claims accurately so that your insurance benefits are applied properly and efficiently. We’re here to help clear up any uncertainty you have about your coverage! To help guide you through our billing process, the department has offered a few suggestions to ensure you will receive the full benefit of your insurance coverage. Before Your Appointment Review your insurance policy to make sure you understand your benefits and your plan’s requirements, including the patient responsibility amount that may be due at the time of the appointment. This amount may be in the form of a co-pay, co-insurance or any unmet deductible. Co-Pay– Amount paid by patient at each visit, as defined by the insured plan. Co-Insurance– Percentage or amount defined in the insurance plan for which the patient is responsible. Most plans have a ratio of 90/10% or 80/20%, 70/30%, and so on. The insurance carrier is responsible for the first amount and the patient for the second amount. Deductible– Amount patient must pay before insurance coverage begins. For example, a patient could have a $1,000 deductible per year before his or her health insurance begins paying. Reaching your deductible amount could mean that you pay for several doctor’s visits and/or prescriptions before your insurance plan becomes responsible for payment. Confirm that Pediatric Care Centers is a contracted provider of services for your plan. If your plan requires that you have an assigned primary care physician (PCP), be sure that one of our physicians is listed as your assigned PCP. After Your Appointment Statements are mailed to patients who have any outstanding balance after claims are filed. If there are any questions regarding these balances, we encourage you to contact our billing department. We’re more than happy to provide you with specific claims details. Hours and Location The department is located on the second floor of the Beaches office and is available from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to assist you with any billing questions. Simply call the office and ask for billing.
Our Newest Location Now Open in Orange Park!
Our new Orange Park location, located at 1543 Kingsley Avenue, #9, is open from 8am-8pm Monday through Friday. Call (904) 264-1958 for appointments or information. Or visit our Locations page for directions.
Common Childhood Habits
The causes of habits remain unknown. Their repetitive nature suggests that they serve a soothing or calming process for the brain. Interestingly, even in adulthood many people cling to some of these self-comforting traits during times of stress: sucking on pencil tips or their fingers, pulling their earlobes, fingering their hair. Common Self-Comforting Habits Here are some of the most common self-comforting habits of middle childhood that concern parents: Thumb-sucking Body rocking Head banging Fingernail biting Cuticle picking Hair twirling Masturbating Growing Out of Certain Habits Some self-comforting habits – such as thumb-sucking and body rocking – begin in infancy and gradually fade in middle childhood. During these middle years, most thumb-suckers will confine their sucking to the privacy of their home, at bedtime, while watching TV or when they are upset. Often, this behavior is accompanied by other vestiges of earlier years, such as cuddling with a blanket. As children mature and develop greater self-control and self-understanding, their thumb-sucking usually disappears, most often by ages 6 to 8. Also, with increases in peer pressure, children tend to assume greater mastery over their behavior. Similarly, a small number of middle-years children exhibit the normal behavior of rocking themselves to sleep in bed. They may curl into a knee-to-chest position and rock with such vigor that the bed shakes and even bangs the walls until they are fast asleep. A few children roll their head back and forth, at times banging into the wall. Still others sit up and rock. As unsettling as parents may find these unusual habits, children may exhibit them every night in order to settle into sleep. The rhythmic motion seems necessary to soothe or calm the central nervous system in the transition from wakefulness to sleep. Other “Annoying” Habits Fingernail biting, cuticle picking, hair twirling and nose picking are also very common – and annoying – habits of childhood, developing between ages 3 and 6. This behavior may continue throughout middle childhood and perhaps longer. Like other self-comforting habits, they are tension reducers, “time-wasters,” and seem to be outside of consciousness or awareness. Frequency and Intensity The frequency and intensity of these habits tend to ebb and flow, often without apparent explanation or parental intervention. Some observers have noted that the child who bites his fingernails or picks his cuticles often causes bleeding or pain; perhaps this natural consequence plays a significant role in the eventual disappearance of the habit. In any case, these habits frequently fade with time. Management vs. Punishment As a first step in the simple management of your child’s self-comforting habits, ignore them! Most commonly, they will disappear with time. When you call attention to them with harsh words, ridicule, or punishment, the tension that the habit presumably relieves will increase, and the habit will get worse. Punishment is not an effective way to eradicate habits. Ignoring these habits, however, can be a difficult process for most parents. After all, if the mother or father finds a habit irritating or frustrating, ignoring it does not make the feelings disappear. Even so, try to withhold your negative comments and wait for the habit to pass. If your child sucks her thumb or bites her fingernails, she may be interested in overcoming the habit and thus will cooperate with your own efforts toward that goal. Try using these techniques: When you notice that your child is not doing the behavior for extended periods, reward her in some agreed-upon way. Use over-the-counter agents, such as bitter-tasting compounds that can be placed on the fingers or the cuticles, to remind your child when she begins to bite or suck her thumb. This approach has a relatively low rate of success, but it is simple and, with your youngster’s cooperation, may be an effective strategy. Ask your pharmacist about these products. Positive reinforcement is the most successful way to produce a change in behavior. Accentuate and reward the new behavior you want to see adopted. Star charts and daily rewards are very helpful. Last Updated 5/5/2015 Source Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 (Copyright © 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics) The information contained in this article should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
When to call the pediatrician ~ Fever
The most important things you can do when your child has a fever are to improve your child’s comfort by making sure they drink enough fluids to stay hydrated and monitor for signs and symptoms of a serious illness. It is a good sign if your child plays and interacts with you after receiving medicine for discomfort. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has a fever and Looks very ill, is unusually drowsy, or is very fussy Has been in a very hot place, such as an overheated car Has other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, severe ear pain, an unexplained rash, or repeated vomiting or diarrhea Has immune system problems, such as sickle cell disease or cancer, or is taking steroids Has had a seizure Is younger than 3 months (12 weeks) and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher Fever rises above 104°F (40°C) repeatedly for a child of any age Also call your child’s doctor if Your child still “acts sick” once his fever is brought down. Your child seems to be getting worse. The fever persists for more than 24 hours in a child younger than 2 years. The fever persists for more than 3 days (72 hours) in a child 2 years of age or older. Last Updated 11/4/2014 Source Fever and Your Child (Copyright © 2007 American Academy of Pediatrics, updated 5/2012)
Employee of the Month – Tyeisha Ross
Congratulations to Tyeisha for being selected October Employee of the Month! How long have you worked for us? 1 year and 10 months Do you have any pets? No Where did you go to high school? William M. Raines What degree are your working toward? I plan to start a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program in May 2015. Eventually, I will become a Registered Nurse. What is your favorite part of your job? Interacting with the kids brings me so much joy! I also love my co-workers. They are easy to work with and very entertaining! It feels good to work for a company that supports its employees and makes you want to strive for even more!
Differences in Organic, Natural and Health Foods
Differences in Organic, Natural, and Health Foods Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Organic foods are grown without artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are obtained from animals that are fed natural feed and not given hormones or antibiotics. Natural foods are free of synthetic or artificial ingredients or additives. “Health foods” is a general term that may be applied to natural or organic foods, or to regular foods that have undergone less processing than usual, such as stone-ground whole-grain flours. Although some have claimed that organic foods have a higher concentration of some nutrients, the evidence is mixed. The nutritional content of foods also varies greatly according to when the food was harvested and how it has been stored or processed. Unless they are fresher, there is also no evidence that organic, natural, or health foods taste better than regular foods. However, taste is determined by plant genetics, rather than by whether the crop is organically or conventionally grown. Harvesting and handling also affect taste. A peach or tomato that is picked when it is too green will never develop the full taste of fruit that is allowed to ripen on the tree or the vine. Although the type of fertilizer may not affect taste or nutrition, it does have an effect on the environment. Many people prefer to pay premium prices for organic foods because their production does not cause environmental damage from pesticides and herbicides, and composted fertilizers help restore soil and are not as damaging to the environment as artificial fertilizers. However, simply stating “organic” does not protect the food from being contaminated from field to market. Last Updated 7/9/2014 Source Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know (Copyright © American Academy of Pediatrics 2011)