Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Spring 2015 - (Page 12)

SPOTLIGHT: GOING THE DISTANCE FOR KIDS CARE JUST UM Children's Hospital pediatric specialists bring care to kids in their own communities W hat functions like an emergency room for kids, looks like a pediatrician's office, and is 5:00 a.m. The alarm clock goes off inside Runa Watkins' Baltimore home. openUM Children's Hospital. Dr. Baker-Smith starts her until midnight, seven days morning with a 5-mile run, but the real race will a week? Plus, it's staffed by pediatricians she returns home, toNardine she and begin after and pediatric ensure nurses and has are prepared forof day ahead. her family the full backup the Assaad, MD the medical center? It's the Pediatrics After Hours 7:30 a.m. (PAH) Emergency Care service at the University After dropping of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center.off their chilParents can turn with confidence to PAH when dren at school their doctor's office is closed or too busy. and day care, Staff provide compassionate care for minor, both doctors acute emergencies, ranging from fever,take a moment flu, asthma, pneumonia and respiratory illnesses to to consider Many UM Children's Hospital pediatric specialists, like Dr. Baker-Smith, are also involved in research, looking to better understand diﬀerent diseases and how best to treat them. sprains, strains, skin infections and other minor which direcinjuries. PAH is conveniently situated next to UMneed tion they St. Joseph's Pediatrics Unit, so if a very sick child to head today. needs to be admitted, the process is seamless. They're adept at juggling their schedules because Pediatricians often refer patients to PAH after their clinical locations change almost every day. their Today, Dr. Baker-Smith children who the UM Cardioffices close. "We get is headed for are seen by their pediatrician during the day, and then ology Practice in Westminster. American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart later, they need a higher acuity of care," says Association," says Dr. Baker-Smith. Many physi- cians are actively involved in research, feet hit the floor after the 5:15 a.m. Her looking Pediatric understand snooze button offers the MD a few more to better different diseases and how gastroenterologist best to treat them. moments of shut-eye. Dr. Watkins, a pediatric Runa Watkins, MD 11:00 p.m. board-certified pediatrician Nardine Assaad, MD, The UM Children's Hospital has multiple specialty of PAH. "For example, forparts of the state. On any practices in different gastritis, we can give a child intravenous fluids and medicine expertise in given day, close to 20 doctors with to stop everything from asthma, allergy and genetics gastroenterologist at the University of Marylandvomiting and treat dehydration, which cannot beto donehematology, or urgent care center." are seeing in an office orthopaedics and surgery Children's Hospital and a mother of two, has a After a day of caring for the chil- busy day have spent many miles to go before dren of Maryland, both doctors ahead-and the patients everywhere from Harford County to Queen she sees her first patient and evening taking care of their own children, in their family. But first, she Anne's County. has to the routine begins own homes. In several hours,get her children ready for school. "My patients don't realize I've been in the car IN AN EMERGENCY ... again-and chances are good that each doctor will for more than 40 minutes," says Dr. Watkins, ensure that the families of MarylandEllicott City home of Carissa unfolds in the can be seen who's also an assistant Pediatrics After Hours To learn more about professor of pediatrics at the UM School of visit stjosephtowson.com/PAH. Emergency Care, Medicine. "They just assume where I am that day is my primary location." be in a different location tomorrow,In Howard County, a similar scene 5:30 a.m. which helps by a pediatric specialist close to home. pediatric cardiologist at the Baker-Smith, MD, a 12 MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS   Editor's note: A stock illustration on page 13 of the http://www.stjosephtowson.com/PAH

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Maryland's Health Matters - St. Joseph - Spring 2015