E-News for Referring Offices

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Clinical Spotlight: Concussion Clinic

For the clinical spotlight this fall, we are highlighting the Concussion Clinic at Children's of Alabama.

Dr. Baxley asked your questions to Concussion Clinic providers Dr. Sara Gould,

Dr. Calvin Spellmon and Dr. Erin Swanson-Kimani.

If there is a topic you would like to see featured in the winter edition, please submit it to courtney.baxley@childrensal.org.

Learn More

APIC Staff Change And News

Slattery Announces Retirement

Ann Slattery, DrPH, RN, RPh, DABAT, FACCT, will retire from her position as Director of the Alabama Poison Control Center (APIC) on January 7, 2024.

Slattery has worked in the APIC for 41 years. Ann graduated from Samford twice, once with a degree in nursing and another degree in pharmacy. She received both her Masters and Doctorate in Environmental Health/Toxicology from the UAB School of Public Health. She completed a Fellowship with the CDC/ATSDR working on the Fresh Kills Landfill health assessment. Ann is a board-certified clinical toxicologist (DABAT) as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology.

Gaines to Serve as New APIC Director

LaDonna Gaines, DNP, MPH, RN, CSPI, will serve as Administrative Director of the APIC. LaDonna has been with APIC for 10 years and responsible for managerial operations for seven years.

Pescatore Named APIC Clinical Director

Jessica Rivera Pescatore, PharmD, DABAT, will take on the role of APIC’s Clinical Director. Prior to joining APIC, Jessica worked as a pharmacist in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine and is an Assistant Professor at Heersink School of Medicine. Jessica has shared clinical toxicology call with Ann for five years.

APIC ToxUpdate

Visit the link below to view the Alabama Poison Information Center's October 2023 newsletter.

APIC ToxUpdate

Save the Date for Practical Day of Pediatrics

Registration to be offered in December for the 2024 Practical Day of Pediatrics!

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Spotlight

A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a registered nurse who provides expert and compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault and acute events of sexual abuse.

Since 2001, Children's of Alabama's SANE program has offered skillful care to pediatric and adolescent patients who have experienced sexual abuse. Our team is comprised of skilled and dedicated nurses with specialized SANE training providing comprehensive care to help start the child's healing process.

For more information, visit our website, call or email.

Phone: 205-638-9986

Email: SANE@childrensal.org

Learn More

Live Accredited Continuing Education Opportunities

Visit the link below for live Accredited Continuing Education opportunities,

updated weekly with registration links for Grand Rounds.

View Link

Children's Happenings

From Halloween happenings to superhero sightings,

'tis the season for patient smiles at Children's of Alabama!

The Children's of Alabama NICU made

special costumes for patients for Halloween.

Superhero window washers surprised

Children's of Alabama patients

to brighten their day.

Fall AL-AAP Award Winners Announced

Lotfi Bashir, M.D., FAAP,

Master Pediatrician Award Winner

Nancy M. Tofil, M.D., M.Ed.

Wallace Clyde Award Winner

The Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AL-AAP) held its annual awards dinner on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham. Children's of Alabama hosted the dinner for pediatricians around the state.

Congratulations to Lotfi Bashir, M.D., FAAP, for receiving the Master Pediatrician Award, and

Nancy M. Tofil, M.D., M.Ed. for receiving the Wallace Clyde Award. Children's of Alabama

was honored to celebrate both of these physicians and all of their accomplishments and dedication

to children across the state.

Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics (CBIT) Program

Comprehensive Behavior Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a non-drug treatment program consisting

of three important components:

Training the child to be more aware of tics
Training the child to use "competing" behavior when they feel the urge to tic
Making changes to day-to-day activities in ways that can be helpful in reducing tics

The program consists of eight weekly sessions with a focus on embedding the tic strategies or "competing responses" into everyday life. The focus of the sessions is on identification of the frequency and severity of tics and teaching alternate strategies to the child.

For more information, click the button below or contact the number/email below.

Phone: 205-638-6820

Email: Jan.Rowe@childrensal.org

Learn More

Fever Management in Sickle Cell Patients

Infections can cause death in children with all types of Sickle Cell disease.

Fever is a medical emergency due to possibility of penicillin-resistant organisms and incomplete vaccination status. Quick evaluation with blood cultures and treatment with antibiotics may be lifesaving.

Click the button below for more information on when to admit a sickle cell patient to the hospital.

Learn More

2023-2025 Directory of Pediatric Services

Children's of Alabama is proud to be mailing its new

Directory of Pediatric Services for 2023-2025!

Copies were mailed the week of Nov. 13.

Children's of Alabama Welcomes New Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Children's of Alabama is pleased to welcome Sandeep Gupta, M.D., as the new chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Dr. Gupta came to Children's of Alabama in April 2023 after nearly 30 years at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Gupta brings leadership experience to Children's, and specializes in eosinophilic GI diseases, nutrition, pediatric obesity and pediatric endoscopy.

Gupta wants to make Children's a destination of choice, not just of need, by patients. He envisions Children's as a preeminent center of excellence, not only in Alabama, but also in surrounding areas regionally and nationally.

Welcome, Dr. Gupta!

"The beauty of GI at Children's of Alabama/the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the fantastic people in the division," Gupta said. "People are our most valuable resource."

Check Out the Latest PedsCast

The Children’s of Alabama PedsCast is a pediatric sub-specialist peer-to-peer podcast focused on research, innovative programs and advances in pediatric health care at Children’s of Alabama. Featured speakers include physicians, surgeons, clinical specialists and other experts in the field of pediatrics.

Click the red button below to hear the latest PedsCast episodes that include:

Michael Seifert, M.D:

Pediatric Kidney Transplantation

Marcos Pozo, M.D.:

Biliary Atresia: Updates and Thoughts on Primary Liver Transplantation as Treatment

Wendy Landier, PhD, CRNP, FAAN:

HPV Vaccines

David Kimberlin, M.D.:

The Rare Infectious Disease Network

Click Here to Listen to COA PedsCasts

Children's Epic EMR

Epic is now live at Children's of Alabama! This new electronic medical record (EMR) platform aims to help improve the care of our patients, their families experience and the day-to-day work operations of our employees and providers.

As we adjust to this transition, we want to ensure that referring offices are receiving all patient notes, discharge summaries and other information needed.

Please submit any issues you may be experiencing and

we will work to resolve them as quickly as possible.