Introducing Mykio!

My name is Mykio and I am a receptionist at Willow Creek Pediatrics! More than likely, I am the one that scheduled your appointment, but every once in a while, I am the one that checks you in or out for your appointment! I have worked for Wasatch Pediatrics for nearly 10 years. I started out as a file clerk at the St. Mark's office, not very long after I graduated high school. A few years later, I slowly migrated to the Willow Creek office, working nights and weekends and eventually during the day. I have my associate's degree and am slowly working on my bachelor's degree in Business Administration. I have been married for 3 years and have a 16 year old stepson and a 9 month old daughter. So I am currently in the "new mommy" stage and know what it is like to have all the questions in the world for my doctor! Hopefully I can help other new mommies not feel like they are the only one with "that question" through this blog!

Walk for Food Allergy

One in every 25 school age children have food allergies. You may have a child with a food allergy and if you don't your child most likely will have at least one child in the classroom with a food allergy. We have several patients that are part of the UFAN and want to show our support to all children in Utah with food allergies. The Saturday, October 2nd at Wheeler Farm  they are doing a 2 mile walk. Come and support this great cause. The reason for the walk is 1-To find a cure 2- Increase the awareness of food allergies 3-Provide understanding, hope and an opportunity for a child with a food allergy to simply be a child 4- To save a life. Check out these two links below to get great information about the Utah Food Allergy Network and more information about the Walk. Good luck to all our patients and their families as they walk for a great cause.

http://www.utahfoodallergy.org/
http://www.abc4.com/content/about4.gtu/story/Food-Allergies/spG8EhUbqEacqJkdsblhhw.cspx

Similac RECALL

Please be aware of this current voluntary recall  on SIMILAC and read all the information below.

Abbott Voluntarily Recalls Certain Similac® Brand Powder Infant Formulas That Did Not Meet Its Quality Standards.Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain Similac-brand, powder infant formulas in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and some countries in the Caribbean.

Abbott is recalling these products following an internal quality review, which detected the remote possibility of the presence of a small common beetle in the product produced in one production area in a single manufacturing facility. The United States Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has determined that while the formula containing these beetles poses no immediate health risk, there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae, could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat as a result of small insect parts irritating the GI tract. If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, a physician should be consulted.

 

The recall of these powder infant formulas includes:

• Certain Similac powder product lines offered in plastic containers.
• Certain Similac powder product lines offered in 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce and 12.9-ounce cans.

To immediately find out if the product in your possession is included in this recall, parents and caregivers should visit www.similac.com/recall/lookup, and type in their lot number to determine if their product is affected, or call (800) 986-8850.

 

No Abbott liquid infant formulas are impacted. Products not involved in the recall include all Abbott Nutrition liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated infant formulas and all powder and liquid specialty formulas, such as Similac Expert Care™ Alimentum®, Elecare ®, Similac Expert Care™ Neosure ®, Similac® Human Milk Fortifier, and metabolic formulas for inherited disorders.

About the Recall

• The company is implementing a plan to address this matter in the affected manufacturing facility, which is expected to be completed shortly. No other facilities or products are involved in this recall.
• Abbott has consulted with the U.S. FDA regarding this recall.

Information for Parents and Caregivers

• Products with affected lot numbers should be returned to Abbott at no cost to the consumer.
• Parents and caregivers can go to www.similac.com/recall/lookup or call Abbott's consumer hotline, (800) 986-8850, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Both the website and the consumer hotline have specific details on how to complete the return process.

** Information directly from www.abbot.com

Flu Vaccine Update!

We now have VFC flu vaccine available (for Medicaid/CHIP and self pay patients)!  This includes both the flu shot and the FluMist (for ages 2 and up).  We are not doing walk in flu vaccines this season.  All patients must have an appointment.  We are scheduling these on Monday afternoons, Wednesday morning and afternoons, and Thursday afternoons.  Call as soon as possible to schedule your appointments, as they are filling up quickly!  Afternoon appointments are currently booked out about 2 weeks!

**Remember to contact your insurance company to find out your flu vaccine coverage.  Most insurance companies do require a copay, while some cover 100%.  If you are not sure of your coverage, we will ask you to pay your regular copay at the time of service.  

Dr O'Mara rides the LOTOJA

Last weekend Dr O'Mara and her husband completed the LOTOJA for the third time. The LOTOJA is a 206 mile bike ride that starts in Logan, Utah and finishes in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Dr O'Mara and her husband ride in honor of those that have battled Cancer. Her father-in-law passed away at the age of 56, and they have several friends that have lost the heroic battle of cancer. They also do it in support of our favorite SURVIVOR, Dr. Dennis Ashton. Dr Ashton has beaten pancreatic cancer against all odds and is back with Willow Creek Pediatrics helping kids every day. We are so proud of Dr O'Mara and her accomplishment for the wonderful cause they support. Great JOB!!

**For more information on LOTOJA, visit www.lotojaclassic.com

New Info on Mercury-based Vaccine

A study in Pediatrics adds to the evidence that exposure to thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, does not increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. "This study should reassure parents about following the recommended immunization schedule," said lead author Dr. Frank Destefano of the CDC.
-Reuters

By Frederik Joelving

NEW YORK | Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:38am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new government study adds to the evidence that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative until recently found in many vaccines, does not increase children's risk of autism.It shows kids who had been exposed as babies to high levels of the preservative -- through vaccines they received or their mothers received while pregnant -- were no more likely to develop autism, including two distinct subtypes of the condition.
"This study should reassure parents about following the recommended immunization schedule," said Dr. Frank Destefano, director of the Immunization Safety Office at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, and the study's senior author.
Concerns about a link between vaccines and autism were first raised more than a decade ago by British physician Andrew Wakefield.
His report, based on 12 children, has since been discredited and was retracted earlier this year by the journal that published it. In the meantime, it sparked a fierce worldwide debate among scientists and a health scare that caused many parents to shy away from recommended vaccines like the one against measles, mumps and rubella.
Outbreaks of all three diseases followed.
One widespread worry has been that thimerosal might play a role in the development of autism, a condition that affects as many as one in 110 U.S. children, according to the CDC.
Most scientists consider autism a developmental disorder, likely influenced by genes.
Autism spectrum disorders range from mild Asperger's Syndrome to severe mental retardation and social disability, and there is no cure or good treatment.
The CDC researchers used data for U.S. children born between 1994 and 1999, who were enrolled in one of three managed care organizations.
They found 256 children with an autism spectrum disorder and compared them with 752 children who did not have the condition, but were matched for age and sex.
No matter when a child had been exposed to thimerosal -- before birth when the mother had a shot, or when the child itself was vaccinated as a baby or toddler -- there was no increase in the risk of any type of autism spectrum disorder.
In fact, those kids who were exposed to the preservative between birth and 20 months of age had slightly lower odds of developing the condition, although the researchers could not explain that result.
"This is a very reassuring study," said Dr. Michael J. Smith, a pediatrician at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky who was not involved in the research.
"These data show that you could receive a thimerosal vaccine and not be concerned about it."
Smith, who said he has a fully vaccinated two-month-old at home, noted that autism rates have continued to rise, although thimerosal has been removed from all routine childhood vaccines, except flu shots.
For parents who remain concerned about thimerosal in the flu shots, he said there are alternatives without the preservative, such as FluMist, a nasal spray that can be used in children aged two and older.
Some parents have also worried that giving too many shots at once, or in children who are too young, could cause mental problems. Smith said studies had dispelled those concerns one by one.
"There is no credible evidence" for a link between vaccines and autism, he told Reuters Health.

Safety Recalls

We know that keeping your children safe is probably one of your top priorities. The AAP gives us an updated recall list monthly. Follow the link below to see if any of the items you have in your home have been recalled http://aapnews.aappublications.org/  Checking other websites like http://www.cpsc.gov/ are great resources to check current recalls. Recalls can be something as small as a pacifer and as large as a crib. Look at your home this next week and see what you can do to make your home a safer enviornment.

Flu Shots Are In!

We have received our first shipment of flu vaccine for the season.  So we now have flu shots for all children ages 6 months and up, as well as FluMist for all children ages 2 years and up!  The flu vaccine we have received so far is for regular insurance only. 

We have not yet received our VFC flu vaccine (for Medicaid, Chip, Self Pay).  We are hoping to receive that within the next couple of weeks.  Keep checking back for continuous updates on flu vaccine availability!  

Flu vaccines will be by appointment only; we will not be doing walk-in flu vaccines this year.  Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Feel free to call the office Monday through Friday to schedule your children for their flu vaccine!

Please contact your insurance company prior to your appointment to find out if they cover the flu vaccine and if they require a copay.  Most insurance companies do require a copay anytime a fee is generated.  If you choose not to pay your copay at the time of service, there is an additional $5 fee to bill you for your copay.

Labor Day

Labor Day is fast approaching!  Just a reminder that, for your convenience, Willow Creek is open on Labor Day!  There will be a doctor in the office to see patients with urgent problems as needed.  You can call the office after 9:30 am to schedule an appointment.  Appointments will be booked in consecutive order, and we will stay in the office as long as there are patients scheduled!