just kids | summer 2010

justkidssummer 2010

Children’s Hospital & medical Center

The Facts AboutImmunIzatIons

• Cut Your Child’s Medical Expenses• Tips to Stay Safe This Summer

2 | To find a physician, call 1-800-833-3100

Watching your child get a shot isn’t easy. It’s even harder if the fearful one is you. Millions of parents immunize their children each year without concern. Yet some parents have heard rumors that vaccines can cause serious health problems.

It can be confusing for parents. For example, there are Internet sites that present convincing, yet unproven, theories about the risks of vaccines. Deciding who is credible and who is not can be difficult.

So, who can parents turn to for the facts about vaccine safety? The first place to go is to your child’s doctor who knows your child’s health and medical needs better than anybody.

“As pediatricians, our goal is to help

our patients thrive and grow into healthy adults,” says Rachel McCann, a Children’s Physicians pediatrician. “Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to help reach that goal.”

By law, physicians must give you information explaining the benefits and risks of each immunization. Reading this material can help you make a well-informed decision.

Another resource for in-depth information on vaccine safety is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can check its website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Here are some frequently asked questions about immunizations:

Are immunizations safe?Yes. All vaccines are fully tested

before being approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Vaccines contain weakened toxins, or a dead or weakened form of the disease-causing virus or bacteria, which causes the body to produce antibodies that protect the child from that disease.

Diseases such as polio and pertussis are rare, so why are vaccines necessary?

Many of these diseases still thrive in other parts of the world, and have the potential to make a comeback in the United States due to inadequate immunization. Travelers can and do bring these viruses and bacteria back to

What Every Parent Should Know About

IMMunIzaTIonS

Learn more about facts and myths surrounding vaccines and other parenting challenges through Parenting U, FREE classes given by professionals known for their knowledge of children. Along with a new topic each week, we’ll provide food, child care and prizes.

Each session will be held in the Glow Auditorium at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center from 6 to 7 p.m. Space is limited, so call 800-833-3100 or log onto ChildrensOmaha.org today to register for one or more of our upcoming educational sessions.

Tuesday, Sept. 7Preparing for Your NewbornErin Loucks, M.D., Children’s Physicians

Tuesday, Sept. 14Facts & Myths Surrounding VaccinesRachel McCann, M.D., Children’s Physicians

Tuesday, Sept. 21Dealing with ADHDKim Levering, Ph.D., and Michelle Cassidy, M.D., Children’s Behavioral Health

Tuesday, Sept. 28Mastering Potty TrainingCicero Calderon, M.D., Children’s Physicians

Tuesday, oct. 5Good Night, Sleep TightSpeaker TBA

Tuesday, oct. 12BullyingMike Vance, Ph.D., Children’s Behavioral Health

Tuesday, oct. 19Flu and Other Seasonal IllnessesChandrika Rizal, M.D., Children’s Physicians

Tuesday, oct. 26Preparing for Your NewbornPatrick Specht, M.D., Children’s Physicians

ChildrensOmaha.org | 3

We Know Children

the United States. Without the protection of vaccines, these diseases could easily spread here again. In fact, Douglas County in Nebraska recently experienced an outbreak of measles, and whooping cough cases are on the rise in Iowa.

Don’t vaccines cause harmful side effects or illness?

Some children have minor side effects from being vaccinated, such as a slight fever or swelling at the injection site. The risk of death or serious side effects is so small that it is difficult to document. Claims that vaccines cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), autism or other diseases have been carefully researched and never proved. In fact, SIDS has recently been linked not to vaccines, but to breathing abnormalities in the brainstem, an area associated with regulating breathing. Rumors still persist that an increase in autism in children is caused by thimerosal, a preservative added to vaccines. Thimerosal, however, was removed from all vaccines in Sweden in 1995 and the

incidence of autism has continued to increase there, as it has in the United States and throughout the world.

Won’t giving babies multiple vaccines at one time overload their immune system?

Many studies have been done to assess the safety of multiple vaccinations. None has shown that multiple vaccinations cause a problem. Children are exposed to many foreign substances every day with no harmful effects. Scientists say that the tiny amount of virus or bacteria in vaccines is not enough to harm a child.

“Many parents underestimate the seriousness of some of the diseases that vaccines prevent,” says Dr. McCann. “Most of the general public, and even many young physicians, have never seen a case of tetanus, measles or polio. These illnesses can have devastating consequences. We have a very large body of evidence that shows vaccines are safe. If parents have questions about a particular vaccine or schedule, I urge them to discuss their concerns with their child’s physician.”

Birth– 2 mos.

1–4mos.

2 mos.

4 mos.

6 mos.

6–18 mos.

12–23mos.

12–15 mos.

12–18 mos.

15–18 mos.

4–6 yrs.

11–12yrs.

DTP • • • • • •

IPV • • • •

MMR • •

Hib • • • •

Varicella • •

HPV •

Meningococcal •

Hep A • •

Hep B • • •

Pneumococcal/PCV13 • • • •

Influenza •

Rotavirus • • •

GuIdElInES for ChIldhood IMMunIzaTIonS


In the rough-and-tumble world of a child, scrapes, bruises and sniffles are unavoidable. But parents can do a lot to help limit those unplanned visits to the doctor or emergency room—and trim their out-of-pocket health costs at the same time.

seek Health Care Wisely■ Get all the recommended preventive care. Annual well-child visits, immunizations and dental checkups are an investment in your child’s future. They can help prevent illness and keep small health problems from becoming big, life-changing ones.■ Don’t demand antibiotics—not for colds, flu or even a child’s ear infection. But if your doctor assures you antibiotics are likely to be effective, use them as advised.■ Teach regular hand-washing habits. Germs can be picked up from other people, surfaces, and animals or animal waste. Washing hands is one of the best ways to prevent transmission.

“Well-check visits are the time when your child’s pediatrician not only reviews physical growth and development, but also has conversations about school progress, relationships with family and friends and any concerns you or your child may have,” says Nancy Knowles, M.D., medical director for Children’s Physicians.

avoid Retail-Based ClinicsThe American Academy of Pediatrics

(AAP) opposes retail-based clinics, or quick clinics, as an appropriate source of medical care for children. Some families use these quick clinics for minor childhood ailments because they believe it’s cheaper. However, many of these families end up back in the pediatrician’s office after visiting a quick care clinic, so they actually end up paying double the price. In addition, a 2009 survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that more than half of the surveyed physicians who reported seeing families within 24 hours of a quick-clinic visit disagreed with the prescribed course of treatment.

Other concerns with retail-based clinics include:■ Ordering too many tests to determine a diagnosis, which can become expensive, plus offering no follow-up on the test results.■ Lack of access to and maintenance of a complete, accessible, central health record containing all pertinent health information. ■ Inappropriately prescribing unnecessary antibiotics.■ Possible public health issues that could occur when patients with contagious diseases are in a commercial, retail environment with little or no isolation, especially grocery stores.

Ensure Kids’ safetyInjuries account for more than half of

all emergency room visits by children ages 5 to 14. To keep kids safe:■ Supervise young children indoors and out.■ Have your child wear a bicycle helmet. That lowers the risk for serious head injury by as much as 85 percent.■ Use child safety seats. These are proven to reduce the risk for injuries and deaths in infants and toddlers.

Promote a Healthy LifestyleChildhood obesity, rampant in the

United States, has been linked to diabetes, asthma and other costly diseases. To help keep off extra pounds, encourage physical activity and healthy eating.■ Encourage children to play sports. Get them away from the TV and computer and out on neighborhood walks with you.■ Limit fast foods. Stock your kitchen with fruit and vegetable snacks. Keep high-fat, high-sugar foods and drinks out of the house.

Cut Your Child’s Medical Expenses

We’re always HereWhether your child is receiving

care at home, in one of our many

advanced outpatient clinics or in

our award-winning hospital, you

are assured the highest-quality

care in an environment conducive

to healing and comfort. Need a

physician for your child? Call the

Children’s Find-A-Doctor

service at 1-800-833-3100 anytime

day or night.

Tips to Stay Safe This Summer

always Committed to safetyChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center is

committed to the health and well-being of

all children. The Kohl’s Keeps Kids Safe

program, a joint venture between

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and

Kohl’s department stores, is dedicated to

reducing the number of accidental

injuries in children. Since 2000, Kohl’s

has donated more than $700,000 in

support of child injury prevention

programs. For more information on safety

programs sponsored by Children’s, visit

ChildrensOmaha.org. Simply click on

Health Information and Safety, then on

SafeKids.


Summer is the time to make memories of sunshine, walks along the beach, and dips in the ocean that will get you through chilly winter months. Make sure your memories don’t include going to the emergency department.

Keep Your Water Baby safe Summer fun activity: Splish, splash

—as summer heats up, cool pools and beautiful beaches beckon. In fact, nine of 10 families with small children will enjoy aquatic activities this summer.

Hidden dangers: Some less happy statistics: One in four adults knows someone who has drowned, and more than one-fourth of fatal drowning victims are children. Other swimming risks include brain and spinal cord injuries from diving into shallow water.

Emergency warning signs: Call for help if you can’t get a child out of the water alone. If he or she has stopped breathing, administer rescue breathing or CPR if you’re trained. Watch for the following signs of near drowning:■ Chest pain

■ Confusion■ Cough with pink, frothy mucus■ Bluish skin on the face

Even if the child revives quickly, call 911. Lung problems and other complications may still have occurred.

Safety secrets: Never let children swim alone. Stay within reach at all times. Don’t use toys such as water wings in place of life jackets. Allow diving only in designated areas, where the depth of the water is known. Empty buckets, bathtubs, and wading pools as soon as you’re done with them. Remove toys from backyard pools after use to avoid attracting young children to the water.

Learn CPR, and consider enrolling your little one in swimming classes. Even children ages 1 to 4 may be less likely to drown if they’ve had formal instruction.

sail out of Harm’s Way Summer fun activity: Whether it’s a

motorboat, sailboat or canoe, there’s nothing like hitting the open water in your own vessel.

Hidden dangers: The U.S. Coast Guard reported nearly 5,000 boating accidents and more than 700 deaths in 2008 alone. Most of these victims drowned. Carbon monoxide from a boat’s engine, generator, or space heater also poses a risk.

Emergency warning signs: Children or adults who nearly drowned should see a doctor right away. Brain damage and other neurological problems may have occurred.

Also, seek emergency help if you or someone on your boat has these signs of carbon monoxide poisoning:■ Headache■ Nausea■ Weakness■ Irritated eyes

Safety secrets: Learn proper boating skills. Human error causes most accidents. Avoid alcohol; it contributes to one in five boating deaths. And always wear a life jacket.

To reduce the dangers of carbon monoxide, know the sources of carbon monoxide on your boat and be sure they’re well-ventilated.


Critically Ill Babies

Benefit from Cutting-Edge

TechnologyOne thing was certain to Jeri Wies last summer—she

was tired of being pregnant. “I was worn out, but then again, I was running after two

other kids,” she said. “Otherwise, everything went the same way as my other pregnancies.”

This seemingly normal pregnancy, however, would develop into a not-so-normal delivery.

“I was a week overdue and went in for another ultrasound,” says Jeri. “They were measuring me and the size of the baby. The radiology technician tried to talk me into waiting to deliver because the baby was measuring so small. But my doctor said it was my choice, so I told them to induce me.”

Good thing they did. During the delivery, Jeri and her husband, Adam, quickly realized something wasn’t right. The baby’s heart rate kept dropping, and at one point, there wasn’t a heart beat at all. Jeri’s doctor then decided to deliver by cesarean section.


Kenzie Wies was born on Sept. 16, 2009 in Albion, Neb., located about two and half hours west of Omaha. Thinking that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, the doctor was surprised to learn that Kenzie, in fact, was born with a two vessel umbilical cord. A normal umbilical cord contains two arteries and one vein. Kenzie’s umbilical contained only one artery, limiting the amount of oxygenated blood her organs received.

Lifesaving technologyBecause Kenzie wasn’t breathing

upon delivery, and the results of her APGAR exams were critically low, the doctor knew she needed to be transported to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. He had recently read about a procedure used at Children’s called the Cool-Cap.

The Cool-Cap resembles an oversized infant’s hat. It consists of a cooling unit, temperature probes and a water-filled cap covered with a reflective metal foil. When placed on the baby’s head, the cap helps to cool down the brain. This process reduces the brain’s need for energy, which also can help reduce damage caused by depleted oxygen supply to the brain.

Because the Cool-Cap is recommended for use within the first six hours after birth, timing is essential.

“It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever gone through,” says Jeri. “Adam rode with Kenzie in the ambulance because I was still in the hospital, and I didn’t want her to be alone. Even though it was scary, we knew it had to be done. And

she was going to Children’s. They have the top people to take care of her there.”

specialized transportChildren’s transport team utilizes a

dedicated ground ambulance, designed and equipped to provide specialized care to critically ill and injured newborns. A neonatal nurse practitioner and critical care nurse traveled the two and half hours to Albion and brought Kenzie to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at Children’s. Once at Children’s, she was immediately placed on the Cool-Cap.

As a Level III-C NICU, Children’s provides the highest level of neonatal care and treats many of the most critically ill infants from throughout the region.

Kenzie was placed under Cool-Cap therapy for 72 hours, which was then followed by a gradual re-warming process.

“The transport nurse and the NICU nurses were the best we’ve ever had,” says Jeri. “The transport nurse came back several times to the NICU to check on us and see how Kenzie was doing. They were all very personable.”

Four and a half days after being

admitted to Children’s NICU, Jeri and Adam Weis were finally able to hold their newborn daughter.

“We got to hold her about 2 in the afternoon on Sunday and I didn’t let her go,” says Jeri. “I held her until 10 o’clock that night.”

Nine days after arrival, the Weis family was able to go home. Although Kenzie seems healthy, she’ll need to return to Children’s periodically to visit specialists through Children’s

NICU Follow-Up Clinic.

nICu Follow-up Clinic uniqueResearch shows that babies who

receive care in a NICU are at risk for some degree of developmental delay. The NICU Follow-Up Clinic specializes in identifying neurodevelopmental delay problems early on and provides early intervention therapies to reduce long-term developmental issues. The clinic provides a more in-depth developmental assessment than most pediatricians or family physicians normally provide.

Kenzie sees a neonatologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist and psychologist during her NICU follow up visits. Jeri happily reports that Kenzie has hit all her milestones so far. She’s crawling and even trying to stand on her own. In fact, the follow up clinic staff was impressed that Kenzie could pick up a Cheerio and grasp it between her fingers during a recent visit.

While they may be impressed with Kenzie, Jeri is just as impressed with them.

“I can’t say enough good things about Children’s or the people who work there,” says Jeri.

“It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever gone through. Even though it was scary, we knew it had to be done.

And she was going to Children’s. They have the top people to take care of her there.” - Jeri Wies

Doctors at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center used a Cool-Cap such as the one shown here to treat Kenzie Wies.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDChildren’s Hospital & Medical Center

justkids is published by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. © 2010. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.

Gary a. Perkins, President and CEOmartin W. Beerman, Vice President, Marketing and Community RelationsDavid G.J. Kaufman, mD, Medical AdvisorDannee schroeder, Marketing Coordinator

Printed on Recyclable Paper 881M

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center has received accreditation or recognition from the following organizations for its delivery of extraordinary health care to children.

justkids

8200 Dodge StreetOmaha, NE 68114402-955-5400

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center is proud to announce the opening of the new Specialty Pediatric Center in September 2010. To celebrate, the public is invited to an open house on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Come tour the new facility and learn about the specialists and clinics housed in the new building. We’ll have drawings, giveaways and more—and it’s all FREE!

The new Specialty Pediatric Center will house more than 30 outpatient specialty clinics throughout 135,000 square feet, including cardiology, cancer care, pulmonology (asthma), endocrinology, diabetes, neurology, pediatric surgery and more. It will set the standard for clinical innovation

and technology amid a family-friendly atmosphere featuring learning walls, aquariums and a large water feature in the building’s main lobby.

Eight stories are visible at the corner of 84th Street and West Dodge Road. The five upper stories will provide clinical space, while the lower three levels will comprise a parking garage. In addition, an outdoor plaza will provide a beautiful “green space” in the midst of midtown Omaha.

The need for pediatric specialty care is growing. In 2009, visits to Children’s specialty clinics topped 29,000. It’s projected that within five years of opening, the SPC will schedule more than 60,000 visits a year.

Specialty Pediatric Centeropening in September 2010

Postmaster: Please deliver between August 16 and 20.

just kids | summer 2010

Documents