Monroe Carell Ranked Among Nation’s Best Children’s Hospital
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has once again been named among the nation’s ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’ as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. The comprehensive pediatric care center achieved national rankings for nine out of 10 pediatric specialty programs. Across the country, 89 out of 183 hospitals ranked in at least one specialty. Scores were calculated using clinical data, including patient outcomes, best practices, and infection prevention.
The hospital’s highest ranking was for Urology at the No. 6 spot. Cancer came in at 15 (up from 36th last year), Cardiology & Heart Surgery at 17 (up from 23rd), Pulmonology at 25, Diabetes and Endocrinology at 31, Nephrology at 40, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery also at 40, Neurology & Neurosurgery at 42, and Neonatology at 45.
“Our efforts every day illustrate a special commitment to delivery of high-quality care to all of our patients and their families. Being ranked in these areas is a wonderful honor that reflects the collaboration, dedication and innovation by all of our staff and faculty,” said Meg Rush, MD, chief-of-staff and executive medical director at Monroe Carell. “As we look to our future growth, we are excited about how we will refine and advance our programs and care models to meet the needs of our region’s children.”
UNHS Hosting “Back to School Health Day” July 19
Immunizations, Physicals and Dental Screenings Available for Students
United Neighborhood Health Services is hosting a “Back to School Health Day” on Saturday, July 19, from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at its Main Street Health Center. Immunizations, physicals and dental screenings, which children might need before the start of school in early August, will be available along with games, prizes and face painting.
Eligibility:
Students under age 18 (no residency restriction)
No charge for students insured by TennCare or Cover Kids
Low cost for uninsured students
Dental screenings provided at no charge with no restrictions
Private insurance cannot be accepted
Additionally, immunizations and physicals are available until the start of school at three locations:
Dickerson Road Family Clinic, 1223 Dickerson Pike, Nashville 37207
Main Street Clinic, 905 Main Street, Nashville 37206
Southside Family Clinic, 107 Charles E. Davis Boulevard, Nashville 37210
No appointment is necessary on July 19, but appointments are encouraged at other times and locations and can be made by calling (615) 620-UNHS (8647).
A Little Dirt Might Not Be so Bad
Infants exposed to rodent and pet dander, roach allergens and a wide variety of household bacteria in the first year of life appear less likely to suffer from allergies, wheezing and asthma, according to results of a study conducted by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and other institutions.
Previous research has shown that children who grow up on farms have lower allergy and asthma rates, a phenomenon attributed to their regular exposure to microorganisms present in farm soil. Other studies, however, have found increased asthma risk among inner-city dwellers exposed to high levels of roach and mouse allergens and pollutants. The new study, published last month in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, confirms that children who live in such homes do have higher overall allergy and asthma rates but adds a surprising twist: Those who encounter such substances before their first birthdays seem to benefit rather than suffer from them.
Importantly, the protective effects of both allergen and bacterial exposure were not seen if a child’s first encounter with these substances occurred after age 1, the research found.
Identifying Predictors of Smoking Cessation in Novice Adolescent Smokers
Among new adolescent smokers, boys were more likely to discontinue smoking than girls, and both boys and girls who found package warning labels to be intimidating were also more likely to stop, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
“Currently, few longitudinal studies identify factors that help or hinder young smokers to stop smoking,” said Jennifer O’Loughlin, PhD, professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. “In our study, we learned that male sex, older age, cigarette package warnings, and participation in team sports helped with smoking discontinuation, while family stress, worry about weight, being overweight, illicit drug use, and cravings for cigarettes hindered.”
Of the students who participated in the Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study and who smoked at least occasionally, boys were 80 percent more likely to discontinue smoking than girls, and older adolescents were 30 percent more likely to discontinue than younger adolescents. Participants who said cigarette package warnings made them afraid to smoke and those who participated in team sports were 44 percent and 40 percent more likely to quit, respectively.
“It is imperative that we better understand the factors that promote smoking discontinuation in girls compared with boys, so that we can design gender-specific interventions,” O’Loughlin said. “The predictors we identified make good sense and several are amenable to intervention, which is good news,” she added.
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