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June 11-14, 2009
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
Clearwater Beach, FL
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As always, our Florida Suncoast Pediatric Conference will include engaging and informative presentations on topics relevant to the pimary care pediatrician. The diverse agenda includes several talks on immunizations:
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“The U.S. Surveillance Systems
for Adverse Events Following Immunization”
and
“Vaccine Safety Update”
Keynote Speaker:
Angela Calugar, M.D., MPH
Immunization Safety Officer
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, NCPDCID,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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“The Rarely Encountered Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Would You Know Them if You Saw Them?”
Allison Messina, M.D.,
Pediatric Infectious Disease Program, ACH
Affiliate Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, USF
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“Communicating with Lay Audiences: Lessons from the Childhood Vaccine and Autism Debate”
Mark Walters, D.V.M.
Associate Professor of Journalism & Media Studies, USF St. Petersburg
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“Show Me the Money:
Vaccine Payment”
Richard Lander, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UMDNJ, Newark, NJ
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For a complete listing of presentations, breakout sessions and social programs for the entire family, visit www.allkids.org/cme. |
Outreach News:
All Children’s Specialty Care of Manatee adds Speech Therapy
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Speech-language pathology services will now be available at All Children’s Specialty Care of Manatee at Lakewood Ranch.
For more information please call the Center at
941-907-2019. |
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Dr. Wassam Rahman, Medical Director of the ACH Emergency Center, heads a multidisciplinary team at All Children’s Hospital that has finalized an interim algorithm for screening and treating patients presenting with signs and symptoms of swine flu (H1N1 influenza).
“There are too many unknown factors at this juncture,” notes Dr. Rahman. “The information we are getting from the CDC changes constantly and we must be ready to make necessary adjustments in our recommendations and practices."
Supplies for infection control procedures are in place at All Children’s and additional rapid flu testing kits are available. Additional supplies of antiviral medications arrived on April 30. Contingency plans for patient surges are in place and the Hospital will follow disaster planning guidelines, Dr. Rahman reports.
The multidisciplinary team has adapted guidelines for both antiviral treatment and chemoprophylaxis as well as a screening algorithm. The algorithm does not address all clinical presentations or scenarios but is meant to be a useful guide for assessing patients who present with possible swine flu infection.
Available resources:
The CDC website is also a great resource for most questions and is updated frequently.
Our Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialists and Infection Control Department are available to answer any questions.
Physician Access Line: 1-877-222-0404
(727-767-8311 in Pinellas County)
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The Pediatric Neuroradiology Program at All Children’s Hospital, part of the Division of Pediatric Radiology, is pleased to offer Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as an additional diagnostic modality. We look forward to assisting you in caring for your patients, and we are available to discuss the diagnostic benefits of this procedure.
With a wealth of experience in neonatal imaging at All Children’s Hospital, our pediatric radiologists draw upon their expertise with neurologic and congenital problems in preterm neonates—including those born at 25 weeks gestation and earlier.
All Children’s Hospital has the most advanced MRI equipment available and can utilize rapid sequences and select the most appropriate software platform to make Fetal MRI a viable diagnostic tool.
What is Fetal MRI and what is it used for?
Fetal MRI is a powerful modality as well as a valuable complement to prenatal ultrasound. The development of ultrafast single-shot rapid acquisition has greatly contributed to the increasing clinical use of fetal MRI. Fetal MRI allows direct visualization of the fetal brain in order to characterize structural abnormalities such as cerebral malformations and destructive lesions.
Indications for Fetal MRI include:
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evaluation of ventriculomegaly detected on prenatal sonography |
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suspected abnormalities of the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis |
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suspected genetic disorders associated with brain malformations |
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evaluation of neurodevelopment sequelae with twinning
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severe maternal illness |
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technically limited sonography |
Fetal MRI provides detailed visualization and assessment of the developing central nervous system and can define abnormalities that include:
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agenesis of the corpus callosum |
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cortical malformation |
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periventricular nodular heterotopia |
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cerebellar dysplasia |
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periventricular leukomalacia |
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porencephaly |
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multicystic encephalomalacia |
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germinal matrix hemorrhage |
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intraventricular hemorrhage |
Is MRI safe for the pregnant mother and her unborn child?
The American College of Radiology supports the use of MRI when the risk-benefit ratio to the patient warrants that the study be performed. Practically speaking, MRI of the fetus is utilized at 22 weeks gestation and beyond.
No contrast agents or sedation drugs are necessary. The mother is held NPO for four hours prior to the study in order to decrease fetal motion. The mother is placed on her left side for the study, which takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
How are Fetal MRI studies scheduled?
To schedule a Fetal MRI, please call our Radiology Department at 727-767-8497. For physician-to-physician consultation about the benefit of Fetal MRI for a specific patient, you may call our Radiology Viewing Area directly at 727-767-3318.
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Pediatric Radiology
Evan W. Harris, M.D.
Chairman, Division of Pediatric Radiology
James M. Anderson, M.D.
Richard M. Benator, M.D.
Jeffrey P. Clarke, M.D.
J. Kevin Potthast, M.D.
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