The Pacific Northwest Undiagnosed Diseases Network (PNW UDN) is currently open for applications for pediatric patients with medical conditions that have thus far eluded diagnosis. This National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded study started in 2015 and has grown to a total of 12 clinical sites. The PNW clinical site, led by principal investigators Dr. Katrina Dipple and Dr. Gail Jarvik, is a collaborative effort between dozens of clinicians and researchers at Seattle Children’s and the University of Washington Medical Center. Read full post »
On March 17, Washington moved to the next phase of COVID-19 vaccination (Phase 1B, Tier 2), which means people who are 16 years and older with certain chronic conditions or disabilities are now eligible to receive the vaccine. Seattle Children’s will continue to serve as a community vaccination site and will offer vaccines through our public portal to all eligible members of the public, as supplies permit.
We are contacting our current patients ages 16 to 21 with certain chronic conditions or disabilities who meet the DOH vaccine eligibility criteria to offer a vaccine appointment. Read full post »
To better serve the Tri-Cities and surrounding region, Seattle Children’s Tri-Cities Clinic is moving to a larger, more centrally located clinic location opening March 11, 2021, in Kennewick, WA. The clinic will continue to offer the same pediatric specialties, with more room to help meet the growing need for specialty pediatric care in the region.
The new clinic in Kennewick will open Thursday, March 11, 2021, and will replace the clinic in Richland, WA, which will close for good at the end of the day on Thursday, March 4, 2021.
New Clinic Address: 8232 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick, WA 99336 (near Costco)
Clinic and Appointments: 509-582-1700
Provider to Provider Line: 206-987-7777
Online: sseattlechildrens.org/contact/tri-cities/ Read full post »
To improve support for our patients and their families/caregivers, while ensuring the highest level of safety for everyone, starting Thursday, Jan. 28, Seattle Children’s began allowing up to two caregivers in inpatient settings. Previously the limit was one caregiver. In our outpatient settings, the caregiver limit remains one.
Please note:
- Patients in single rooms can have up to two caregivers in their room around the clock.
- Patients in double rooms can have up to two caregivers in their room during visiting hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and one caregiver overnight.
- Patients in ambulatory, urgent care and surgical settings may have one caregiver with them.
- Patients in the Emergency Department may have up to two caregivers with them.
Evelyn Hsu
Seattle Children’s is pleased to announce that Dr. Evelyn Hsu accepted the position of division chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, following a year as acting division chief and a very competitive national search. She also has served as program director of the Transplant Hepatology Fellowship and medical director for Liver Transplantation.
“I’m excited to join this group in an official capacity. My priority is to expand our staff and open up our services to care for more children in our region, while implementing a service model that allows us to scale up in size while continuing to provide excellent care.,” says Hsu. Read full post »
To realize our vision of becoming an anti-racist and equitable health organization, Seattle Children’s has developed the Anti-Racism Organizational Change (AROC) and Accelerated Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Plan. This plan was designed with guidance and support from our workforce, patients and families, community, and trusted and expert leaders on anti-racism work, equity, inclusion and diversity. Read full post »
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the number and severity of patients with eating disorders. Given the high demand, Seattle Children’s Eating Disorders program is currently focusing our limited resources on patients who are medically unstable. We are prioritizing new visits for patients under the age of 18 who meet one of the following criteria:
- Heart rate < 60 bpm
- Weight loss of >10% over the past 3 months
- Abnormal laboratory work-up
- Abnormal EKG
Read full post »
Patient Caregiver Policies in the Hospital
Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in our region and nationally, Seattle Children’s is returning to stricter guidelines regarding visitors in order to protect the health and safety of our patients, families and workforce.
Patients in both our inpatient and ambulatory settings will only be allowed a single caregiver effective Monday, Nov. 30.
Inpatient care visitor policy update:
- All families may identify two caregivers for their child’s inpatient stay.
- Only one caregiver may be at the bedside at a time.
- The two caregivers will remain the primary caregivers for the entirety of the hospitalization.
- The following exceptions will continue to apply:
- Caregivers of patients at the end of life may request an exception
- Patients whose caregivers are receiving discharge teaching
- Siblings who are younger than 12 months of age and who are breastfeeding may remain in a room with the breastfeeding parent if the patient is in standard precautions
Read full post »
Join us for a Pediatric Nursing Update Virtual Conference to learn about “COVID-19: Challenges and Guidance.” The half-day conference will be held on Jan. 29, 2021 and is open to nurses and allied health professionals who care for children with special healthcare needs in school, primary care, public health and other ambulatory care settings. Register by Jan. 26 using this registration link or by contacting [email protected].
Course objectives:
- Employ infectious disease updates to provide up-to-date clinical care for patients with coronavirus.
- Examine the effects of coronavirus on the care of pediatric patients.
- Recognize disparity and health equity issues on children and families due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read full post »
Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in our region and nationally, Seattle Children’s needs to return to more strict guidelines regarding visitors in order to protect the health and safety of our patients, families and workforce.
Patients in both our inpatient and ambulatory setting will only be allowed a single caregiver effective Monday, Nov. 30.
Inpatient care visitor policy update:
- All families may identify two caregivers for their child’s inpatient stay.
- Only one caregiver may be at the bedside at a time.
- The two caregivers will remain the primary caregivers for the entirety of the hospitalization.
- The following exceptions will continue to apply:
- Caregivers of patients at the end of life may request an exception
- Patients whose caregivers are receiving discharge teaching
- Siblings who are younger than 12 months of age and who are breastfeeding may remain in a room with the breast-feeding parent if the patient is in standard precautions
Note: Pre-admission visitor exception requests should only be made during the 48-hour pre-procedure call, and only when truly exceptional circumstances exist. If truly exceptional circumstances are identified, direct patient families to request the exception during the 48-hour pre-procedure call, but be clear that their request may not be approved.
We will communicate these changes to patients and families on Monday, Nov. 30. Families will have 72 hours to create a plan to transition to a single caregiver in the hospital/at the bedside.
We must continue evaluating and adjusting our practices to maintain the safety of our patients, families and workforce throughout this rapidly changing pandemic. The visitor policy is subject to change quickly if the pandemic continues to worsen and if statewide restrictions are enacted.
COVID-19 Testing Update as of Nov. 25 at Noon
- Patients tested to date: 18,284. Positive (detected plus inconclusive): 346. Four patients are in the hospital; others are recovering at home.
- Workforce members tested to date: 2,846. Positive (detected plus inconclusive): 98.
Read full post »
