Primary Care Perspectives

For the first time, a preventative medicine is available to protect infants and high-risk toddlers from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Lori Handy, MD, MSCE, attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, details the science behind the monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and its importance, safety and efficacy, side effects, administration and proven benefits, such as a decrease in morbidity, as shown by clinical trials; and more.

It’s hard to call an opioid overdose an accident when it happens to a young child — at home and under supervision. Some fatal poisonings are deliberate or even malicious. But such is the opioid epidemic.

Christopher E. Gaw, MD, MBE, assistant professor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, shares the latest findings from his recent study on fatal poisonings among young children. His findings include common themes, risk factors and demographic characteristics among victims; the shift from prescription to synthetic opioids; and as a result, how the emergency department has had to adapt to better counsel families on childproofing and preventing accidental ingestions; examples of community involvement and intervention; and more.

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. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

It’s hard to call an opioid overdose an accident when it happens to a young child — at home and under supervision. Some fatal poisonings are deliberate or even malicious. But such is the opioid epidemic.

Christopher E. Gaw, MD, MBE, assistant professor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, shares the latest findings from his recent study on fatal poisonings among young children. His findings include common themes, risk factors and demographic characteristics among victims; the shift from prescription to synthetic opioids; and as a result, how the emergency department has had to adapt to better counsel families on childproofing and preventing accidental ingestions; examples of community involvement and intervention; and more.

When thinking about physical therapy, babies may not necessarily come to mind. But in the case of congenital muscular torticollis patients, PT can have a profound impact on their motor development into early childhood.

Meredith Caverow, PT, DPT, and Kristen Kouvel, PT, DPT, PCS, physical therapists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, offer primary care pediatricians the top three takeaways from their new clinical pathway: how to detect and distinguish between the three main types of torticollis, including common physical exam findings as well as anomalies to look out for, and why that distinction is important; when to consider referrals for further evaluation by a physical therapist and what parents can do with their child at home for an early as possible resolution.

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. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

When thinking about physical therapy, babies may not necessarily come to mind. But in the case of congenital muscular torticollis patients, PT can have a profound impact on their motor development into early childhood.

Meredith Caverow, PT, DPT, and Kristen Kouvel, PT, DPT, PCS, physical therapists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, offer primary care pediatricians the top three takeaways from their new clinical pathway: how to detect and distinguish between the three main types of torticollis, including common physical exam findings as well as anomalies to look out for, and why that distinction is important; when to consider referrals for further evaluation by a physical therapist and what parents can do with their child at home for an early as possible resolution.

Snuffles, Hutchinson teeth and saber shins — what do these things all have in common? They are symptoms of syphilis. Also known as the “great mimicker,” syphilis can present itself in many ways.

Ericka Hayes, MD, attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, addresses the growing problem of congenital syphilis and the rising rates of transmission from mother to child; describes the common symptoms at birth or in early infancy as found in the newborn nursery and at early newborn checkups, including the classic syphilis rash and its variations; stresses the importance of universal STI screening for teens in prevention; and more.

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. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Snuffles, Hutchinson teeth and saber shins — what do these things all have in common? They are symptoms of syphilis. Also known as the “great mimicker,” syphilis can present itself in many ways.

Ericka Hayes, MD, attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, addresses the growing problem of congenital syphilis and the rising rates of transmission from mother to child; describes the common symptoms at birth or in early infancy as found in the newborn nursery and at early newborn checkups, including the classic syphilis rash and its variations; stresses the importance of universal STI screening for teens in prevention; and more.

Through no fault of their own, ADHD medications often bear the misconception of being ineffective — or worse, unsafe — yet they are the first line of treatment used by many physicians, including primary care pediatricians. Katrina A. Fletcher, MD, attending psychiatrist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides a broad overview of ADHD medications, including the highs and lows of varying treatments, from increased productivity to loss of appetite; the trial and error in determining the correct dosing; adjuncts such as behavioral interventions; and more.

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. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.

Through no fault of their own, ADHD medications often bear the misconception of being ineffective — or worse, unsafe — yet they are the first line of treatment used by many physicians, including primary care pediatricians. Katrina A. Fletcher, MD, attending psychiatrist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, provides a broad overview of ADHD medications, including the highs and lows of varying treatments, from increased productivity to loss of appetite; the trial and error in determining the correct dosing; adjuncts such as behavioral interventions; and more.

Did you know that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were “milk stations” that provided supervision of infant feeding and growth? The roots of pediatric care can be traced back to those early days, and there have been considerable changes since. With no signs of slowing down, pediatric care continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

Katie K. Lockwood, MD, MEd, a pediatrician and holder of a Distinguished Endowed Chair in the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Alex Fiks, MD, MSCE, a pediatrician, academic investigator, and the Director of both Clinical Futures (Research Center of Emphasis) and the Possibilities Project: Innovation at CHOP, review the present, past and future state of pediatric primary care, which includes the pros and cons of the electronic health record (EHR) and its evolution; the innovation of clinical decision support tools and its effect on patient outcomes; pediatric career outlooks, including expected labor shortages; and more while also offering supporting evidence and advice to trainees.

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. ©2023 by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, all rights reserved.