Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

Is a child's limp more than a minor scrape? Red flags for a limping child and when to seek evaluation are the primary topic. Heather Barnes, DNP, APRN, CPNP, ONC, Nurse Practitioner, Orthopedic Surgery and Angie Vanderpool, MSN, RN, CPNP, ONC, Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy explains how refusal to weight-bear, fever or recent illness, a change in activity or behavior, and unexplained persistent pain should prompt imaging, labs, or referral. Learn which findings merit quicker action and closer follow-up.

Is your child's urine dark or tea-colored and should you be concerned about hematuria? Judith VanSickle, MD, MHPE, FAAP, FASN, Medical Director, Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program at Children's Mercy, explains how to tell painless versus painful hematuria, why painless blood suggests a renal cause, when microscopy showing >5–10 red cells (repeated) or symptoms like swelling, rash, joint pain, or high blood pressure require urgent workup and referral.

Should a teen who fainted see a cardiologist? Syncope in adolescents is the issue, and Josh Holbert, DO, Medical Director, Cardiology Exercise Lab at Children's Mercy, explains which features merit urgent cardiac evaluation. Learn which red flags to watch for (no prodrome, exertional collapse, palpitations, family history), why a 12‑lead ECG and focused exam matter, and when primary care should refer for further testing. 

Learn more about Josh Holbert, DO 

"I found an unexpected abnormal CBC — should I repeat it or refer?" This episode focuses on repeat testing and early steps for abnormal CBCs. Sara McElroy, MD, pediatric hematologist at Children's Mercy explains when mild changes can be safely rechecked versus urgent referral. She covers transient marrow suppression with infection, lab artifact and repeat timing (about 4–6 weeks), the role of return precautions, and when to escalate to hematology or the ER. 

Learn more about Sara McElroy, MD 

Should my child with persistent high BP see a specialist? Douglas Blowey, MD, Director of the Hypertension Clinic at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, outlines practical referral triggers for pediatricians. He discusses persistent or stage‑2 hypertension, symptomatic or emergency presentations, age under six, evidence of kidney disease or protein/blood on urinalysis, and failure of lifestyle changes — plus the initial tests primary care should obtain before referral. 

Learn more about Douglas Blowey, MD 

Why are my child's lymph nodes enlarged? Lymphadenopathy — Lori Morgan, MD, MCR, Physician, Hematology and Oncology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explains that infection is the most common cause and why lymph nodes enlarge during immune responses. Hear about typical locations (cervical, submandibular, submental), how thin children may show prominent nodes, why parents commonly discover them, and when a history should prompt further evaluation.

Curious why your teen’s periods are so heavy? Heavy menstrual bleeding and its causes are discussed. Lauren Amos, MD, MS, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, and Ashli Lawson, MD, MS, Program Director, Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Fellowship at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explain common contributors such as anovulatory cycles, underlying bleeding disorders (up to 30% in affected adolescents), and when to consider a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound or thyroid (TSH) check.

Is my child's heart murmur dangerous or just harmless? Heart murmurs and when they matter — Pezad Doctor, MD, Pediatric Cardiology at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, and Mahmoud Jaara, MD, pediatric cardiology fellow at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explain how to tell innocent murmurs (soft, systolic, short, position‑dependent) from concerning ones, which symptoms and family history raise concern, and what to expect at a cardiology visit (exam, oxygen saturation, pulses) 

Learn more about Pezad Doctor, MD 

Could this recurring pain or sudden limp mean something more than a sprain? Greg Canty, MD, Medical Director, Sports Medicine Center at Children's Mercy, walks through how to recognize concerning pediatric sports injuries that are often missed. This episode covers X‑ray‑negative knee injuries (patella dislocation, ACL tear, meniscus), pelvic avulsion and transitional ankle growth plate fractures, and overuse conditions such as gymnast wrist, spondylolysis, Little League elbow, and shoulder impingement. Dr. Canty outlines practical red flags—swelling, inability to weight‑bear, point tenderness, pain persisting beyond two weeks in single‑sport athletes, and declines in participation—and explains how assessing training load, sleep, nutrition, and menstrual history in female athletes helps identify bone stress injury risk. He also discusses when to re‑image, consult radiology, or refer urgently to reduce diagnostic delays and support safer return to sport, emphasizing cautious evaluation in adolescents with evolving anatomy. 

Learn more about Greg Canty, MD 

Is my child's pink eye contagious and how long will it last? Jennifer Qayum, OD, FAAO, Optometrist at Children's Mercy - Pediatrics in Practice - CME, explains how viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis spread and how long contagion can persist. She discusses unilateral vs bilateral onset, discharge types (yellow/green versus watery), typical contagious periods for viral cases, and practical prevention steps like hand hygiene and laundering linens to reduce household spread.