Constipation in Kids

Picture this: You travel to the mountains, excited to take on your next big adventure, only to find yourself breathless, your stomach is churning and in the morning your head is throbbing. It’s altitude sickness, otherwise known as acute mountain sickness. Here in Colorado, our mountain doctors experience this regularly, but patients don’t always realize why they’re experiencing these symptoms. In this episode, we dive into mountain myths, sleeping at altitude and how to combat this diagnosis. In this episode we are joined by a community pediatrician who treats altitude sickness on a regular basis. Christine Ebert-Santos, MD, is a pediatrician at Ebert Family Clinic in Frisco, CO. Her practice sits at 9,026 feet above sea level. She is also a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  Common symptoms of altitude sickness and how to manage them  Understanding why only certain people experience the reaction, while others remain unaffected   Debunking popular mountain myths  How high altitude can impact sleep  The role of pediatricians in educating patients about altitude sickness, even at sea level For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

11 Feb 34min

Every year, thousands of people are added to organ transplant waiting lists, but not all patients have equal access to the life-saving procedures they desperately need. As transplant programs around the world continue to expand and improve, it’s important for healthcare providers to consider potential disparities in care, all while working hard to create an even playing field for patients. Socioeconomic status, geography, wait times and access are just a few of the factors to keep in mind. Children’s Hospital Colorado is one of the top transplant programs for kids, with some of the best outcomes in the nation. In this episode, we welcome specialists from our heart, kidney and liver transplant programs. Pediatric cardiologist Melanie Everitt, MD, is the Director of Pediatric Heart Transplant. Margret Bock, MD, is the Medical Director of Kidney Transplant and specializes in pediatric nephrology. Amy Feldman, MD, is the Program Director of the Liver Transplant Fellowship, the Medical Director for the Liver Transplant Center, and she specializes in pediatric gastroenterology. All three of our experts also teach at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Some highlights from this episode include:  The current landscape of solid organ transplant in the United States and how the waitlists work  Why some children have better access to these life-saving treatments than others  How primary care providers can identify potential barriers ensure their patients have the best chance at receiving a transplant  The evolution of live-donor liver transplant and how it’s changing opportunities in pediatrics   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

4 Feb 38min

Anaphylaxis is a serious, systemic hypersensitivity reaction with rapid onset and can be potentially fatal. It is frightening for patients, families and medical providers. Currently, the standard treatment is epinephrine as an injection. At this very moment, we are on the cusp of transforming how we treat severe allergic reactions. If approved by the FDA, a new sublingual form of epinephrine would be the first non-invasive and orally administered epinephrine treatment. Joining us for this episode is Matthew Greenhawt, MD, the Director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He specializes in allergy and immunology and is also a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.   Some highlights from this episode include:  The history of epinephrine  Fears around needles and using an epi-pen  How this new treatment could increase the life-saving capability of epinephrine  Next steps to get the sublingual film into use  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

28 Jan 44min

Podcasts have become one of the most popular content mediums, captivating millions worldwide. Their convenient, on-the-go format allows people to multitask while they listen. From entertainment to education, podcasts are changing the way people engage and interact with information. In medicine, they are changing the way residents are able to learn.  In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Christopher Demas, a pediatrics chief resident with the University of Michigan Pediatrics Residency Program. Dr. Demas, inspired by Charting Pediatrics, created his own podcast made for and by residents, First Pediatrics. Some highlights from this episode include:  Why Dr. Demas started his own podcast for residents  The importance of changing how we learn and leveraging podcasts for education  Understanding the way students learn today is different  Why podcasts are shaping medical education  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

21 Jan 28min

Around the country and across the globe, children’s hospitals play an essential role in kid’s health and well-being. They provide specialized care, crucial research, essential education and vital community outreach. As we kick off the new year, we take a deep dive into the evolving child health landscape to better understand what issues our patient families are currently facing and identify solutions for the future.   Joining us for this strategic conversation are three experts: Raphe Schwartz, Chief Strategy Officer at Children’s Hospital Colorado; Rhae Gamber, associate principal at Sg2 Healthcare Intelligence; and Brian Thygesen is a senior partner in strategic transformation at Chartis. Some highlights from this episode include:  The current demographics of pediatric healthcare and how that influences care  How and why the workforce is vastly changing   The current landscape of behavioral health  The financial barriers and the role of Medicaid and other government programs  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

14 Jan 39min

It’s hard to fathom why certain children receive life altering diagnoses. Pediatricians simply want to help, and that help usually comes in the form of early diagnosis. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, otherwise known as Duchenne or DMD, is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting approximately one in every 5,000 live male births. Early screening and identification can mean quicker access to care, early intervention programs and special education resources. Thanks to early diagnosis and advances in care, life expectancy is increasing.  Our guest joining us to discuss diagnosing and treating DMD is Michele Yang, MD, who specializes in pediatric neurology and neuromuscular medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She is also an associate professor of pediatric neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Some highlights from this episode include:  How diagnosis of DMD has changed over the years.  Understanding the new, advanced treatments that exist.  Tips and tricks for primary care providers to utilize.  Realistic outcomes for these kids with DMD.  For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

7 Jan 20min

Pediatricians don’t often screen children and adolescents for a lipid profile, an important tool for identifying cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is considered a life-course condition, meaning it can begin in childhood, so why aren’t we screening kids more regularly? Does early intervention make sense for some kids? In this episode, we discuss cholesterol, family history, genetics, and what pediatricians should be doing to educate and screen their patients.  Stephen Daniels, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, as well as a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is also a pediatrician in chief at Children’s Hospital Colorado, specializing in pediatric preventative cardiology. Additionally, he is the L. Joseph Butterfield Chair in Pediatrics. Some highlights from this episode include:  What we know about the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in kids  The role of obesity and other important factors to watch  What questions to ask to understand the role of genetics and family history  Steps pediatricians can take for earlier diagnosis   For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

31 Des 202430min

In this special holiday episode, we reflect on our favorite episodes from the past year and look forward to the year ahead. From all of us at Children’s Hospital Colorado, we wish you a happy holiday season. Charting Pediatrics would not be the success it is today without your support, wonderful topic ideas and intrigue. It’s providers like you who are changing pediatric healthcare around the world. For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

24 Des 20248min