current news you can use

Influenza Information

Flu season is here, and we still have flu vaccine and FluMist available for your child. All children should be immunized against influenza. No appointment is required to receive flu vaccine. Times of administration are Monday-Friday, 9am-12:30pm and 2pm-4:30pm. Call with any questions and monitor our website for updates about flu vaccine. Influenza, a virus which infects up to 20 percent of the U.S. population every year, is much more prevalent in the winter months. Influenza is highly contagious, and it accounts for millions of missed school/work days nationwide each year. Influenza can also cause serious health issues, such as pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of underlying medical problems like asthma. Influenza vaccine is a safe and effective way to aid in flu prevention. Also, remember the importance of good, thorough hand washing to prevent the spread of influenza and other winter-season viruses. If your child is sick, keep him/her out of school and other activities to prevent spread of illness to others.

 

KidsDoc Symptom Checker App

Have questions about your child's illness? Check out KidsDoc, a symptom checker app for your smartphone! It will help you decide whether you need to call about your child's illness, or just treat symptoms and watch. This app was developed by pediatricians in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics. KidsDoc is derived from the clinical protocols used by pediatricians and nurses in 10,000 practices and 400 nurse advice call centers in the US and Canada. They have been tested for 15 years on more than 150 million symptom calls. You can buy this app for $1.99 on iTunes or the Android Market, or you can read about it on healthychildren.org by clicking HERE.

 

RSV Information

RSV, short for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, is a common cause of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in infants, children, and adolescents. Smaller children and infants may develop bronchiolitis from RSV, thus resulting in significant cough, sleep disruption, and can lead to mild/moderate respiratory distress. Older children generally develop bad cold symptoms from RSV. Good hand washing is your ally in stopping the spread of RSV and other wintertime viruses. For more information on RSV, visit the CDC information website about RSV by clicking HERE.

 

Flu Shots for PARENTS!!!

Green Hills Pediatrics is offering flu vaccine to parents of our patients again this year. In an effort to better protect our patients and families from the effects of influenza infection, all family members can receive the vaccine here at Green Hills Pediatrics. Times and dates to receive flu vaccine are the same for parents as for patients. No appointment is required. Payment is due at time of vaccine administration. Call with any questions...

 

New SUNDAY Office Hours

Beginning on May 1, 2011, we will be changing our Sunday office hours. The NEW HOURS are 1:30-3:00 pm. As always, these times will be open and available to all walk-in patients for acute illnesses and injuries only. No appointment is necessary.

 

Time for a Well Visit?

If it has been over a year since your child's last well visit, it is time to call and schedule an appointment. If your child is in need of a well visit, call now to schedule the visit so we can best accommodate your scheduling needs over the next few months.

 

Heather M. Barrow, M.D. Joins GHPA

We are excited to announce the addition of Dr. Heather M. Barrow as a physician at Green Hills Pediatrics. She joined our practice in July 2011. She is currently taking new patients. To read more about Dr. Barrow, click HERE.

 

HealthyChildren.org

EXCELLENT web site maintained by the American Academy of Pediatrics, designed specifically for parents. This website is a comprehensive review or the most common (and even uncommon) issues related to child health. The pediatricians at Green Hills Pediatric Associates highly recommend this website to all of our patients.

 

Health Forms and Camp Forms

If you have a form to complete for camp or school, send it to us as soon as possible. Spring and summer are common times to complete these forms, and these forms are completed in the order they are received. We are happy to complete these forms as quickly as possible, but we ask your cooperation in this process.

 

NEW Vaccine Requirements for School

All children entering Kindergarten in fall of 2011 are required to have completed the 2-dose Hepatitis A vaccine series. All children older than 12 months old who attend child care facilities are required to have the Hepatitis A vaccine as well. As a reminder, all children entering 7th grade must have the following: 1) Two doses of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or proof of disease; and 2) TdaP (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) immunization, commonly known as a "tetanus shot." Many of our patients have already received these vaccines, so check with us if you have questions.

 

Exciting News - We've Moved

We've got some exciting news! We've moved to a brand new office on Harding Road. We have the same great doctors and staff and, of course, minimal wait time. But now you and your child will visit a fresh, new space with all new furnishings. We're looking forward to seeing you at our new location on Harding Road by St. Thomas Hospital.

 

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18 cause 70 percent of all cervical cancer and 90 percent of all genital warts in women. A new vaccine (Gardasil®) has been developed to prevent infection with these types of HPV in young women, thus decreasing cervical cancer incidence by 70 percent. Green Hills Pediatrics is now offering Gardasil® to all eligible male and female patients aged 11 years or older. To find out more about Gardasil®, click HERE or ask your doctor.

 

Toast of Music City 2011...

We are pleased to announce that Green Hills Pediatric Associates was chosen as Nashville's BEST PEDIATRICIAN by the readers of The Tennessean in the annual "Toast of Music City" awards. This award is an honor, and we thank all those who voted.