Latest news with #pediatriccare
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Interior Health CEO is out over closure of Kelowna, B.C., pediatric unit
A treatment room in the emergency department at Peter Lougheed hospital is pictured in, Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press) KELOWNA — The head of British Columbia's Interior Health authority is stepping aside six months early over staff shortages that forced the closure of Kelowna General Hospital's dedicated pediatric unit. The authority says the end of president and CEO Susan Brown's tenure is among 'key actions' taken by the board of directors and other leaders to reopen the pediatric department as soon as possible. Interior Health also says in a statement Friday that four new doctors have signed on to the pediatric department, although it still lacks enough staff to safely reopen the unit, which has been shut since May 26. The health authority says Brown will now focus on supporting the organization ahead of her pending retirement that was announced last spring. Interior Health had said at the time that Brown would stay on as CEO until the end of this year. Chief financial officer Sylvia Weir has been named interim president and CEO. The closure of Kelowna's pediatric ward is part of ongoing hospital staffing shortages that have caused rolling closures of emergency rooms across B.C. The authority has said the closure could last until July 4. The Kelowna hospital 'remains equipped to support any children requiring emergency care although pediatric in-patients will not be admitted at this time,' the Interior Health statement on Friday said. 'In the meantime, we extend gratitude to the pediatricians providing on-call coverage to the emergency department and we thank everyone working at the emergency department for their efforts during this challenging time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Interior Health CEO is out over closure of Kelowna, B.C., pediatric unit
KELOWNA — The head of British Columbia's Interior Health authority is stepping aside six months early over staff shortages that forced the closure of Kelowna General Hospital's dedicated pediatric unit. The authority says the end of president and CEO Susan Brown's tenure is among "key actions" taken by the board of directors and other leaders to reopen the pediatric department as soon as possible. Interior Health also says in a statement Friday that four new doctors have signed on to the pediatric department, although it still lacks enough staff to safely reopen the unit, which has been shut since May 26. The health authority says Brown will now focus on supporting the organization ahead of her pending retirement that was announced last spring. Interior Health had said at the time that Brown would stay on as CEO until the end of this year. Chief financial officer Sylvia Weir has been named interim president and CEO. The closure of Kelowna's pediatric ward is part of ongoing hospital staffing shortages that have caused rolling closures of emergency rooms across B.C. The authority has said the closure could last until July 4. The Kelowna hospital "remains equipped to support any children requiring emergency care although pediatric in-patients will not be admitted at this time," the Interior Health statement on Friday said. "In the meantime, we extend gratitude to the pediatricians providing on-call coverage to the emergency department and we thank everyone working at the emergency department for their efforts during this challenging time. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
National Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
KixCare's Kix360° Membership Touches Down in Air Canada's Aeroplan eStore
Article content New offering allows members to redeem points for 24/7 virtual healthcare for kids under 18 Article content TORONTO & MONTREAL — KixCare, Canada's first and only national, bilingual virtual healthcare solution dedicated to children and teenagers, has partnered with Aeroplan to offer its Kix360° membership program in the Air Canada Aeroplan eStore. Canadian Aeroplan Members can now redeem their points for a three- or 12-month subscription that provides comprehensive virtual physical and mental healthcare from a trusted team of pediatric professionals, anytime, anywhere. Article content Article content 'At KixCare, we believe that kids require specialized care to address both physical and mental health concerns, and parents shouldn't have to wait weeks or months to speak with a healthcare professional when their child is sick or struggling,' says Adam Saperia, CEO of KixCare. 'We're excited to partner with Aeroplan to give Canadian families more ways to access our services than ever before.' Article content Developed with busy families in mind, Kix360° offers fast, reliable access to a team of top pediatric experts who can help parents navigate unexpected illnesses at home and abroad, provide mental health counseling, advise on difficult conversations, and share guidance on children's overall health and wellbeing. Cutting down on unnecessary emergency room visits and long wait times, Kix360° seamlessly connects parents to the right healthcare professional through secure messaging and video calls. Article content Founded in 2021 by a team of physicians – all parents themselves – KixCare was created to remove the barriers families face in accessing timely, specialized care. By offering 24/7 support across Canada, the service helps reduce visits to walk-in clinics or emergency rooms while providing crucial health services and parenting support. Article content 'Travel should be a fun and relaxing time for families to make memories together, so for added peace of mind, we offer familiar care navigation to parents in the event their child should get sick while abroad,' says Saperia. 'With Kix360°, families have direct access to trusted experts who understand what kids and teens need – providing real help, in real time, whether at home or on vacation.' Article content One Kix360° membership covers all children under 18 in a household, making it a simple and effective solution for families seeking immediate personalized care. In addition to virtual appointments and care navigation while travelling, families also benefit from expert-led webinars, parenting tips, and a growing collection of pediatric health resources. Both the three- and 12-month memberships can be found on the Aeroplan eStore now for 12,500 and 18,100 points, respectively. Article content 'We pride ourselves on offering our members meaningful rewards that support their everyday needs as well as their travel experiences. With the addition of Kix360° to the Aeroplan eStore, members can turn their points into peace of mind,' adds Andrew Noonan, Manager of Loyalty Retail and Affiliate Products at Air Canada. Article content About KixCare Article content KixCare is a Canadian digital health company and virtual care platform, connecting families and their children with around-the-clock physical and mental health services. Created by doctors with over fifty years of combined clinical and corporate experience, our mission is to offer all Canadian children and teenagers access to quality care without delay. As the only national bilingual virtual service focused on kids' health and wellbeing, our team of pediatric specialists include nurses, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, and many more experts. We're here to make it all better, together. Article content About Aeroplan Article content Air Canada's Aeroplan is Canada's leading travel loyalty program, chosen by more than 9 million active members worldwide. Aeroplan helps members travel more and offers the ability to earn or redeem points on all Air Canada flights as well as on the world's largest airline partner network, encompassing over 45 airlines serving more than 1,300 of destinations across the globe. Members can also redeem points on an extensive range of merchandise, car rental rewards, and hotels with preferential rates at acclaimed hotels worldwide through HotelSavers. Article content Aeroplan offers members exceptional value and exclusive benefits including saving on redemptions with no additional cash surcharges on Air Canada flights, starting at 6,000 points. Members earn points with Aeroplan's more than 250 financial, retail, and travel partners, including online shopping via the Aeroplan eStore. Aeroplan's unique everyday partnerships in Canada with Uber, Starbucks, LCBO and Parkland's participating 1,100+ Ultramar, Chevron, Pioneer, Fas Gas, ON the RUN and Marché Express locations Canada-wide, enable members to earn points directly when making a purchase. Article content Article content
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Florida boy thrives after groundbreaking brain procedure at Nicklaus Children's Hospital
A young Florida boy who once struggled to move or even hug his mother due to a debilitating neurological disorder is now swimming, biking, and running, thanks to a treatment offered at one of the few pediatric hospitals in the nation providing the procedure. Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami is among the only pediatric facilities in the country performing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for children. The treatment has dramatically improved the life of 10-year-old Tamryn Hendon, whose family travels nearly 500 miles from Tallahassee to receive care. A dramatic turnaround "It was miraculous," said Tamryn's mother, Tamara Hendon. "Now he swims, he rides his bike, he runs. He could do whatever he did before the onset." Just over a year ago, Tamryn's life looked very different. He suffered from dystonia, a movement disorder that caused painful, involuntary muscle contractions. Tamryn said he could barely move and was unable to hug his mom. "He started falling backwards. He couldn't hold himself upright and he would just, his back would bend and he would fall over and it would be worse later in the day," Tamara recalled. "It was extremely scary because we didn't know, is this a life-threatening condition? Is it life-limiting?" From bedridden to biking "He quit laughing, he quit smiling and he talked about death," she continued. "He was just in a really dark place for a 10-year-old boy." After consulting doctors across the state, the Hendons met Dr. Migvis Monduy at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. "He was in a wheelchair and then ultimately continued to progress to the point that he was arching back constantly and twisting, and even sitting in a wheelchair became very, very uncomfortable for him, so he was mostly bedridden at that point," Dr. Monduy said. Testing revealed that Tamryn's dystonia was caused by a genetic mutation known to respond to deep brain stimulation. Dr. Monduy explained the procedure: "This (device) gets implanted typically under the skin in the chest area or perhaps in the abdomen. And then there are cables that are going to be connected to this. Those are the leads and those are going to be tunneled under the skin, through the neck area and then through the skull into the brain," she said. "They're going to go deep in the center of the brain, so sort of like one on each side for each half of the brain." The device delivers electrical impulses to regulate abnormal brain signals, often used to treat dystonia, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. A new normal "It was a really hard time, but now his cheerful self is back," Tamara said. It can take six months to a year to calibrate the device properly, and settings can be adjusted through an app. Tamryn and his family continue to make the long drive for checkups, but he now enjoys a typical childhood—riding his bike, drawing cartoons, and playing video games.
Medscape
30-05-2025
- General
- Medscape
Pediatricians: Stop Atopic Dermatitis With ‘Proactive' Rx
Pediatricians should consider treating children with atopic dermatitis (AD) 'proactively,' according to a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP defines proactive care as an 'evidence-based' approach based on 'intermittent use of anti-inflammatory agents (eg, topical corticosteroids or tacrolimus twice weekly) on previously affected skin to prevent flares' of AD. The group also recommends newer agents like the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which may have fewer side effects than long-term steroid use and are more effective than older drugs. The report comes as patients experience long waits for referrals to pediatric dermatologists, said Jennifer Schoch, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, who helped write the document. The recommendations may help primary care clinicians more confidently identify and treat mild to moderate cases of AD, she said. 'Pediatricians play a critical role in initiating topical treatments, educating families, and supporting quality of life,' Schoch said. 'With a proactive approach to topical therapies and an understanding that atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition requiring an ongoing management plan, most cases can be effectively handled in primary care.' JAK inhibitors may be particularly beneficial for treating sensitive areas of the body, supporting patients who have not responded to traditional therapies, and aiding in long-term treatment. Topical JAK 'treatments offer targeted anti-inflammatory effects, which adds to our toolbox, particularly to mitigate concerns about risks of long-term steroid use,' Schoch said. The AAP also now recommends applying topical corticosteroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors proactively to prevent flares. In recent research, patients who were preventively treated with topical steroids experienced a reduction in disease severity and an improved quality of life. The proactive use of nonsteroid topical agents produced similar results. Soft Skills to Build Moisturization and avoidance of triggers like harsh detergents and low humidity continue to be mainstays of maintenance care. Patients should be moisturized using a fragrance-free, thick cream after bathing and handwashing. The AAP advises daily, short baths in lukewarm water and the use of wet wraps and bleach baths. The report emphasized the psychosocial burden of AD in children. AD is associated with mental health issues like stress, depression, and insomnia in children. The recurring, ongoing nature of the disease can place a heavy emotional and economic burden on the entire family, Schoch said. 'Atopic dermatitis can significantly disrupt sleep due to relentless itching, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and behavioral challenges in children,' Schoch said. 'The disease may affect school performance, peer relationships, and self-esteem, while caregivers report high levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression.' The new report recommends cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with mental health concerns and progressive muscle relaxation, sleep hygiene management, and melatonin to reduce insomnia. The use of written action plans may help families follow through with treatment strategies and are 'excellent tool for primary care providers to help explain to patients the stepwise approach of the disease,' said Daniela Russi, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at Phoenix Children's in Phoenix, who was not involved with the report. These plans help 'pediatricians evaluate all aspects of the treatment…in addition to providing proactive ways to prevent flare-ups.' 'This guideline is helpful in showing pediatricians that they are capable of treating mild to moderate atopic dermatitis patients,' Russi said. 'Most of the patients we see in the clinic come without any knowledge of basic skin care, frequency of baths, and use of the correct moisturizers, especially bleach baths and wet wraps.' Schoch reported financial relationships with Janssen Biotech and Exactech. Russi reported having no disclosures. No external funding for the clinical report was used.
