Happy New Year's!

We will be in the office all weekend for those kiddos who love to get sick over the holiday weekends! We will be in the office on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to see patients with urgent medical problems! We will have one doctor in the office seeing patients and will book appointments in consecutive order. We will stay in the office until our latest scheduled appointment. As with all weekend, weeknight, and holiday appointments, any appointments scheduled on these days will be considered after hours. There is a $28 after hours fee, which will be billed to your insurance. It is your responsibility to know how your insurance will cover this. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office!

The doctors and staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics would like to wish all of our patients and their families a very happy and healthy 2011!

21 Healthy NEW YEAR'S resolutions for kids

Can you believe that 2011 is right around the corner? It is that time of the year again to start thinking about the new year, new goals and reflect on the past year. The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). There are some great tips to start showing children how to make goals and to stick with them. Here are just a few ideas....

Preschoolers

-I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
-I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
-I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

-I will drink 2% milk and water three times each day, and limit soda and fruit drinks to once each day.
-I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
-I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
-I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
-I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
-I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school
-I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids, 13-years-old and up

-I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink to one glass daily.
-I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
-I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
-I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
-When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
-When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust. -When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
-I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
-I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
-I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

**American Academy of Pediatrics, 12/10

Happy Holidays!

Just a reminder, for your convenience, the Willow Creek office does have holiday hours! We will have a doctor available on Christmas Eve to see patients with URGENT problems! Our phones will turn on at 8:00 for you to schedule an appointment or to speak to a nurse for medical advice. We will book appointments in order and stay until our latest scheduled appointment. We will be closed on Christmas day (there will be a doctor available for phone calls for urgent medical advice) and we will reopen on Sunday, December 26th. Please remember that all holiday and weekend appointment are considered after hours. There is a $28 after hours fee that we will bill to your insurance. It is your responsibility to know how your insurance will cover this.

We will also be in the office on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to see patients with urgent problems as well!

The Willow Creek Pediatrics doctors and staff would like to wish all of our patients and their families a happy and safe holiday season!

"Parents should play it SAFE over the holidays"

Four more days until Christmas.....We have one more tip to go along with all your holiday plans. Thanks to Dr. Jopling for sharing this article.

James Schmidt, an emergency room physician at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, sees plenty of avoidable accidents at this time of year — and all year round.

"Each year," he says, "parents are warned of holiday hazards, including toxic mistletoe and dangerous toys. Unfortunately most of the holiday hazard stories miss the larger point regarding children's safety. Most of the household injuries that occur during the holiday are the exact same types of injuries that occur commonly throughout the year -— poisonings, chokings, falls and burns."

In fact, he adds, the single most dangerous item during the holidays may be grandma's purse, where her medications may be left in places accessible to children. They may even be set out for her to remember to take them, he adds. While the potential toxicity of some Christmas plants always gets attention during the holidays, according to Schmidt emergency room doctors see far more children who have ingested their grandparents' blood pressure pills than children who have eaten mistletoe.

There is however, one common seasonal injury — that's when a child pulls over a Christmas tree. Trees should be securely fastened to the wall and toddlers should not be permitted close enough to a tree to tug on it, cautions Schmidt.

Other dangers to watch for include easy access to alcohol at holiday gatherings. "During a large party, guests may leave half-imbibed cups around the house. Small children may wander the house sampling the drinks. Children often show up at ERs showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning," he says.

Schmidt further warns about the potential for mishaps in visits to homes that haven't been "child-proofed." "Parents need to be vigilant and inspect homes for unblocked stairways and other hazards non-parents may have missed," he says.

Altogether, Schmidt urges families not only to decorate safely, give age-appropriate toys, and secure their Christmas trees and candles this holiday season, but he also wants to remind parents to stay vigilant for common household dangers that cause the most injuries — and to consider how travel and visitors may impact their children.

**more info http://www.dailypress.com/topic/health/hospitals-clinics/childrens-hospital-of-the-kings-daughters-PLCUL000134.topic

Fact Friday - Flu Shots for Pregnant Women

Thank you to Dr. Jopling for providing the following article about flu shots for pregnant women!

Yale Study Says Vaccinated Mothers Have Healthier Newborns
Flu shots during pregnancy leads to fewer hospitalizations

Getting a flu shot during pregnancy is an effective way for mothers to prevent their newborns from getting the flu, according to a new Yale study.

The three-year study showed that mothers who were vaccinated while pregnant successfully kept their newborns from being hospitalized with influenza 91.5 percent of the time. The study looked at the hospitalizations of infants up to 6 months old. There are currently no flu vaccines for children under 6 months of age.

For the study, the researchers looked at the medical records of infants placed at Yale-New Haven Hospital for influenza, and another group of infants who had not gotten influenza.

Comparisons showed that, of the infants who did not come down with the flu, the overwhelming majority had mothers who had received the vaccine while expecting.

Yale medical student Marietta Vazquez, the study's senior author, said getting the shot while pregnant is an effective way for mothers to protect their infants. It's especially important, since there are no vaccines for children under six months old. And it's cost-effective, she said, since it protects two people with one shot.

Even before the new findings, which are published Wednesday in Clinical Infectious Diseases, health professionals have recommended flu shots for pregnant women since influenza can lead to miscarriages.

Also, pregnancy can make women more susceptible to the flu because of its effect on the immune system.

As far as types of vaccinations, pregnant women should get the flu shot made from an inactivated virus. The nasal spray vaccine, which is made from a live virus, is not recommended.

Recall on Infant Sleep Positioners and Drop Side Cribs!

The FDA has recently recalled all infant sleep positioners, due to suffocation risk.  This includes items such as sleeping bolsters (a flat mat with cushions on each side of the baby), wedge-style positioners (wedge shaped cushion used to elevate the baby's head), and any sort of pillows, such as Infant Head Bed, which provides supports the head for infants with plagiocephaly (abnormal shape of the head).  Along with removing any sleep positioners from your baby's crib, do not place any pillows, comforters or quilts under the baby or in the crib.  It is also recommended to place your baby on their back at night and at nap time to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom).

You can read the full article from the Food and Drug Administration by clicking the link below:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm227301.htm

Also, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has decided to put a ban on all drop side cribs. Starting in June, drop side cribs will no longer be sold, resold, manufactured or distributed.  Drop side cribs are to blame for the deaths of at least 32 infants since 2001.  To read the full article, click the link below.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20101215/drop-side-cribs-banned-safety-issues

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these recalls, please do not hesitate to call the office!

December Facebook Winner!!!

Congratulations to ALICIA WEST! She is the winner of our December giveaway! Please come and pick up this amazing basket from Kneaders.(valued at $119) We loved hearing about all of your favorite family traditions during this holiday season! We are looking forward to the new year full of new contests, new information and always new updates! If there is anything you would like information about please let us know--we want to be here to help our patients families. Have a wonderful December and again, Congrats to ALICIA!!

Toy Safety in your shopping list

'Tis the season for holiday gift shopping. The hustle and bustle to find just the right toy for a child can present challenges. A wonderful article published by the AAP gives some wonderful consideration while shopping for toys this holiday season.

When choosing toy gifts this holiday season, keep safety , age-appropriateness, and the child's needs and interests in mind . Following are tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) to consider while shopping for toys:

-When selecting stocking stuffers and other trinkets, beware of toy or jewelry that may contain lead or cadmium. Both substances can be harmful to children who put into their mouths.

-Small items also can be risky for young children. For children under age 3, choose toys that are at least 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long, so they will not lodge in a child's mouth or throat.

-Toys containing magnets also pose risk to young children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

-For older children who find electronic gifts exciting, parents can help set a balance by also offering creative toys. The AAP recommends that children over age 2 have no more than two hours of screen time each day from all sources of media (e.g., television, video games, and the Internet). Check the label to make sure electronic toys are "UL Approved."

-If a hobby or chemistry kit seems like a wise educational gift, the AAP recommends giving these types of toys to children age 12 or older.

-With tight economic times, parents may opt to purchase gently used items from garage sales, online sources and secondhand stores. While it may save money, parents should check that the item has not been involved in a recall by visiting the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site, www.cpsc.gov.

Finally the AAP advises parents to share toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids' toys away from young children. If a toy is not in good condition, throw it away.

www.aapnews.org

Fact Friday - Utah Food Bank

Did you know that 1 in 10 Utahns, and 1 in 8 Utah children lives in poverty? Did you know that Utah has the fourth highest rate of food insecurity in the nation? Approximately 350,000 Utahns miss at least one meal a day. Did you know that over 134,000 Utahns receive food stamps and about 63,000 eat dinner at a soup kitchen? Did you know that 1 in 7 Utah children is at risk of hunger and nearly 40% must receive free or reduced price school lunch?

These numbers are astounding and even moreso during the holiday season! In this economy, so many people are so thankful for resources, such as the Utah Food Bank, to help them keep food on the table for their families. The Utah Food Bank was started in 1904, and since 1977, it has been the main collector and distributor of food in Utah. The Food Bank has so many different options for people who wish to donate, year round.

The doctors and staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics have decided to do their part and start up a collection during the holiday season to donate to the Utah Food Bank! These donations are needed now more than ever! We will take all the help we can get! If you are interested in making a donation, look for the collection box in the office through the remainder of the holiday season. So many people rely on this service, so let's all do our part!

Introducing our Nursing Staff!

We are so excited to introduce our nursing staff! --Our staff is made up of over 138 years of experience. What makes this staff amazing is that every single one of them love children and go the extra mile to help make a doctors at Willow Creek Pediatrics just a little better! We hope you enjoy getting to know our nursing staff!

Tanji and Camille

Camille has worked her for 14 years! You probably know Camille as our "Triage Nurse"! She has a 6 year old daughter. She loves to do all sorts of crafts and loves her job here at Willow Creek

Tanji has worked for Willow Creek for almost 8 years and is Dr. Lynch's nurse. She has three beautiful children and a house full of animals including a horse that is terrified of flowers!
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Val and Shelley

Shelley has worked here for almost 6 years and is a mom to three wild and wonderful boys. She is one of our night nurses and we love having her here! She loves to do crossword puzzles!

Val (info coming soon)

Amber and Traci

Traci has worked at WCP for 24 years! 2 years as a night and weekend staff, 13 years with Dr. Lynch, 1 year as a nursing supervisor at St. Marks, and the past 8 years with Dr. Jopling. She would love to live on Kauai on the beach in a tent!!!(true story)...and her newest interest is her motorcycle

Marge, Robyn and Mindee

Marge has worked here for 20 years! She has four children and four grandchildren who keep her busy! She loves spending time in the outdoors and WE can't survive our clinic with out her as our office coordinator!

Robyn has worked for Willow Creek as part of night and weekend nurses for almost two years. She is from upstate New York has five children and three grandkids. She works full time and then comes to visit us at night because she loves being around children!


Mindee started working for Willow Creek in 1997 and worked here for 5 years but then decided to be a stay at home mom for awhile. She has now been back for 6 years and has been a nurse in the back for over two years. Mindee loves her job and loves the patients that come here. She loves doing things with her family and going to all the sporting events for her kids!

Tanji, Mindee and Anita

Anita has worked for Willow Creek and Dr. Ashton for 22 years! Her pride and joy are her 9 grandchildren. When Anita lived in Arizona years ago she took care of Johnny Carson's parents in there home for a summer and when his mom became ill she had a suite in one of the hospitals. Johnny Carson was supposed to visit one day when Anita was taking care of his mother but his plans changed.  However, Anita did get to talk to him on the phone!

Val, Mandy and Sadie

Sadie has worked for Willow Creek for five years and she works with Dr. O'Mara. She has lived in Russia and loves to travel! She has a two year old daughter who hopefully one day will have a sibling! She feels lucky to work at Willow Creek!.


Mandy has worked for Wasatch Pediatrics for 7 years and with Willow Creek for over three years. She works with Dr. O'Mara, Dr. Memmott and nights and weekends. She has two boys and loves to travel, read, shop and cook! She feels so lucky to work with all the doctors at Willow Creek! She is also the     "co-author" of this blog!


Amy has worked for Willow Creek for 12 years. Amy has two boys, loves to run...shop and loves working with Dr. Ring! (picture to come soon)

Amber has worked for Willow Creek for 7 1/2 years and is proud of that since she is only 25! Amber is so fun to work with and works with Dr. Memmott. She said she is not interesting so she told us a joke....Q: How many nurses does it take to change a light bulb? A:Twelve, one to do it, one to chart it, and ten to write the policies and procedures.

Are your kids buckled properly?

We know that many of our patients will be traveling over this holiday season and wanted to give you a reminder to check your restraint systems in your car. (article provided by Dr Lynch)

First--REMEMBER, that children under 13 should ride in a rear vehicle seat. A child in front is 40% more likely to be injured, whether they are air bags, advanced air bags or no air bags. Never place a child in a rear-facing seat near an active frontal air bag! Here are four common misuses of restraints:

Face the Front: Children should ride in the front-facing child seats with harness until they reach the height or weight limits of the harnesses. All models can be used up to 40 pounds, but many newer harness designs can be used until children weigh 50, 65 or more pounds. Front-Facing harness spread force over wide areas of small bodies.

Face the Rear: Children should ride in the rear-facing child seat until they reach the height or weight limits of rear-facing convertible seats--research shows that children are five times safer facing the rear until they are two years old. Rear-facing child seats provide the best protection for the head, neck and spinal cord.

Booster Seats: Children should ride in booster seats used with lap and shoulder belts, until the seat belts alone fit correctly. Depending on the child and the specific vehicle, this usually occurs between 8 and 11. The lap belt should fit flat across a child's upper thighs (NOT across the soft abdomen) and the shoulder belt should cross snugly over the middle of a child's shoulder (NOT over the neck, or, behind the back). Booster seats help belts stay on strong body parts that don't injure easily.

Seat Belt: Seat belts are designed and crash tested to fit a person at 4 feet 9 inches. Seat belts fit if a child can sit all the way back with knees bent naturally over the seat edge. While sitting all the way back against the vehicle seat, the lap belt should fit flat across a child's upper thighs (NOT across the soft abdomen) and the shoulder belt across snugly over the middle of a child's shoulder (NOT over the neck, or, behind the back.) This belt placement must stay consistent throughout the ride. Seat belts distribute force and keep people in protected space.

We know this can be confusing but there is a great link that gives more information plus several different places to go get your child seats check. www.intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/primarychildrens/childhealth/parenting/carseats/pages/home.aspx

For MORE information or to schedule a FREE CAR SEAT INSPECTION call: 801-662-2277(CARS) A service of Primary Children's Medical Center. http://www.primarychildrens.org/

Fact Friday: Every Penny goes to the Child

Wasatch Pediatrics has once again donated a tree for the annual Festival of Trees. This is an exciting year because this is the 40th anniversary of the Festival of Trees. The trees are all decorated and purchased by individuals, corporations, families, organizations, church groups and businesses. Last year alone they raised $1,522,497.58! WOW!! We all love Primary Children's Hospital and love that this wonderful event raises so much money for children--AND EVERY PENNY goes to the CHILD!

A special thanks to our Willow Creek Employee's that participated! Thanks Marge and Traci! We are so proud of you guys! Our tree sold for $2,200!!.....To find out more information about doing your own tree next year or if you want to purchase a tree go to http://www.festivaloftrees.org/.  Happy Holidays and go see our tree...I can't wait to take my own kids tommorow!

Introducing Dr. Dennis Ashton!

This week's spotlight is Dr. Dennis Ashton!

Dr. Ashton founded Willow Creek Pediatrics in 1978 after completing his medical school residency at the University of Utah. He was board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1977, is a member of the Intermountain Pediatric Society, and well as the AAP. He is associated with the Irish-American Pediatric Society and has even traveled to Ireland for society meetings. He believes all children should have access to quality medical care and the right to a safe and secure world.

Dr. Ashton keeps physically fit by biking and hiking with his family and trying to keep up with his amazing wife on the tennis courts! He love the mountains of Utah and the diverse areas surrounding the Salt Lake Valley!

Not only is Dr. Ashton the heart of Willow Creek Pediatrics, but he truly is a walking miracle! Dr. Ashton beat the odds and is a pancreatic cancer survivor! He will be the first to tell you that every day is truly a gift!

We love Dr. Ashton and are so glad he has been back to work seeing patients for 2 years now! We are sure his patients are glad he is back and healthy as well!

Influenza is HERE!

Yesterday we saw our first case of influenza. Influenza is a contagious disease that can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions. Anyone can get the influenza, but rates of infection are highest among children. For most people, symptoms lasts only a few days. They include: Fever, sore throat, chills, fatigue, cough, headache and muscle aches. By getting vaccinated you can protect yourself from influenza and may also avoid spreading influenza to others. Influenza can occur any time, but most influenza occurs from November through May. In recent season, most infections have occurred in January and February ....So now what to do?....First, make sure that your child has received this year's influenza vaccine.We STILL have flu vaccine available so please call our office today to schedule an apppointment for your child to receive the flu vaccine. Second, remind your children about good hand washing. And finally, if your child does get influenza, remember we would be happy to answer any of your questions you might have. Check out several sites about the vaccine and more information about influenza.--Let the influenza season begin--

www.cdc.gov/flu

http://www.healthychildren.org/

Facebook Winners and December's Facebook Contest!

Big congrats to Kim Eberspacher, Calli Rhoades and Jessica Muelleck!  They are the winners for our November Facebook contest!  Let us know if you would like us to mail you your gift card or if you would like to come by the office and pick it up!

Now it is time for our December Facebook contest!  This will be our final contest until Springtime, so make sure you get involved!  The winner will receive a wonderful gift basket full of holiday goodies.  To enter, click here and "like" us on Facebook.  Then post on our wall what your favorite holiday tradition is.  Those who post will automatically entered in this month's drawing!

What are you Thankful for?

This time of year is a great time to reflect and remember what we are thankful for.  The employees at Willow Creek have are all remembering what they are thankful for today!

Margie (office coordinator) is thankful for good health, so she can cook Thanksgiving dinner for everyone!

Mandy (nurse) is thankful for her two little boys and all of their energy!  Also her amazing husband and family!

Jan (front office) is thankful for her wonderful family.  They bring so much joy and happiness to her!

Dr. Jopling is thankful that his wife and 2 children are in good health!

Amber (nurse) is thankful for good credit reports!

Mykio (front office) is thankful for a happy, healthy family and that she gets to share her holiday with such wonderful people!

Kari (front office) is thankful for great friends and neighbors and their thoughtful acts of kindness!

Camille (nurse) is thankful for her family and her health!

Anita (nurse) is thankful for her family, including her 3 children and her grandchildren, and for her health, such as it is for her age!

Dr. Ring is sooooo thankful for her daughter, Piper, and her good health!

Dr. Chamberlain is thankful for her beautiful family, a great job and good health!

Dr. Ashton is thankful to be upright and breathing!  Everyday alive is a good day!

Dr. Memmott is thankful for the country we live in and our many freedoms and opportunities!

Dr. Lynch is thankful for his health, vision, family and friends!

Mindee (nurse/front office) is thankful for her beautiful family and a home to keep her warm!

The staff and doctors of Willow Creek would like to wish all of our patients and their families and happy and safe Thanksgiving week!

Fact Friday--1 in every 8 babies are born to soon

Did you know that November is Prematurity Awareness Month?...I did because I have raised two preemies and so it is very close to my heart. I know many of our patients are also preemies and wanted to recognize the families and children that have overcome this challenge.

The March of Dimes is a wonderful resource and a great advocate in helping with the awareness and education of premature babies. 3 Facts about premature births: 1- 543,000 babies or 1 in every 8 babies are born prematurely each year; 2- premature birth is the number one killer of newborns; 3- premature babies cost ten times more than healthy babies. Because of campaigns like The March of Dimes and "Prematurity Awareness Month", there has been a recent decline in premature birth rate by 3 percent! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a proud partner with the March of Dimes as they raise awareness of this growing health problem.

It is so wonderful to have so many great resources out there----so click on a link below if you want to volunteer, support or learn more about Prematurity and help the March of Dimes "work together for stronger, healthier babies"!
www.marchofdimes.com/mission/prematurity.html
www.healthychildren.org/english/news/pages/prematurity-awareness-month.aspx

**picture above is Jaxon (my son)who was born at 28.5 weeks--weight 2 pound 5 oz and now is a very strong, active and healthy 9 1/2 year old boy

Introducing Dr. Michelle Chamberlain!

Our spotlight for this week is Dr. Michelle Chamberlain!

Dr. Chamberlain received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University. She attended medical school at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. Her residency was completed at the University of Utah. She is board certified in Pediatrics. Michelle's husband, Jim, is an internal medicine Physician at the Utah Diabetes Center. They have two children, Luke and Mia. Michelle's favorite hobbies include running, hiking, biking, and skiing. Dr. Chamberlain enjoys caring for children of all ages and finds the most rewarding aspect of being a pediatrician to be the relationships she develops with the patients and their families as the children grow and develop.

Dr. Chamberlain is our newest addition to the Willow Creek office and we are so happy to have her here!  Her practice has filled up quickly and her patients absolutely adore her!

Thanksgiving Hours

The Willow Creek office WILL be open on Thanksgiving day, November 25, for Willow Creek and Draper patients! We have a doctor on call to see patients with URGENT problems only! We will book patients in consecutive order and will stay until the latest scheduled appointment, so call first thing in the morning if your child needs to be seen to be sure to get an appointment!

Just a reminder, all after hours appointments, including holiday appointments do have an additional $28 after hours fee. We will bill the fee to your insurance company, but it is your responsibility to know whether or not your insurance covers the after hours charge and if you will have a different copay.

We will also be open the day after Thanksgiving. We will have a few doctors in the office to see sick patients. This will be treated as a regular day with regular office hours for the Willow Creek office!

Dr. Lynch and Dr. O'Mara run 10K

WAY TO GO!!....Dr. Steve Lynch and Dr. Kathy O'Mara both represented Willow Creek Pediatrics in the annual "Reach Out and Read 10 K" this past cold Saturday morning. We are so proud of them for supporting this very worthwhile cause and hope you are too! To learn more about "Reach Out and Read" check out the website http://www.reachoutandread.org/ or read our blog earlier in the week. Thanks so much for supporting such a great cause for children!!

Fact Friday-Thermometer use 101

Did you know that normal temperature for a child may range from 97-100.3 degrees F. The AAP considers anything over 100.4 degrees F to be a possible fever. If your child feels warm, looks flushed, is sweating or shivering, or has flu symptoms, you might suspect fever. Using a thermometer is the only sure way to know if a fever is present. But what thermometer should you use?....Use a digital thermometer to take a rectal(in the bottom), oral(in the mouth) or axillary(under the arm) temperature. A tympanic(ear) thermometer, which is more expensive, is another option. Other methods are available but are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) at this time. For newborn to 3 months it is best to do a rectal temperature. For 3 months to 3 years,  you may use rectal, axillary, or tympanic; however, it is recommended that anyone under three years of age use the rectal thermometer.  For 4 to 5 years of age, use rectal, oral, axillary or tympanic.  For 5 years and older, use oral, axillary or tympanic.

Click on the link below to read more about this great article from the AAP and learn more about how to take an accurate temperature of your child. Happy Friday!! http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/30/11/29-d

**info from the AAP

November Facebook Contest!

Good news...it is time to announce our November Facebook contest! This month, there are more prizes, which means more chances to win! We will have 3 gift cards up for grabs this month, so it is definitely worth your while to enter!

In order to enter, find Willow Creek Pediatrics on Facebook, or click here, and "like" us (if you haven't already done so!). In a pediatric office, we learn quickly that kids really do say the darndest things! So post on our wall the cutest, funniest, or even craziest thing you have heard a kid say! Everyone who posts will be automatically entered in the drawing! You must "like" us and post on our wall no later than midnight, Monday, November 29th! We will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 30th, so keep your eyes out!

Even if you do not win this month, we will have a big drawing next month for a wonderful holiday basket, so continue to follow us to find out details on how to win in December!

**Willow Creek Pediatrics employees are not eligible!

Fact Friday - Reach Out and Read Utah Fun Run for Reading

**Reach Out and Read Utah is part of the national organization Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Reach Out and Read Utah builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The 3.8 million families in the United States served annually by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills.

Reach Out and Read Utah will be hosting their first annual "Reach Out and Read Fun Run for Reading" on Saturday, November 13th, starting at 9:00 am.  There is a 10K or a 5K run/walk along the Jordan River Parkway, starting in Murray, to support the Reach Out and Read program!  Registration for this event is $25 ahead, or $30 the day of the event.  You can register online at http://www.active.com/ or by mail. 

If you have any questions or need further information, you can contact the Reach Out and Read Utah program coordinator, Anna Farnsworth at 801-647-8038. 

Many of our Willow Creek employees and doctors will be participating in this wonderful event!  A special thanks to Dr. Lynch for providing the information to us!

** Information provided by http://www.reachoutandreadutah.org/

Introducing Dr. Steve Lynch!

This week we would like to spotlight Dr. Steve Lynch!

Dr. Lynch has been practicing medicine for over 20 years!  He loves being a pediatricians because it is a great opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.  Aside from his work with Willow Creek, Dr. Lynch also teaches the pediatrics course for the University of Utah Physician Assistant program.  He also donates his time to the community by volunteering pediatrics services at the Maleheh Free Clinic, since its opening in 2005.

Dr. Lynch has been married to his lovely wife, Joann, for 24 years.  They have two gorgeous dogs, Sophie and Hannah!  Their favorite place to travel is Off-The-Beaten-Path (Bhutan and Papua New Guinea).  Dr. Lynch's favorite books are The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down, Three Cups of Tea, and The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Some of Dr. Lynch's favorite food and snacks include Thai food and anything apple!  Some of his favorite hobbies are skiing, running, travel, photography and spending time with his dogs.  One thing that is still on Dr. Lynch's "bucket list" is to go dog sledding!

Dr. Lynch is a great asset to Willow Creek Pediatrics and his patients adore him, as does his staff!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Lisa Weeks for winning our October Facebook contest for a $50 Target gift card! 

If you have not already joined us on Facebook, you may want to do so today!  Continue to follow us on Facebook as we will continue to have monthly contests with great prizes through the holiday season!  We will be announcing our November contest next week, so join us on Facebook and tell your friends to follow us as well so you don't miss out!

Fact Friday - Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is such an exciting time of the year for kids and we all want to make sure that children have a safe holiday with the following tips from the AAP. Dr Lynch found this article and asked we share it with our "blogging" friends!

"13 Halloween Safety Tips for Little Ghost and Goblins"

ALL DRESSED UP

1- Because they can obstruct a child's vision, mask are not recommended. If a child wears makeup, parents should look for non-toxic, hypoallergenic kits.

2- Costumes should be flame-retardant and fit properly. Avoid oversized shoes, high heels and long skirts or pants that could cause a child to fall.

3- Children who will be trick-or-treating after dusk should have reflective tape on their costumes and carry a flashlight.

CARVING A NICHE

4- Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers, then parents can do the cutting. Under parents' supervision, children ages 5-10 can carve a pumpkin with cutters equipped with safety bars.

5- Battery operated lights or votives are best for candlelit pumpkins.

6- Lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects and should never be left unattended.

(....blogger note, my children are small so we carved orange peppers and it was great because they have a softer skin and look very similar to a pumpkin)

SWEET TREATS

7- Children shouldn't snack while they're trick-o-treating. Parents should check treats at home.

8- Watch for signs of tampering, such as small pink holes in wrappers and torn or loose packages.

9- Parents of young children should get rid of choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

HOME SAFE HOME

10- To keep their home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove anything a child could trip over such as a garden house, toys, bikes or lawn decorations.

11- Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

12- Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.

13- Remember that Halloween is for children all ages....so get involved with your little ghost or goblin!!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween from all of us at Willow Creek Pediatrics

**www.aap.org

Halloween Candy Solutions

Ever wonder what to do with all of that extra Halloween candy that you don't want to keep around your house?  Maybe we can help with that!  There are numerous dental and orthodontic offices around the valley that will pay you for your leftover Halloween candy!  Most of the offices who participate in this will donate the candy to a charitable cause.  There is even a dentist in our building that is paying people for their Halloween candy for the entire week after Halloween!  This particular office is donating all of the candy they collect to our troops overseas.  So if you are wanting to get rid of some of those mountains of candy, call up your dentist office and see if this is something they do!

UFAN Annual Halloween Party!

Utah Food Allergy Network is gearing up for their annual "food-free" Halloween party!  This is a great opportunity for children and families with food allergies to enjoy some Halloween festivities without worrying about possibly being exposed to something they are allergic to!  There will be many activities to participate in, including a costume parade, creative holiday crafts, and many festive Halloween games!

The party is this coming Friday, October 29th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  It will be held at the Carmen B. Pingree School, on 780 South Guardsman Way. 

**For more information and a detailed map, you can visit the UFAN website at http://www.utahfoodallergy.org/.

Teething Tablets Recall

Today we received word on a current recall that we wanted you to be aware of. The FDA states that Hylands Teething Tablets are being recalled because they contain a small amount of belladona which is a substance that can cause harm in large doses.

To read more about this current recall click on this link

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm230762.htm It is a great idea to check http://www.fda.gov/ for other updates and recalls on a weekly or monthly bases. It has several tips and great ideas. If you have any other questions please call our office.

Fact Friday--The World's Largest Puzzle!

If you have been in the office recently (within the past year or so!), you more than likely have seen the large jigsaw puzzle hanging in the main hallway!  The puzzle was put together mostly by Trishell, who works in our front office, and Amber, who works in the back with Dr. Memmott.  The puzzle took a little over 2 years for them to complete!  Here are some statistics on the puzzle:

• The puzzle consists of 24,000 pieces 
• It comes in 4 individual packages, which are divided up into 4 vertical sections
• The puzzle comes in a smaller, 3,000 piece version...but, what fun is that???
• This puzzle was released and put on store shelves on March 10, 2007.  The one that hangs on the Willow Creek wall was start in April, 2007.  We don't waste much time! 
• The box that the puzzle comes in is 22.5 inches wide, 13.5 inches deep, and 10 inches tall and weight approximately 26 pounds! 
• Once assembled, the puzzle measures 15 feet in lenght and 5 feet in height!

We are so proud of this puzzle hanging in our hallway!  It definitely adds character to our office and we are so proud of Amber and Trishell for sticking it out so we can have something fun for our little patients to look at!

**For more information on "The World's Largest Jigsaw Puzzle", click here

Introducing Dr. Kathy O'Mara!

This week's spotlight is Dr. Kathy O'Mara!

Dr. O'Mara was born and raised in Philadelphia. She has been practicing medicine for 18 years. She loves being a pediatrician because it is a great way to be around kids a lot!

Dr O'Mara has been married for 13 years and has two very active boys. One of her favorite things to do is to camp with her family.

Dr. O'Mara's favorite food is sushi! Her favorite book.....is the next one that keeps her up all night! Her hobbies and interests include running, biking, skiing and camping. One thing on Dr. O'Mara's "bucket list" is to do more international travel.

Dr. O'Mara is a huge asset to Willow Creek Pediatrics and if you can't find her in the office, check the mountains...that is where she will be! We love Dr O'Mara and know that all her patients would agree!

Facebook Contest!

Are you needing a little help with the upcoming holiday season?  Maybe we can be that help! 

Click here and "Like" us on Facebook!  Once have done that, post a comment on our wall and tell us what you LOVE about Willow Creek Pediatrics!  Everyone who follows us and posts on our wall by October 30th will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Target gift card!

Continue to follow us because there will be prizes given monthly through the holidays, including a big holiday gift basket!

**Employees of Willow Creek Pediatrics are not eligible!

Fact Friday!

Did you know that children under age 5 make up the bulk of the more than 100,000 Americans treated in emergency rooms each year after accidentally swallowing medications? The following article provided by Dr. Jopling, by Liz Szabo from USA Today provides some interesting statistics and gives some great pointers to help prevent this from happening to your child!

Most ER cases for swallowing pills involve kids
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

Most such poisonings occur in 1 and 2 year olds — an age group whose curiosity and climbing skills often outstrip their judgment — according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Clean out your medicine cabinet to keep kids safe

While 85% of children were treated and released from the ER, about 10% had more serious injuries and required hospital admission, the study says.

About 90% of child poisonings happen in the home, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Thanks partly to better caps and packaging, child poisoning deaths have fallen by 80% since 1972. More than 30 children a year now die from poisoning.

"It's easy to see why toddlers and preschoolers get into trouble", says pediatrician Ari Brown, author of Expecting 411. "Young children explore by putting things in their mouths, but they don't really understand the dangers of medications until about age 6", says Marcel Casavant, a pediatrics professor at Ohio State University School of Medicine.  "And most people don't store medications properly", says Lara McKenzie of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. When people are sick with colds, they often leave cough syrups and other drugs by the sink.  "More and more people also now request "easy open" caps on bottles or day-of-the-week pill organizers", Casavant says. That can be especially dangerous when children get into a grandparent's open purse or begin exploring her house.

Experts offer these tips to keep children safe:

•Properly dispose of unneeded or expired medications, advises the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

•Don't take medications in front of children, which may inspire them to try to imitate you, Casavant says. Tell children never to take medication unless you give it to them.

•Never refer to pills as candy.

•Because children can sometimes open child-resistant caps, keep medications out of sight, out of reach and in a locked container, Casavant says.

•Keep the national poison control center number — 800-222-1222 — on or next to all of your phones.

Croup

Fall is here and I am sure everyone is loving this wonderful weather we are having! Hopefully it will last awhile--In our office we are seeing a lot of croup right now. Croup is defined by a viral infection of the voice box. The croupy cough is tight, low pitched and barky (like a barking seal). Most children with croup just have a barky cough. Some develop a tight breathing called stridor (raspy sound heard with breathing in). Other children will also have a fever with the cough. Usually it starts with cold symptoms and progressively gets worse at night.

Some things to do from home are to have the child inhale a warm mist in a foggy bathroom with the hot shower running (Caution: always be with child and never leave alone in bathroom with water running). If that is not effective, have your child inhale cool air from outside or a freezer. Some children need to be seen for further help. Treat fever with appropriate dosage of ibuprofen or acetaminophen and push fluids. If child is having stridor or is not improving after 2-3 days we should see your child. We should also see your child if he or she is having noisy or labored breathing, or if at-home measures do not help the child. Please don't hesitate to call our office and speak to a nurse for any further question.

**Information from the Pediatric Telephone Protocols--Barton D. Schmitt, MD

Introducing Dr. Jim Memmott!

This week's spotlight is Dr. Jim Memmott!

Dr. Memmott was born in Hawaii and raised in Salt Lake City.  He has been practicing medicine for 12 years.  He loves being a pediatrician because he thinks children are fun and they usually get feeling better!

Dr. Memmott has been married to his wife for 18 years.  They have 4 beautiful children that keep them very busy.   Their favorite place to travel as a family is Newport, California. 

Dr. Memmott's favorite thing to eat is ice cream!  His favorite book is The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.  His favorite activities include snowboarding, reading, and watching his kids' little league games.  One thing Dr. Memmott still has on his "bucket list" is to run on time ALL DAY!

Dr. Memmott is a great asset to the Willow Creek office and we are sure his patients would agree!

Introducing Margie!

Margie and 2 of her granddaughters after a good hike!

Margie Tilley is the office coordinator for Willow Creek Pediatrics. She has been a registered nurse for 26 years! She started out working in labor and delivery in the hospital prior to working in pediatrics. She started at Willow Creek as the nursing supervisor in 1990. She worked with Dr. Jopling for 12 years and she misses seeing his darling patients everyday! Margie chose nursing as her profession because she loved working in the medical field. She changed her major 3 times in college! She love working in pediatrics because she loves children!
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Margie was born in the VERY small town of McGill, Nevada. She has been married to her husband, John, for 37 years! Their favorite place to vacation is definitely Hawaii, but they also love traveling to Jackson Hole and the Tetons. Margie's favorite foods are pasta, homemade chocolate chip cookies and DIET COKE! Her favorite book is The Firm by John Grisham. She loves the outdoors and just being busy! Her favorite things to do are boating, skiing, hiking, snorkeling and spending time with her family, grandkids and friends. One thing still on Margie's "bucket list": She would like to fly an airplane and learn to scuba dive!

Margie has 4 children. Her oldest daughter, Monica, is married with 2 amazing children, Kaelin, 14 years old, and Tyler, 12 years old. Her oldest son, Nathan, is married with 2 darling little girls, Nikayla and Brooklyn. Her son Ryan lives in Salt Lake City. Her youngest son, Justin, is attending the University of Utah and still lives at home. They also have a cute dog named Gizmo!

Margie does an awesome job as our office coordinator! Everyone who knows Margie, loves her and we wouldn't trade her for the world!