UC Davis Children’s Hospital has been very busy this summer.

Our inpatient census has remained high through the summer months.

Our new six-bed unit on East 7 for one-day hospital admissions has been a great addition to our inpatient care. This unit has provided much needed additional pediatric beds and a comfortable setting for children who do not require more prolonged inpatient care. I am very appreciative of the nurses staffing this unit, who have done a great job with this new effort.

The Department of Pediatrics is also excited to welcome a number of new faculty members to several of our divisions. We are adding new faculty in genomic medicine, allergy/immunology, neonatology, endocrinology, general pediatrics, pediatric hospitalist medicine, pediatric critical care and hematology/oncology. We are also excited that the Department of Neurology has added three new pediatric neurologists.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is also celebrating its recent verification by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center. Only four hospitals in the country received this designation. This honor reflects the extraordinary quality of our pediatric surgery staff and the great supporting services throughout our hospital. Thank you to everyone for their dedication to the care of children in our region.

Kevin Coulter, interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics

WELCOME!

DESIGNATION IS FIRST ON THE WEST COAST, FOURTH IN THE NATION

U C D AV I S C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L N E W S L E T T E R FA L L 2 0 1 6

UC Davis Children’s Hospital has become the first hospital on the West Coast, and only the fourth in the nation, to earn verification as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The designation from the ACS Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program focuses on the nation’s first and only multi-specialty standards of surgical care for pediatric patients.

The Level I verification – the highest of three – was awarded to UC Davis Children’s Hospital after an extensive site

UC Davis Children’s Hospital verified as Level I Children’s Surgery Center by American College of Surgeons

Child life specialist Ginger Layton and anesthesiology chief resident Jeff Lewis checks in on a patient at UC Davis Children's Surgery Center. continued on page 2

UC DAVIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL opens new pediatric dialysis treatment centerUC Davis Children’s Hospital has opened a new pediatric dialysis center, where patients and their families will be trained on home-based peritoneal dialysis and receive follow-up care. The children’s hospital is the only hospital in the region to offer outpatient

dialysis for patients under 10 years of age or 44 pounds.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer this to our patients for the first time,” said Maha Haddad, associate professor of pediatrics and director of pediatric dialysis at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. “We are happy to provide care to families who previously had to travel outside of the region.”

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric nephrology program in the greater Sacramento area, and patients travel from as far away as the Oregon border and Reno.4-year-old Daniela Jimenez is the pediatric

dialysis treatment center’s first patient.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT:

Erik Fernandez y Garcia’s Motivating Our Mothers (M.O.M.) Study

Erik Fernandez y Garcia’s research occurs at the nexus of pediatric health services, maternal mental health services and intergenerational wellbeing. He developed an intervention to screen mothers for depression in pediatric practices and to motivate and support them in seeking further care.

The intervention was found initially effective [Fernandez y Garcia, et al. Acad Pediatr. 2015 May-Jun;15(3):311-8] and he has subsequently used focus groups, individual and cognitive interviews to adapt and refine the language in Spanish and English.

Beginning this month, he will be conducting a groundbreaking trial to determine the most effective combination of intervention components.

This intervention will provide pediatricians and pediatric trainees with an evidence-based method to address mothers with positive depression screens, something that is currently lacking.

His research is especially important given two developments in maternal mental health services. First, the U.S. Preventative Services Taskforce has recommended universal postpartum depression screening in pediatric practices for the first time. Second, the California Task Force on Maternal Mental Health (on which Fernandez y Garcia serves) will be publishing recommendations for improving postpartum depression care in California and relies heavily on primary care interventions such as this.

Fernandez y Garcia’s research is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (K23-MH101157) and the Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis.

LEVEL I CHILDREN’S SURGERY CENTER

East 7 now offers echocardiograms, coffee and tea service

The East 7 acute care pediatric unit now offers echocardiograms, or ultrasounds of the heart, for Pediatric Heart Center patients.

“Acquiring the echocardiographic images in a quiet and relaxed environment provides the pediatric cardiologist and CT surgeon with the highest level of understanding of the patient’s cardiac anatomy prior to deciding the best clinical treatment,” said East 7 nurse manager Calene Roseman.

Echocardiogram is a safe and painless procedure that assists the pediatric cardiologist in diagnosing all cardiac abnormalities.

The unit also now offers coffee and tea service for parents or family members of patients on the unit. The idea was sparked as many parents were leaving the unit to get coffee and tea – and often reluctant to leave their child’s bedside. Now, nurses offer the beverages to parents and deliver them on a tray.

“Families have been overwhelmingly appreciative,” said Roseman. “It’s a surprise to families that we offer this service, and adds a bit of comfort during a difficult time. Tea service is just a small piece in considering the entire family in the care.”

East 7 offers 10 different types of tea and two types of coffee. They also offer a sweet treat to go with it.

visit by an ACS team of surveyors. The survey team consisted of experienced children’s surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses who reviewed the hospital’s structure, process and clinical outcomes data.

“UC Davis Children’s Hospital is dedicated to providing world-class care for its pediatric patients. This new verification should remind families that the best surgical care for their children is right here at UC Davis Children’s Hospital,” said Diana Farmer, chair and Pearl Stamps Stewart professor of the Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

To become a verified center, UC Davis Children’s Hospital met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure and protocols for care, ensuring its ability to appropriately care for children who are surgical patients. A Level I Children’s Surgery Center has specialty trained children’s surgeons in every discipline, who are able to care for newborns, children and teens. Pediatric anesthesiologists are also available to provide round-the-clock care. A Level I Children’s Surgery Center includes dedicated operating rooms for children available 24 hours a day. In addition to acute-care responsibilities, a Level I Children’s Surgery Center trains future leaders in education and research, and leads the way in community service and outreach.

continued from page 1

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, making it important for the pediatric interdisciplinary care team to identify and address overweight and obesity.

The registered dietitian (RD) serves as an important member of that team in identifying children at risk, educating caregivers and families, and supporting kids and families as positive lifestyle changes are made. Pediatric dietitians teach parents and children about appropriate food and beverage choices, healthy meal preparation and family-focused lifestyle changes, and help parents identify short- and long-term goals for positive change.

The inpatient encounter provides an opportunity for the RD to identify behaviors that should be immediately changed (for example, a child’s excessive intake of milk,

juice or soda) and discuss other areas for improvement over a more extended period of time (for example, increasing a child’s fruit and vegetable intake to five servings per day or implementing 60 minutes per day of physical activity).

To successfully achieve or maintain a healthy weight, a child’s entire family needs to be involved and motivated. For some families, sample meal plans, calorie goals and smartphone applications are helpful tools for managing a healthier diet; other families may not be ready to implement immediate change and will require follow-up once the child has recovered from their acute illness. Regardless of their stage of change, patients and families need regular outpatient follow-up with their primary care team who can track progress, provide guidance and resources, and serve as cheerleaders as they make their way to a healthier weight and lifestyle.

JoAnne Natale, professor of clinical pediatrics, Jonathan “Yoni” Dayan, assistant professor of pediatric cardiology, Debbie Lewis, surgical technician in perioperative services, and Andrew Studin, clinical nurse in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, traveled with Heart to Heart International Children’s Medical Alliance on a 10-day mission to Lima, Peru this summer. Nilas Young, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at UC Davis, co-founded this organization in 1989.

HEART TO HEART MISSION

REGISTERED DIETITIANS HELP SUPPORT healthier weight, lifestyle for patients, families

Childhood obesity has more than

doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the

past 30 years.

Spirit Halloween won’t have tricks, but they will be giving plenty of treats to UC Davis Children’s Hospital patients this Halloween season.

The specialty retail store will host a Halloween party for the children in the hospital and their siblings next month, offering free costumes, crafts and entertainment. Participating stores in the Sacramento region will also donate 10 percent of its sales to the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, while offering shoppers 10 percent off their purchases.

Participating store locations include Citrus Heights, Lincoln, Sisk Road in Modesto, Coffee Road in Modesto, Rocklin, Douglas Boulevard in

SPIRIT HALLOWEEN gives back to UC Davis Children’s HospitalRoseville, Madison Avenue in Sacramento, Turlock and West Sacramento. Shoppers can download this coupon for 10 percent off at these locations or at www.spirithalloween.com through Oct. 31, 2016.

Spirit Halloween Superstores raises money online and in its stores to support the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. Money raised provides training for individuals to become certified child life specialists at UC Davis Children’s Hospital. In 2015, the stores donated $60,230 to the UC Davis Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department.

After a 19-hour Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® mediathon on ABC10, $460,500 was raised for UC Davis Children’s Hospital, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Sacramento – an increase of 67 percent from last year.

During the mediathon, ABC10 featured unique, local stories of Sacramento area children who had been treated at UC Davis Children’s Hospital on TV, its website and its social media channels.

Here are a few video stories that were covered:

n Baby’s life saved by fast acting UC Davis doctorsn UC Davis discovery gives hope to parents with tragic pastn Dorian Vasquez’s miracle storyn Dog attack victim nursed back to health by UC Davis Children’s

Hospitaln Handling diabetes with Gracen UC Davis helps ‘momo’ twins make sound recoveryn 12-year-old dancing two years after suffering mysterious stroke n UC Davis program gives hope to child cancer patientsn Parents hopeful after newborn twins’ turbulent start n Girl’s hidden bike injury almost cost her life

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK AT UC DAVIS raises $460,500 in ABC10 mediathon

Like all Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® fundraisers, funds raised stay local, meaning all funds donated to the mediathon will be given to UC Davis Children’s Hospital and stay right here in the Sacramento community.

“Friday was a day for miracles.. It was wonderful to see our communities come together to make miracles happen for children at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.” – Jacquelyn Mills, director of development at Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis

Pediatric Surgery welcomes new facultyHolly Leshikar and Payam Saadai have joined the Pediatric Surgery team at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Leshikar specializes in pediatric orthopaedic surgery. Saadai specializes in general pediatric surgery, with interest in minimally invasive and robotic surgery, fetal intervention and pediatric colorectal disorders.

PATIENT MILESTONE:

RUBY MUNOZ

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT:

Top pediatric specialty care, close to home

Ruby Munoz came to UC Davis Children’s Hospital at 6 weeks old, with what appeared to be flu symptoms. But doctors soon diagnosed her with critical aortic stenosis, with severe ventricular dysfunction. With help from the UC Davis Pediatric Heart Center team and our extra-corporeal life support machine, she received the surgery she needed to save her life.

This month, she celebrated her third birthday! Happy birthday, Ruby!

UC Davis Children’s Hospital is the Sacramento region’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, offering children and their families the highest level of care for virtually every pediatric health condition. See how our pediatric specialty care services are keeping families close to home!

Share your

patient story

children.ucdavis.edu/patientstories

Oct. 1: Sacramento Republic FC Playoff Match – UC Davis Children’s Hospital will host a booth. 7:30 p.m. Bonney Field, Cal Expo, Sacramento. Sacrepublicfc.com

Oct. 1: Folsom Family Expo – UC Davis Children’s Hospital will host a booth. Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma St., Folsom. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. 916-988-9888.

Oct. 10: Ace Hardware Golf Tournament, Morgan Creek Golf Course, Rocklin. Benefits Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis. 916-734-9192.

Oct. 15: Aggie Football Homecoming Game – Sponsored by UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Aggie Stadium. 5 p.m.

Oct. 22: Emily Love Invitational – Co-ed softball tournament benefits Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis. Bartholomew Sports Park, Elk Grove. 9 a.m. $500 team fee. 916-216-9858 or jasondeanlove@gmail.com.

Oct. 29-30: Boo at the Zoo – Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis will host a booth. Sacramento Zoo. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $10-$12. 916-808-5888.

UPCOMING events

At this year’s Aggie Football Homecoming game, our own “Super Cooper” Cochran will be the honorary captain! This high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor will get to chance to meet the players and go on the field to be part of the coin toss. Read more about how Cooper delivered superhero capes to kids battling disease.

GET SOCIAL – LIKE US, FOLLOW US share with your networks!Facebook.com/ucdavischildrenshospital has 10,745 likes!

Twitter.com/ucdavischildren has 2,402 followers!

Instagram.com/ucdavischildren has 1,254 followers!

SUPER COOPER NEWS!

This year’s California International Marathon will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4 and will be sponsored by UC Davis Children’s Hospital. UC Davis will provide medical care for the runners, both on course at medical stations and at the finish line medical tent at the State Capitol. Volunteers are needed from across the health system to be part of the medical team that will assess/triage runners who need assistance.

Approximately 9,000 runners from all over the world will compete in the marathon or relay marathon.

To provide care for such a large group, medical and nursing professionals, medical students, nursing students, residents and fellows are encouraged to participate. Those in non-medical roles can also play an important role on the day. An orientation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Cancer Center Auditorium to provide a forum to answer questions.

Brian Davis, director of PM&R Sports Medicine, and Brandee Waite, associate professor of PM&R Sports Medicine, will be the marathon’s medical directors. Katren Tyler, associate professor of the Department of Emergency Medicine, will be the acute care lead.

Health system employees who are interested in volunteering can register online by Nov. 5: http://cimmedicalteam.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=16603. Volunteers will receive a CIM T-shirt.

Those with questions can contact Shelby Greenlow at shelby1103@comcast.net or 916-837-1353.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DEC. 4

California International Marathon