PEDIATRIC HEALTH ASSOCIATES

If you have recently moved to the area, are pregnant, or are looking for a new pediatrician in the Suburbs of Chicago, Pediatric Health Associates is here for you! As many of us are parents, we understand that when your child is sick, you want to get them the care they need as soon as possible. Our board certified pediatricians and nurse practitioners are here for you and your child seven days a week with evening hours. Currently, we have offices in Naperville, Plainfield, West Chicago, Bolingbrook, as well as have staff out of Edward Hospital, Central DuPage Hospital, Silver Cross Hospital and Bolingbrook Hospital. In addition to our staff, hours, and locations, what makes PHA truly different than other practices in the area is the attention we give to each patient’s well-being and time. The doctors and nurse practitioners at PHA provide sick and preventative care services for children from birth to college. Our physicians have interests in ADHD, Autism, sleep, concussions, toilet...

Thousands of Kids At Risk of Not Getting Vaccines  Tara Doman, MD Timothy Wall, MD Dr. Wall and Dr. Doman were interviewed by NBC news on the effects of the state budget crisis on healthcare services.  Whether your child is on private insurance or Medicaid they are at risk of disease outbreaks this school year if the State of Illinois doesn't pass a budget by the end of June. With Illinois not having a budget for the past two years payments to physicians are stalled leaving medical practices and hospitals with a huge debt crisis.     This past fall the state ruled that children on the Medicaid Title 21 program could no longer receive state funded vaccines but would reimburse physicians for the cost of private vaccinations. With some vaccines costing over $150 (set by the manufacturer) the outlay of cash has been considerable for practices.  Unfortunately with the state budget crisis, Pediatric Health along with most practices who accept Medicaid patients have n...

Pediatric Health Associates is participating in "Days of Action" to protect Medicaid on June 15 th  and June 22nd. The Senate is considering a health care bill as we speak that would drastically change Medicaid (insurance coverage for kids).  Please consider joining us this week by calling your U.S. senators (see contact info below) and urge them to vote “no” on any proposal that cuts or caps Medicaid funding in any way. These changes would endanger the way the program works now to effectively cover 37 million children. Contact Senator Dick Durbin:  https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email Contact Senator Tammy Duckworth: https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/content/contact-senator #DontCapMyCare ************************************************************************************************** From the Desk of Katie Farager, CPNP Katie Faragher Summer vacation has begun! Sun protection is necessary to remain safe while playing outside throughout the summer. Sunbu...

A new interactive tool is available to help parents assess whether their child’s physical development is on target for their age.  Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, this tool is designed for parents who have concerns about their child’s physical activity up to age  five.   Called the “Physical Developmental Delays: What to Look For” can be found at http://motordelay.aap.org   and is provided at no cost. Sometimes it’s very hard to figure out if there are delays.   For example if an infant always uses the same hand to bring a toy to their mouth could be an indicator that there is a motor delay. But remember, all children develop at their own pace and many delays are not serious.  If you do have a concern that these delays might be of a more serious nature, we encourage you to try the tool as some children may have conditions such as Duch...

From the desk of Josie Dawe, CPNP   Josie Dawe, CPNP It's summer time , the time when children commonly experience insect bites. Insects that bite include mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers, and flies . While most insect bites are harmless, some can be dangerous. One way to protect your child i s through the proper use of insect repellents . Insect repellents come in many forms including sprays, liquids, creams and sticks and can be made of both chemical and natural ingredients. DEET containing products generally provide best defense , but should be used cautiously in children. The amount of DEET in products can range so be sure to read of label. In general products containing 10% DEET repel insects for 2 hours, and those containing 30% DEET repel insects for 5 hours. Studies show products with greater than 30% DEET show no additional protection and should not be used in children. Here are some Do's and Don'ts for safe use of insect repellent. Do's: Only apply inse...