Announcements

• The hospital campus COVID-19 vaccine clinic is now open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., due to reduced demand.
• Up to three caregivers can now be designated as eligible visitors for each inpatient (up from two).
• Important note: we are still only allowing TWO caregivers to visit at a time.
• Parents/caregivers who are fully vaccinated no longer need to be tested prior to their child being admitted to a double room.

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Since January of this year, following concerns of systemic racism within our organization, we have accelerated our ongoing work to be an anti-racist organization and uphold our core value of equity. Though we’d made a formal commitment to anti-racism last summer, and subsequently launched our Anti-Racism Organizational Change and Accelerated Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan last fall, we recognize we must do more – and in greater collaboration.

The key to our transformation – and to the path ahead – lies in taking actions based on conversations and insights from our many stakeholders. We approach the gravity of this transformation and the opportunity to improve with humility in knowing we have not done enough – and our shortcomings have adversely impacted the kids and families we serve as well as our team. Upholding our commitment to anti-racism must be and will be the very fabric of Seattle Children’s future. Read full post »

Our Sleep Medicine Clinic is moving in June from its current location in Building 3 of the Overlake Medical Pavilion in Bellevue to a significantly larger new space in Building 5. The clinic will be closed from June 15 to 20 for the move.

New Address (Beginning June 21):

Overlake Medical Pavilion – Building 5

1231 116^th AVE NE, Suite 385, Bellevue 98004

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A new telephone line is now available for providers who have questions about referring to Seattle Children’s outpatient psychiatry and behavioral medicine (PBM). Providers are welcome to use it to find out what services we have available now or may have available soon and ask questions about the referral process or the status of a referral already submitted.

Outpatient psychiatry referral intake team: 206-987-2164, option 2.

The line is staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Messages will be answered within 48 hours.

The phone line is also open to patients and families who have questions about our PBM services.  

Public Health Seattle-King County is partnering with community providers to deliver in-home COVID-19 vaccination to residents aged 12 and older who are homebound due to injury, illness, age, developmental, behavioral or psychiatric disorder. Formal or informal caregivers can receive vaccine at the same time. (Please note that this is not appropriate for patients who simply lack transportation to a vaccine site.)

To refer patients:

1. If you have a number of patients to refer, please contact Caren Goldenberg, Homebound Vaccination Program Lead, at [email protected]or 206-477-3207.
2. If you would like to refer just one or two patients, please use this secure link: https://redcap.link/WA_HomeBasedVax.
3. If you know of patients or family members who would prefer to refer themselves, please encourage them to call King County’s COVID-19 Public Information Line at 206-296-4774.

For more information: Contact Caren Goldenberg, Homebound Vaccination Program Lead, at [email protected] or 206-477-3207.

Enrollment is open for the Boosting Teens with ADHD Program, a monthlong, Zoom-based group program for parents and caregivers of teenagers ages 13 to 17 with ADHD. The group meets weekly and promotes skills focused on parent/teen communication, improving teen independence, and dealing with challenging behaviors and school problems. Read full post »

• Jeff Ojemann, SVP and surgeon-in-chief, has transitioned to the role of SVP and interim chief medical officer. Dr. Andre Dick, associate surgeon-in-chief, is our interim surgeon-in-chief.
• Mady Murrey, SVP and chief clinical officer, will retire this August. Bonnie Fryzlewicz, VP, patient care and chief nursing officer, will serve as interim chief clinical officer.
• Ruth McDonald and Dr. Paul Sharek have been named associate chief medical officers, in addition to their respective roles as chief medical operations officer and chief quality and safety officer.
• Marisa Osorio is the new Division Chief of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Osorio became division chief of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, effective May 1.
• Burt Yaszay is the new Division Chief of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.
• Cathy Boelke is the new interim executive director for Children’s University Medical Group (CUMG), the Seattle Children’s and University of Washington School of Medicine practice plan.
• Nic Maurice is the new Director of Perioperative Services for main campus, having served since February as interim director.

For More Information:  Contact [email protected].

Update from: Dr. Ruth McDonald, VP, Associate Chief Medical Officer (Hospital Operations) and Chief Medical Operations Officer, and Dr. Danielle Zerr, Medical Director, Infection Prevention

In recent weeks, there have been reports of myocarditis occurring after COVID-19 vaccination with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, including in Europe, where the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recently requested data from Pfizer and Moderna on reports of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination. Washington state public health agencies and the CDC are aware of these reports.

Health care providers should do the following:

• Consider a diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis in any evaluation of chest pain following COVID-19 vaccination.
• Inquire about recent COVID-19 vaccination in any patient presenting with symptoms consistent with myocarditis or pericarditis.
  • Clinical features of myocarditis and pericarditis include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, electrocardiogram (EKG) changes and elevated cardiac biomarkers.
  • Elicit a detailed history including vaccination status and potential exposures to COVID-19. Patients should be tested for COVID-19 infection using a molecular (PCR) test.
• Report such cases promptly to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS): https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html).
  • It is recommended that the evaluating (not administering) provider report the incident to VAERS so appropriate clinical details can be reported accurately.
• Report cases of myocarditis or pericarditis within two weeks of any COVID-19 vaccination to Public Health – Seattle & King County at 206-296-4774 including information on vaccine manufacturer, vaccination date, dose number as well as history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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As of Thursday, May 13, 2021, Seattle Children’s is offering appointments for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to youth ages 12 to 15, in keeping with FDA and CDC guidance on lowering the age limit for the Pfizer vaccine.

Any individual wishing to make a vaccine appointment at Seattle Children’s must use our scheduling portal. Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to sign the consent at both the first and second dose appointments. They do not need to be a current Seattle Children’s patient to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Vaccine appointments can also be made through the Washington State vaccine locator. Please direct any questions about COVID-19 vaccines at Seattle Children’s to [email protected].

Seattle Children’s is pleased to announce the opening of a new mental health clinic for children and their families who primarily speak Spanish.

The clinic serves children ages 2 to 18 who have mental health concerns and their parents and other caregivers. Providers are bilingual.

The CALMA clinic (short for Child and Adolescent Latino Mental Health Assessment and Treatment) is held every Thursday and includes group therapy, which may be in the daytime or evening. Presently services are by telehealth only. Read full post »