A Message from Shelly Voet, MD
June 26, 2022
Dear fellow pediatric providers,
I hope you are well! We have several relevant updates for you in this issue of Synapse, so thanks for reading!
First, there are updates on services/resources:
1. Electronic ED referrals – At the request of our CPAC committee, the Emergency Departments at Base and Liberty have worked with IS and Physician Outreach to develop a process for us to send referrals to the ED electronically via Epic Link. The process has been trialed with a small group of practices and is now ready for others to use. We are grateful to the ED leadership and STAT line team for developing this option for us.
2. Bag in the Back Campaign – Practices may want to consider posting or sharing this flyer HERE to help reduce vehicular heatstroke in children in these hot summer months. For more information, visit www.bagintheback.org.
3. E-Consult – We have had a few learnings from the addition of the “NICU Follow-up Clinic” to Epic Link. Please reserve E-Consults to this group to non-urgent questions about preterm patients who are current or prospective patients of this clinic. For more urgent matters about a newborn (including a potential re-admission), you can contact the NCA physician on call via PPL.
4. COVID-19 - Physician Outreach and Marketing have continued to work on resources for COVID-19, including updated vaccination flyers. I think you will agree with me that having a consistent factual message about vaccinations in our community is beneficial, especially as we discuss COVID vaccines with a new group of eligible patients and their families.
Second, there are three research/improvement projects that might involve your patients. Please see the article links below for more details:
1. Shigella Toxin positive E. Coli study - Dr. David Schnadower is the PI at CCHMC on this NIH funded, multisite study of the treatment of STEC. Please keep the guide handy for your practice in case you have a patient with this condition over the summer. There is now evidence of the benefits of hydration in preventing HUS and acute renal failure. This study will evaluate hyperhydration v. hydration maintenance in preventing these outcomes. Contact McKayla Schloemer at 513-803-9134 or email Mckayla.schloemer@cchmc.org with any questions about the study.
2. Blood culture improvement project – Dr. Anna Ipsaro from the Division of Hospital Medicine is one of the leads in a project to improve the use of EPlex for patients with positive ED blood cultures. Improved use of EPlex results in clinical decision making can decrease unnecessary return visits/treatment. (The same process could be used for blood cultures ordered by PCPs).
3. Formula study – Dr. Stephanie Oliveira in GI is recruiting exclusively formula fed newborns for a study involving the addition of 2-FL to formula. There is evidence that breastmilk with high 2-FL decreases the risk of future allergies. All formula is provided for the study. A study summary and flyer for patients is available. Practices or providers who are interested in partnering can reach out to Dr. Oliveira at Stephanie.Oliveira@cchmc.org.
Finally, please save the date for the annual PCP-Resident Meet and Greet for the evening of September 15, 2022. We are hoping to do this in person this year. Stay tuned for details!
Thanks again for all you do. I hope you and your families enjoy a relaxing and safe Fourth of July!
Shelly
Shelly F. Voet MD
Pediatric Associates PSC
CCHMC Executive Community Physician Leader