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!