Diagnostic/Therapeutic Services
The following Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services are available to physicians.
It has long been recognized that traditional blood pressure monitoring systems may not be the most accurate in reflecting a patient's true average blood pressure, especially when that patient is a child. Many patients are misdiagnosed with high blood pressure due to "white coat syndrome," false high-blood pressure readings due to anxiety. Other difficulties in pediatric blood pressure reading may include using equipment not specifically designed to fit a child's arm, and the reader's lack of familiarity with proper pediatric levels.
Phoenix Children's Hospital offers ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for children. The program fits children with custom cuffs to be worn for 24 hours. This allows a comprehensive reading of blood pressure in all situations, including sleep.
This new monitoring system allows us to pinpoint when high blood pressure readings are the result of anxiety and when additional testing is necessary to determine if there is kidney dysfunction or other causes.
For more information about this program, please contact the Nephrology Department at Phoenix Children's Hospital, (602) 546-0965.
The Audiology program provides a full-range of diagnostic services to children of all ages in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. Phoenix Children's Hospital uses a two audiologist approach for behavioral testing with children under the age of five years and developmentally challenged children of all ages to make sure the tests are as accurate as possible.
The program collaborates with the "Hear for Kids" Program of the Ear Foundation of Arizona to make sure that children have access to the newest technologies in amplification at no cost to families who qualify.
Audiologists also work with family physicians, the otologist, other members of the team, and families to identify candidates for the cochlear implant program, in which an electronic device is surgically implanted in the ear.
The Electroneurodiagnostic Department at Phoenix Children's Hospital offers a variety of tests for the diagnosis of central and peripheral nervous system disorders in children.
Our Staff
Our electroneurodiagnostic staff are trained to meet the challenges of caring for children and families. Their expertise includes:
· Achieving high quality testing without sedation
· Positioning and comforting infants and children before and during procedures
· Explaining procedures so children will understand
Our Patients
Our expertise is children. Children are not small adults. Their bodies respond to illness and treatments differently. Their development and emotional needs are unique. We have developed techniques to perform accurate testing on all children, including:
· neonates
· infants
· toddlers
· children with developmental delays
· behaviorally and emotionally challenged children
We also include the family in the care we provide. Families are encouraged to:
· Share with our staff their child's unique characteristics and needs
· Work with staff to properly prepare their child prior to a procedure
· Support their child during a procedure
Our Services Include
We offer timely appointments and interpretations of procedures by qualified pediatric neurologists.
· Electroencephalogram (EEG)
· Long-term Epilepsy Monitoring
· Video EEG
· Ambulatory EEG
· Evoked Potentials (Auditory, Visual, Somato-sensory)
· Electromyography
· Intraoperative Monitoring
· Interpretation of procedures performed at other facilities is also available
Why is the IV Team at Phoenix Children's?
After surveying patient and family needs, it was determined that patients would benefit from the skills of a pediatric IV team. In addition, the 1997 CDC guidelines for IV therapy strongly recommend the use of IV Teams by hospitals to improve patient care. This IV program enhances the specialized care given to our patients.
Who is the Phoenix Children's IV Team?
The Phoenix Children's IV Team is comprised of pediatric nurses who are clinical specialists in IV therapy. They have been selected to these positions based on their experience and expertise in pediatric IV insertions, related IV therapies, and general pediatric nursing skills.
What Does the IV Team Do?
The IV Team is responsible for:
· Starting or assisting with IV insertions for pediatric patients at Phoenix Children's, GSMC ED and ancillary services, especially for those with poor venous access.
· Assisting with difficult lab draws.
· Insertion of PICC lines on patients not requiring radiology for placement.
· Developing policies and procedures for IV care based on current research and standards in the community.
· Providing Quality Assurance information for aspects of IV therapy including PICC lines and IV infiltrations.
· Serving as a staff resource, mentor, and trouble-shooter for care and maintenance of periphral lines, PICCs, CVCs and Port-a-caths.
· Develops IV-related educational programs and provides ongoing IV education to staff.
What are the IV Team Goals?
The primary goal of the IV Team is to provide excellent quality service in pediatric IV care to every Phoenix Children's patient.
Other goals include:
· To minimize the pain and stress of IV insertions to the patients and their families through pain control methods, developmental interventions, and education.
· To provide a specialized pediatric PICC (peripherally inserted central venous catheter) program for all Phoenix Children's patients whether inpatient or outpatient.
· To reduce complications related to IV therapy including infection, phlebitis and other conditions that might increase hospital length of stay.
· To establish a community standard for IV therapy and promote continuity of care in association with pediatric home health agencies and subacute facilities.
· To provide a resource for pediatric IV therapy to outlying hospitals, offices, agencies and schools.
· To improve the quality of IV therapy through research and product evaluation.
· To continue staff education in IV therapy practices including IV insertion/maintenance, PICC care, Central line and Port-a-cath care.
How Can the IV Team Be Reached?
The IV Team can be reached on pager (602) 223-1448 or e-mail ivteam@phoenixchildrens.com.
The Inpatient Pharmacy on Thomas Road is located on the first floor of the main hospital. The Inpatient Pharmacy provides services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Pharmacy on McDowell Road is located on the third floor of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center within the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery. The NICU Pharmacy provides unit-based services.
The Outpatient Pharmacy is located on the first floor of the Ambulatory Building across the hallway from the Hematology/Oncology Department. The Outpatient Pharmacy provides services to the clinics from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays).
Services
· Specially-trained, licensed pediatric pharmacists and technicians
· Decentralized specialized pharmaceutical care
· Online drug information resources
· Pharmacy personnel available for drug information and education services
· Computer generated MAR's
· Medication delivered in patient specific dosages
· Medication flavoring services for enhanced compliance
· Intravenous medications in ready-to-administer form
· Profiling feature of automated dispensing cabinets for enhanced safety and efficiency
· Developing Computerized Prescriber Order Entry
· Best practice guidelines
· Participation in interdisciplinary teams; active teaching environment
· PALS certified pharmacists respond with Code team
· Rotation site for pharmacy students and residents
· Pharmacokinetic dosing program
· Computerized pharmacy-lab interface
Safeguards
The pharmacy includes many innovative safeguards:
· Unit specific dosing - the child's individual specific dose will be prepared and delivered to the patient care areas.
· Paperless pharmacy – Our Pharmacy Order Management System (POMS) converts all facsimile and printer functions into a scanned image on a flat screen in front of the pharmacist (no paper copy).
· Computerized Prescriber Order Entry - eliminates the need for interpreting the handwriting of a physician or other care givers. Medication orders will be entered directly into a computer.
· Specialty intravenous nutrition solution compounding using computerized technology
· Pharmacy automated dispensing cabinet with barcode technology
· 797-compliant IV Clean Room
