MY CHILD HAS A VIRUS. HOW CAN I HELP HIM/HER FEEL BETTER?
While there is no “cure” for infections caused by a virus, there are things you can do to help your child feel better until the virus runs its course: To relieve stuffy nose- Thin the mucous using saline nose drops. Ask your pediatrician which ones to use. Never use non-prescription nose drops that contain any medication Clear your baby’s nose with a suction bulb. Squeeze the bulb first, then gently put the rubber tip in one nostril, and slowly release the bulb. This suction will draw the clogged mucous out of the nose. This works best for babies [...]
Family Medical Center Accepts Medicare and Medicaid Patients
Effective March 1, 2012, Family Medical Center will be accepting adult Medicare patients and pediatric patients enrolled in all types of Children’s Medicaid programs. The American Academy of Pediatrics has established a priority for children’s healthcare- the ability for all children to have a specific “Medical Home” where they can get consistent, high-quality care. Very soon, Family Medical Center will likely be one of the few Pediatric groups in the area which will be taking new patients in all of the Medicaid programs. We are very excited to able to provide this care to our patients, especially those who have [...]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHILDREN’S MEDICATIONS
Attached below is a link for the dosing chart for Children’s Medications based on your child’s weight. It’s helpful to print this and keep it close at hand in case of emergencies. PEDI DOSING CHART If your child is less than 4 years old, do not give any cough/congestion/runny nose medicines without consulting your child’s doctor. When your child is sick: Increase fluids Use a cool mist humidifier to relieve congestion Use saline nasal spray and a bulb syringe to clear the nose of an infant Use saline nasal rinse for older children to help loosen mucous. Wash hands [...]
Immunization Records and other Important Family Papers
Your child’s vaccination record is an important document! Always bring a copy of your child’s immunization record to each Well Check Visit. Our staff will be happy to update your record whenever your child gets a vaccine and you will always have an updated copy when requested by school or daycare. Losing an immunization record can result in a child receiving multiple doses of their vaccinations, something most children would rather avoid! When you provide us with a copy of previous vaccines, we can enter it into your child’s electronic medical record as well, insuring that your child receives the [...]
Stressed Out Kids
A new article written for the Medical Messenger Supplement of the Hill Country News for 1/12/2012 Stressed-Out Kids By Cheryl Coldwater, MD Stress is much more common in children and adolescents than most people imagine. Everyone experiences stress at some time, but some kids have a lot more trouble dealing with it. It can also be a cumulative effect- one thing after another until it is overwhelming. The “final straw” can be a simple thing, but it can be combined with other stresses until it is no longer manageable. For many kids and teens, school can be a stressful environment. [...]
Happy New Year’s
We hope that you and your family are enjoying your holidays. Family Medical Center will be closing early on Friday, December 30. Please call early for an appointment if needed. We will be closed on Dec. 31- Jan. 2 for the New Year’s Holiday. If you have an emergency, please call our after hours phone line for information or go to the nearest emergency room. Have a safe and happy New Year’s!!
Knee Replacement Surgery
A recent article in ABCNews.com discusses the rise of Knee Replacement Surgery in the Baby Boomer population. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/surge-total-knee-replacements-boomer-women/story?id=15208520#.TvNkvlYlSdk When I had my Total Knee Replacement Surgery in 2007, I wrote this article which may be helpful for those who are considering this surgery. MY TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT: LESSONS LEARNED By Cheryl Coldwater, MD I had a total knee replacement of my right knee in September, 2007. As I had a birth defect which resulted in me having an amputation of my left leg during my childhood, I had spent my whole life using a prosthetic leg or crutches to get [...]
Holiday Stress Article in Hill Country News
The Hill Country News ran an expanded version of my article on Holiday Stress in the 12/8/2011 edition. http://www.hillcountrynews.com/opinion/article_18f29c62-21ba-11e1-b1a8-0019bb2963f4.html Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
Top 5 Flu Myths
This is a good discussion about the myths that circulate regarding Cold and Flu Season. Here they are with the scientific evidence which disproves them. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/top-flu-myths/story?id=14972658#
Holiday Hours
Family Medical Center will be open on December 23rd in the morning and will be closing in the early afternoon. Please call early for an appointment if needed. We will be closed from December 24th through December 26th for the Christmas holiday. If you have an urgent medical need during that time, please contact the doctor on call through our voice mail or go to the Emergency Room. We will have regular office hours of 8:30 to 4:30 on December 27th through December 29th. We will also be open on December 30th in the morning, and will be closing in [...]