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11 Dec

Posted at 16:08h in Mental Health by

Itโ€™s supposed to be the happiest time of the year, but is it? Emotions are more intense during the holidays than at other times throughout the year, and celebrating with family and friends brings about a diverse range of feelings. While many people experience joy and happiness during the holiday season, others experience a completely different set of emotions including stress, sadness, depression, loneliness, and fatigue. Holiday Stress Nearly a quarter of Americans reported feeling โ€˜extreme stressโ€™ come holiday time, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association. Holidayย stress statisticsย show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by the...

31 Oct

Posted at 15:16h in Clinical, Mental Health, Patient Engagement, Whole Child by

Pediatricians have an important role in the entire health of children, including their mental well-being. Because there is a shortage of behavioral and mental health specialists in many areas, pediatricians must be well-equipped to treat mental health problems when referrals are not readily available....

20 Mar

Posted at 20:53h in Financial, RCM + Billing by

Very few things about medical billing are straightforward, but itโ€™s especially true in pediatrics. Proper coding, modifiers, and changes in Medicaid rules and payer guidelines can turn a simple office visit into a minefield of dependencies. Add staffing shortages and the challenge of finding qualified medical billers to the mix, and it further exacerbates the stress of billing for pediatric practices. When it comes to running a pediatric practice, the days of โ€œone size fits allโ€ are over. You can no longer thrive and work efficiently using a generic, non-specialty-specific EHR, and the same is true for billing and revenue cycle...

14 Mar

Posted at 17:41h in Vaccines by

We are fortunate that diseases like polio, mumps, and diphtheria are now words most young people only know from history lessons โ€” not from first-hand experience with the diseases that were an ever-present danger decades ago. Thanks to the heroic vaccination efforts of physicians, many diseases have been eradicated or are much less prevalent today. Vaccinations play a significant role in pediatric success. To explain the history and impact on society as a whole, OPs Medical Director Dr. Dan Feiten, and OPs Clinical Director Dr. Rich Szabo joined our podcast to discuss โ€œSuccess Against Diseases: The History of Vaccinationโ€. Here are some...

06 Mar

Posted at 18:42h in Connectivity, Patient Engagement by

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, itโ€™s critical that pediatricians and pediatric practices have a robust system for managing and sharing important patient information. In this blog, weโ€™ll discuss the essential technology tools you should be using to share information to be in compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act. We also provide best practice guidelines and a FREE workbook to help you develop your own information sharing policies. Understanding the Implications of the 21st Century Cures Act The 21st Century Cures Act is a federal law that contains a number of provisions that impact information sharing in healthcare. Title IV...

20 Dec

Posted at 13:56h in Mental Health, Staying Independent by

Making self-care a priority is essential when you work in a healthcare setting. Day in and day out, you spend a large portion of your day caring for the well-being of your patients, but over time, it can take a personal toll. The last several years have brought even more challenges for healthcare providers across the country as more people are going through difficulties and reaching out for help.ย ...

15 Nov

Posted at 15:06h in Clinical, Growing Your Practice, Mental Health by

One common thread that comes up often in conversations among pediatric providers and their staff is that the last several years have been exhausting. Pediatricians in cities, suburbs, and rural areas alike are burned out and theyโ€™re facing what seems like an insurmountable combination of increased expectations and decreased practice resources....

25 Oct

Posted at 13:14h in Clinical, Mental Health, Patient Engagement, Whole Child by

ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders present in childhood. Despite receiving significant attention throughout the last 30 years, doctors and researchers are still uncovering new potential causes, contributing factors, and treatment options for those with ADHD....

18 Oct

Posted at 13:07h in Mental Health, Whole Child by

Medical professionals and public health officials across the United States are expressing concern about the growing rise of youth behavioral health visits in our nationโ€™s hospitals. While alarming, this trend should come as no surprise given the ongoing youth mental health crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated....

11 Oct

Posted at 18:33h in Clinical, Mental Health, Patient Engagement, Staying Independent by

Since early 2020, many pediatric practices have been forced to juggle increased patient demand against new safety precautions and a reduction in the number of people they have on staff. The COVID pandemic has been a significant stressor on the pediatric community, with one survey finding that 60% of pediatricians were experiencing at least one dimension of burnout....

13 Sep

Posted at 16:32h in Clinical, Patient Engagement, Whole Child by

Learning to communicate with patients online has been a central hallmark of the COVID-19 pandemic for pediatric practices. However, evaluating whether your practice is succeeding in this area can be a challenge. The scope of communication in healthcare varies, and thereโ€™s no one standard metric that providers can use to measure their progress....

07 Sep

Posted at 18:58h in Mental Health, Patient Engagement, Whole Child by

Many young children and teens struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, organizations like Duck Cup Memorial Fund are stepping into the fray to bring more awareness to this issue. Sara Jutz, the Executive Director of Duck Cup Memorial Fund, recently spoke on the PediaTricks podcast to share more information about how their organization is working to meet this moment, and make mental health and suicide prevention a much easier subject to speak about openly.ย ...

22 Jun

Posted at 13:12h in Mental Health, Whole Child by

Some of the best summer activities can also help children decompress from a stressful school year, which can help improve troubling mental health symptoms. As social distancing measures are now relaxed, and more activities become available, children may need some encouragement to step outside of their comfort zone and get more engaged in a world that may still feel overwhelming. You should be ready to listen to their concerns and work with them to find activities that feel both fun and safe. ...

01 Jun

Posted at 18:47h in Clinical, Mental Health, Whole Child by

Itโ€™s no surprise thatย pediatric mental health issuesย have skyrocketed to unrivaled levels as children have been forced to navigate the challenges that have come with the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Desperate for ways to address this growing concern, healthcare professionals across the United States are coming together to share ideas about programs, policies, and best practices that will positively impact the mental health of youth and adolescents in the US....

04 May

Posted at 19:10h in Mental Health, Whole Child by

Each May, we celebrate National Childrenโ€™s Mental Health Week to underscore the importance of nurturing positive mental health among our nationโ€™s youth. This year, from May 1st-7th, the awareness week will emphasize the vital importance of building strong emotional health for childrenโ€™s long-term development and overall wellness....

11 Jun

Posted at 18:46h in Clinical by

[vc_row css_animation="" row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" angled_section="no" text_align="left" background_image_as_pattern="without_pattern"][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how healthcare professionals handle documentation. According to a recent AMA survey, AI use in patient care documentation jumped from 38% in 2023 to 66% in 2024. One of the most promising developments is the emergence of the AI scribe, the modern evolution of a centuries-old role. While early scribe tools focused on transcription, todayโ€™s AI scribes are modernizing how clinicians document care. But, thereโ€™s a problemโ€ฆ most AI scribe tools learn from adult-based medical information and lack the precision needed for the nuances of pediatric care. Enter...

11 Dec

Posted at 20:07h in Mental Health by

Each New Year begins with great hope and promise. Itโ€™s the chance to reinvent oneself, transform habits, and make a fresh start. But when it comes to New Yearโ€™s resolutions, studies suggest we are set up for failure before the year even begins.ย Psychology Todayย cites a University of Scranton study that found only 19% of individuals manage to keep their resolutions, and most are abandoned by mid-January โ€“ just two weeks into the new year. But why? Most people donโ€™t fail to keep their resolutions because of a lack of willpower. They fail because they shouldnโ€™t have started them on a specific, arbitrary...

31 Jul

Posted at 14:57h in Clinical, Connectivity, Staying Independent by

Imagine starting every visit with a complete picture of the patient's health journey, whether they are new or established. Picture having instant access to everything from a patient's growth chart and immunization records to specialist consultations and ED visits. Then, imagine being able to digitize your entire new patient intake process. No more relying on incomplete information or a parent's recollection....