Your child has been hurt, and her health is your greatest concern. As a parent, your first priority is to get her treated. But where do you go?

It’s late at night, so you can’t see your primary care doctor. You could try the general emergency room, where there are dozens of adults—with a variety of symptoms—sitting in a crowded, noisy waiting area. But is that the right place for your child? A better choice might just be a specialized pediatric ER, like the one at Plantation General.

Why a pediatric ER? At Plantation General, we know that young patients are different from older patients. They have more needs—and fears—than adults do, so they require a different kind of treatment.

Our staff is specifically trained to care for children, and they know how to keep little ones calm in a crisis. They can also answer all the questions that parents may have, helping you to understand what the problem is and what treatment can help.

Here are features of our pediatric ER:

• It is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so we’re always here when you need us.
• The facility is technologically advanced, but child-friendly, too.
• The staff can treat anything from broken bones and infections to critical illnesses.
• It houses a state-of-the-art pediatric intensive care unit.
• The staff is committed to providing top-notch, family-centered health care.

Most important, our staff knows that children are not just little adults. They react to pain in different ways than adults do. Our doctors and nurses are experts in childhood illnesses, and they understand how young bodies grow and heal. When your child is in need, wouldn’t you want a staff like that?

To learn more about our pediatric services, contact Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362.

SOURCE

Plantation General Hospital Community Report

You’re sure you put your pain medication away, on a high shelf, but now your toddler has the bottle and is playing with it. You grab it from her hands—and ignore the howl that goes up. Thankfully the cap is on tight, but how did this happen?

First, be grateful that everything is okay. Your daughter now has blocks to keep her occupied, and she’s all right. Second, figure out what went wrong and how to prevent it next time.

Every year, thousands of children and other family members are inadvertently poisoned by household items. Here are some tips to keep your loved ones out of those statistics.

• Lock it up. Make sure all medications are locked in a cabinet or box. Keep the key where children can’t find it. Never keep medicine bottles in purses or on nightstands.

• Cap it. Research shows that child-safety caps really help. If you have small children, be sure all medications have these tops.

• Label it. Mark household cleaners and other dangerous chemicals with red X’s or other obvious symbols. Store these items out of the reach of children and lock them up.

• Use it right. Never take a medication for anything other than its intended use. And don’t use drugs prescribed to someone else. Also, never tell children that medication tastes like candy. Even though some of their medications do, you don’t want them to “try out” others.

• Keep it separate. Don’t store cleaners or other dangerous items near food. Children can confuse the two. And don’t mix two products together. Keep them in the bottles or packaging that they came in.

• Read the label. If a product is marked “Danger” or “Caution,” pay attention and use it carefully. Use gloves or goggles if the directions recommend them. Remember that pesticides kill bugs, so they can hurt people, too. Use extra care when you use these in or around your home, and contact an exterminator if you need help.
• Be ready. Keep the number for the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) near your phone. This office is always open, and when you call, you’ll be connected to help in your local area. However, if you know someone is in real trouble—not waking up or having trouble breathing—call 911 right away.

If you have questions about household safety and first aid, contact Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362. We’re here to help keep your family safe.

SOURCES
Home Safety Council
Merck

It’s that time of year again! Your kids will be going back to school soon, and you’re doing all you can to be prepared. You’ve bought school supplies and some new clothes, and you’ve made sure the backpacks are ready. But wait—there’s one more thing. Guard your children’s health by getting their vaccines updated.

Immunizing your kids is one of the most important steps you take to keep them safe. Routine vaccines help prevent a wide range of diseases including polio, measles, rubella, and chickenpox. In fact, because of immunizations, most people in the United States have never seen some of these illnesses.

Here’s your back-to-school checklist:

• Talk to the school. Call your child’s school to see if any particular vaccines are required for the grade he or she is entering. Find out if you need to have any forms completed by a physician.

• Call your doctor. Check with your pediatrician’s office to see if your child’s vaccines are up-to-date.

• Schedule an appointment. If your child is due for any immunizations, make time to visit the doctor. If paying for an office visit is problematic, see if you can come in just for vaccines. Often there is no charge for that.

• Get advice. If you’re concerned about any vaccine risks or side effects, talk to your pediatrician about the pros and cons. Usually, the plusses far outweigh the minuses. Let your doctor know about any allergies your child has, as well as any previous bad reactions to shots. If your child is sick, reschedule the appointment for another time.

• Keep watch. After your child receives immunizations, pay attention to any symptoms that crop up. Read the vaccine information sheets that the doctor’s office provides and call if your child shows any signs of adverse reactions.

If you have questions about your children’s vaccines, contact Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362. With updated immunizations, your kids will really be ready for heading back to school.

As parents we watch our children like hawks and ask ourselves questions. Are they behaving? Did they do their homework? Do they need to see a doctor about those sniffles? The well being of a child is one of the most important factors in a parent’s life. It often directly affects our mental well being as parents. When it comes to health issues, it is easy to become preoccupied with our children’s conditions. Knowing what to expect and being able to tell the difference between a common summertime issue and a medical condition that needs attention will help put your mind at ease.

Allergies

Allergies are very common in children during the summertime. They cause cold-like symptoms and may cause parents to consider a trip to the doctor. While we recommend this if the allergies are affecting the child’s daily life, this is not always necessary. Remember, summertime is full of plants and environmental affects. Your child’s sneezing could be brought on by something as common as:

• Weeds that thrive off summer rains
• Particular types of grass in the yards they play in
• Leaves that develop in trees
• Dust Mites (a common cause of allergic reactions, summer weather is ideal for these creatures)

Allergies are often mistaken for colds or the flu. They have similar yet individual symptoms. Here are some things to watch for to help identify allergies:

• Bouts of uncontrollable sneezing
• Swollen and/or watery eyes
• Itchy nose and/or throat that may have thin watery discharge
• Onset of several “flu like” symptoms without a fever

If you feel that your child has an allergy, the best way to improve their condition is to make sure they avoid what they are allergic to. Sometimes you can figure it out on your own, say when your child comes home with allergies after playing in a location that has a particular type of plant. Other times you may want to consult a specialist who can run tests to identify what environmental factors affect your child.

Colds

A cold is a condition that is caused by the body coming into contact with a virus. They are different than allergies because they are caused by one individual factor entering the body that ultimately passes as our immune systems fight it off. It is true that colds are more prevalent in the fall and winter months, but they do affect our children during the summer. Colds and allergies can seem to carry the same symptoms so knowing some differences will help. Here is a set of warning signs to watch for to help you identify a cold.

• May be accompanied by a fever. ( allergies generally do not bring fever. If your child develops a high temperature you can be sure that a virus is to blame.)
• The condition is being passed around. (If your other family members or friends of your children also show symptoms, it is far more likely that the condition is a cold and not allergies.)
• Sniffling, coughing, etc. lasts between 2 and 14 days and then is gone. Allergies flare up every time your child comes into contact with the substance that causes them. Colds eventually go away.
• Your child is unusually tired. Allergies are annoying but they don’t necessarily cause fatigue, colds do.

Flu

The flu is a respiratory infection that develops as a result of coming into contact with one of the forms of the influenza virus. There are many separate strains of the influenza virus. Each strain will have slightly different effects on the body. In summers past, H1N1, or the swine flu, has been more likely to strike during warm weather than other more traditional strains of the flu. It may be easy to confuse one strain of the flu for another, the advice of a physician can help clear up any questions.The flu is normally a more severe sickness than allergies or a cold. The Department of Health advises that flu like symptoms in the summer may be a result of other viruses because the flu is more common in colder months. That is not to say that the flu cannot strike during the summer though so look for these symptoms.

• Flu almost always comes with a fever. In addition to raised body temperature associated with fever, the flu also causes chills.
• Head and body aches are also common symptoms of the flu.
• More so than any other condition we talked about here, the flu will cause your child to be tired, so bed rest is mandatory.

If symptoms persist and cause considerable pain for your child, you will want to seek the advice of a doctor. If it is a mild condition you can likely treat the child at home. Knowing how to watch for symptoms will help in either case. Reporting accurate symptoms to a doctor will help them diagnose the problem. Noticing them yourself will also help you treat at home.

If you would like to find out more about summertime sniffles visit us online. If you have any medical questions or concerns, call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362 and ask one of our experts.

Physical therapists devote their careers to helping people recover their ability to move and function normally. They work in all sorts of settings, from hospitals to private offices and even on college campuses. They provide care to patients with a very wide variety of injuries and circumstances. Their patients can literally be any age, from babies to seniors. A physical therapist’s goals sometimes center around returning function to one specific body part, while other times they seek to give patients greater mobility in several areas of the body.Physical therapists earn either a Master’s or Doctorate degree. During their training they learn about all of the muscles, bones and nerves in the body and how they work together to help people function on a daily basis. To put it simply, anyone may need a physical therapist at some point in their life.

What might make me need physical therapy?

Many medical concerns can be addressed by a physical therapist. Their knowledge is useful to patients who have suffered injury through physical accidents, chronic development of a condition and the onset of cardiovascular complications.

• Stroke- After suffering a stroke, patients are often left without many functional abilities. 30% of patients are left unable to care for themselves. Physical therapists work to help patients walk, talk and use their arms again. Physical therapy helps stroke victims regain their independence.
• Sports Injury- Sports are fun and a great source of exercise. They also provide opportunities for bodily injury. Physical therapists can help an athlete–or a weekend warrior–recover from an injury. They can show the patient how to properly exercise the injured body part in order to bring about a full recovery. If this is not done, many people will resume playing sports when they think that they are better. Eventually the injury reemerges and causes more damage.
• Car Accident- Car accidents are the cause of all sorts of injuries. Unfortunately spinal cord injuries are among them. Physical therapists can assess patients with spinal cord injuries and decide how to best help them. While paralysis is unavoidable after some car accidents, physical therapists can schedule treatment and oversee recovery for many victims of spinal cord injury. They can also help combat the effects of whiplash and other car accident related injuries.
• Body Pain- Regardless of whether the pain is in a patients’ back, knees or shoulders, physical therapists can help. They assess whether the pain is a muscle problem or due to something else like arthritis. They work with patients as individuals, devising exercise plans and scheduling the pace of treatment according to the patients’ needs. By following the advice of a physical therapist, it is entirely possible to reduce if not eliminate chronic body pain.

These are not the only times when a physical therapist is needed. Physical therapists can be of assistance anytime that a patient needs help regaining function or mobility. They are experts in getting people back into the swing of things.

If you would like to find out more about our physical therapy program visit us online. If you have any medical questions or concerns, call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362 and ask one of our experts. For more information on PGH’s Physical Therapy Department, please call 954-513-6080.

Millions of people worldwide have pets. Animals can be great companions and are often considered part of the family. They have the ability to bond with us and can be useful in many ways. Pet therapy has become an accepted medical practice at hospitals and medical centers all around the world. At Plantation General Hospital, we have our own pet therapy program, where certified volunteers bring in certified animals to help our patients. We are grateful for our volunteers and the service that they provide for our patients.

Benefits of Pet Therapy

Pet therapy has been adopted by an incredible number of medical facilities for a reason: the variety of benefits that they provide our patients and our treatment processes.

• Patient Comfort- Animals are naturally accepting of people regardless of age, appearance or physical capabilities. Pet therapy helps a lot of patients feel more comfortable in a hospital environment, because as people we all need to feel some level of acceptance. Interaction with pets can provide this for many people and make them feel more at home while at the hospital.
• Mental Stimulation- In particular cases, pet therapy helps to make patients more mentally involved in their treatment process. Children and patients being treated for mental or emotional disorders sometimes distance themselves from their therapy. Bringing in a pet has been shown to improve the success of therapy, because distant patients can bond with the animal and find it easier to focus.
• Participation in Therapy- The pets themselves can participate in therapy. If a patient is trying to learn to raise an arm again for instance, a dog can help. The patient can pet the dog which will help rebuild muscles and recreate natural movement. Patients who are beginning to walk again can recover by walking therapy dogs. Including the animal often makes therapy more fun and increases patients desire to participate.
• Physical Benefits- The simple addition of therapy animals has been shown to have measurable impact on patients. Improvements in blood pressure and other cardiac functions due to direct contact and bonding with therapy animals were verified by a study at UCLA.

If you would like to find out more about our program visit us online. If you have any medical questions or concerns, call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362 and ask one of our experts.

The lungs are a human being’s breathing equipment. Located on either side of the heart, these two organs take in the oxygen we need to live; pass it on to our blood, where it travels throughout our bodies; and release carbon dioxide after the oxygen is absorbed.

There are a number of conditions that can interfere with this vital function. Here are some of them, and their symptoms:

• Emphysema – constant cough and mucus, shortness of breath that worsens during illness
• Asthma – wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath
• Pneumonia – fever, chills, shaking, fatigue
• Cystic fibrosis – usually appears in young people, coughing up blood or mucus
• Bronchitis – Cough, mild fever, hoarseness, tiredness
• Lung cancer – sometimes has no symptoms; sometimes the symptoms are similar to those of other lung ailments

Benefits of rehabilitation

Because these are chronic, or lifelong, conditions that may worsen over time, pulmonary rehabilitation can help people who have them to breathe easier, and enjoy a better quality of life than they would be able to otherwise. Rehabilitation can improve a patient’s ability to exercise, and may also reduce the amount of medication or hospitalization they need.

Plantation General Hospital offers a pulmonary medicine program, with several physicians specializing in diagnosis and treatment of illness and diseases affecting the lungs.

How it works

Pulmonary rehabilitation is designed improve the functioning of the lungs. It can be done on an inpatient basis, for patients who are recovering from lung surgery or transplantation or who are seriously ill; or more frequently, on an outpatient basis. Outpatient rehabilitation can be done at a medical facility or a patient’s home.

Patients can be children or adults. Therapy generally takes the form of:

• Assessment – what are the patient’s current symptoms, his/her ability to exercise, cognitive ability, knowledge of their disease
• Conditioning or re-conditioning – doing breathing and physical exercises, measuring oxygen use, monitoring symptoms
• Teaching the patient the skills to continue on his/her own initiative
• Mental health and nutritional counseling

If you believe you or a family member may have a lung-related health condition, or you would like a physician referral, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-866-442-2362, or visit Plantation General Hospital online.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy are not the same. They do, however, complement each other, because physical therapy focuses on achieving flexibility, movement and restoration of function, while the purpose of occupational therapy is to help the patient carry out daily tasks at home, school and work.

The Physical Therapy Department here at Plantation General Hospital can help you or a loved one get moving and living life as fully as possible. The staff is trained in all aspects of physical and occupational therapy, and treatment plans are customized to each patient.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy patients can be young children, the elderly, and every age group in between. Therapists work with anyone who has a condition or injury that restricts their movements and, if left untreated, can impede his or her ability to live independently.

People seek out physical therapy for a number of conditions, including:

• Arthritis
• Motor coordination difficulties
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Spina bifida
• Stroke
• Accident injuries
• Sports injuries

A physical therapist’s treatment plan will include activities designed to improve movement; relieve or reduce pain; restore function, and prevent the patient from becoming permanently disabled. It can involve strength building, aquatic therapy, walking and balance training, and exercises to improve coordination.

Occupational Therapy

While physical therapy restores or improves function, occupational therapy helps the patient manage the activities of everyday life, from fixing meals to cleaning their home to attending classes and holding a job.

An occupational therapist may perform work and home evaluations and incorporate their findings into a treatment plan. After assessing their patient, he or she may recommend adaptive devices, if appropriate, and show the patient (and their caregivers) how to use them.

Occupational therapists can help people with:

• Lower-back injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Limitations following heart attack or stroke
• Schizophrenia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Burns
• Chronic conditions

Therapy and Insurance

Many health care plans and workers compensation programs include coverage for physical and occupational therapy, but potential patients should check with their insurance provider and/or Human Resources department for specifics.

For more information on our physical therapy services, call us at (954) 513- 6080. To speak to someone about a physician referral, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS, or visit Plantation General Hospital online.

There is a lot of confusion regarding brain injury and coma, which has given rise to myths and misinformation about these medical conditions. Brain injuries run the gamut from mild to fatal. Some people who suffer brain injury lapse into a coma, or are placed in a medically-induced coma to give their brains time to heal.

Two types of brain injury

The most common form of brain injury is traumatic brain injury or TBI. It’s caused by a blow to the head, or by sudden acceleration and deceleration. It can be a line drive that smacks a Little League player in the temple and causes a mild concussion; or a sudden, powerful jolt to a driver’s head, caused by a high-speed car crash on the way to work; or a crack to the skull caused by a falling branch after a bad storm.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the second type. This can be triggered by any number of things, including a near-drowning, a stroke, a seizure, or severe blood loss.

Brain Injury Myth #1: You should remove an object sticking out of a person’s head. This is incorrect. Moving or removing the object could actually cause even more damage. Call 911 and keep the person still.

Brain Injury Myth #2: Children who suffer TBI will heal better and faster than adults. Not true – children’s brains are more vulnerable because they’re still growing.

About Coma

Unlike TBI or ABI, coma is a state of unconsciousness. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a person in a coma is not aware of their surroundings. However, while their thinking and reasoning abilities are gone, their bodies continue to function on a basic level sometimes referred to as being in a “vegetative state”.

Coma Myth #1: Coma is caused only by external forces. This is false. Medications, infections and seizures can trigger a coma. The severity of the coma is determined by the severity of the injury to the brain.

Coma Myth #2: A person in a coma is “brain dead”. Again, this is false. A person in a coma does have neurological activity going on in their brain, and is therefore considered alive. However, a person who has been declared brain dead has no measurable brain function whatsoever.

Knowledge is key

By understanding the facts about brain injury and coma, you may be able to save a life either by taking appropriate action, or by avoiding actions that could cause further harm to the injured person.

For more information on brain injuries, or to schedule an appointment with a specialist, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-866-442-2362, or visit Plantation General online.

Sources:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000028.htm

http://www.biausa.org/education.htm

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/coma/coma.htm

http://www.ocali.org/view.php?nav_id=130

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=0D623A1E-1A51-47F6-98C7-A7E57B5C909C

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/

This is the home stretch for expectant mothers! From weeks 28 to 42 is when most pregnant women will welcome their newborns into the world. It’s a time of significant physical and mental changes as you prepare to give birth.

In our last blog post, we reviewed the second trimester of pregnancy. Below, we outline the third trimester, week by week.

Week 28

Your breasts are in full milk production mode and may be leaking. Anemia could occur or re-occur, so you should be taking prenatal vitamins.

Week 29

The baby is manufacturing red blood cells. He or she is making small movements, since there isn’t room for big ones. Virtually all organs are functioning.

Week 30

It’s getting more cumbersome to move around, but exercise as much as possible. It may be easiest to sleep on your side at this point. Give your nipples a check; if inverted, you may need additional preparation to nurse.

Week 31

The baby’s irises are now adjusting to light. Red color under the skin is due to fat deposits. A loud noise may be heard by your baby!

Week 32

You may add on one pound per week for the remainder of your pregnancy. Half of that weight will go to the baby, who should be about three pounds right now. He or she is likely head down at this time.

Week 33

Swelling of feet and hands is normal, but if symptoms are extreme, call your doctor. Your emotions may be shifting back and forth right now, which is normal. Be sure to eat healthy for your baby!

Weeks 34 and 35

Drink water – but realize that you’ll be using the bathroom quite a lot. You may experience an increase in Braxton-Hicks contractions. Pelvic tingling or numbness is normal. Meanwhile, your baby should be up to 5 lbs.

Weeks 36 and 37

The baby is “dropping” in your pelvis rather than floating free. Dimples are forming on your baby’s knees and elbows. Everything is in preparation for birth.

Weeks 38 and 39

Your “nesting” instinct kicks in and you may find yourself cleaning or rearranging. The baby is gaining one ounce per day, and his/her head and abdomen are the same width.

Weeks 40 to 42

The baby’s head fuzz is gone and hair may have taken its place. If you haven’t gone into labor yet, you’ll still notice some “getting ready” signals such as loose stools and bloody discharge. Your doctor may decide to induce birth, but you aren’t late until after 42 weeks. The baby is still gaining weight, but slower now.

Plantation’s maternity services

Here at Plantation General Hospital, we are committed to providing you with the best possible maternity care. We offer special childbirth preparation classes, pediatrician referrals, pre-registration and around the clock Level III Neonatal Intensive Care services.

Because you need to stay healthy in order for your baby to be healthy, we suggest that you visit your doctor as needed. (Should you need a referral, contact our Consult-A-Nurse^® service).

Sources:

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/CustomPage.asp?PageName=Neonatal%20Intensive%20Care%20Unit%20(NICU)

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={CB6F48E6-068C-11D5-A2E9-00508B62BE1F}

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=0D623A1E-1A51-47F6-98C7-A7E57B5C909C

http://www.plantationgeneral.com/

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/pregnancy/weeklypregcalendar/index3.php