Pediatric Partners: October 2017

Our ED Services at Princeton

As of Sept. 5, 2017, a pediatrician from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will be in the Emergency Department at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro every day from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m., during the hours when children visit most frequently. A pediatrician from CHOP will continue to be in the hospital at all other times, easily accessible for consultations on pediatric emergencies.

Learn more about CHOP Care at UMCPP.

New Podcast Episode: Gender Identity and Sexuality

This episode explores development of gender identity and sexuality with Linda Hawkins, PhD, MSEd, LPC, Co-Director of CHOP’s Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic. She discusses common developmental stages, gender language, and when to refer to a gender specialist. She also offers advice for how providers can talk to both patients and parents about gender and sexuality, and other ways to best support them.

Clinical Guidelines: Evaluation of Neonates with Hyperbilirubinemia/Jaundice

This pathway guides practitioners through the steps of evaluation and treatment of neonates with hyperbilirubinemia/jaundice, including primary care evaluation and referral considerations, resources for both outpatient and inpatient management, and discharge criteria.

FDA Approves Personalized Cellular Therapy for Advanced Leukemia

In a landmark decision for the field of cancer immunotherapy, the FDA has approved a personalized cellular therapy developed by CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse. This is the first therapy based on gene transfer approved by the FDA.

CHOP Home Care Needs Your Input

For more than 25 years Children’s Hospital Home Care has provided care as an extension of the hospital and outpatient setting for children in PA, NJ and DE. Currently providing home infusion, home health nursing, respiratory care and equipment, and durable medical equipment, we are regularly expanding the products and services we offer. As we work to meet the ever-changing needs of the Hospital and the surrounding communities, we need your insight! Please complete this brief two-question survey to help us better serve you, your patients and their families.

Introducing Care Team Assistants for Inpatient Care Coordination

To address the multifaceted needs of managing patients during hospitalization, Care Team Assistants (CTAs) are now incorporated into CHOP inpatient teams. The CTAs provide both clinical and clerical support for teams, helping our nurses and physicians provide the best possible care for our hospitalized patients. One of the CTAs’ main responsibilities will be keeping primary care physicians updated on their patients’ admission and discharge plans, so we anticipate they will be communicating with your practice often in the future. Please contact the CTA program leader, Roy Takei, MD, with any questions or concerns at takeir@email.chop.edu.

ECMO Center Awarded Highest Honor by ELSO

CHOP’s ECMO Center received the “Platinum Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support” from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), an international consortium of centers offering ECMO for support of failing organ systems in infants, children and adults. The highest awarded honor, Platinum Level is rarely achieved by ELSO member institutions, especially pediatric centers. The ECMO Center at CHOP is the only ECMO center in our region designated by ELSO as a Platinum Center of Excellence, and is one of the most active in the country.

New Rheumatologist

The Division of Rheumatology recently welcomed attending physician Sabrina Gmuca, MD. Dr. Gmuca will see patients at Main Campus. Her clinical interests include the treatment of general pediatric rheumatologic conditions and amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome.

Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Team Expands

Olufunke Afolabi-Brown, MBBS, joined the Division of Pulmonary Medicine where she will focus on pediatric sleep disorders and general pulmonary medicine. Dr. Afolabi-Brown will see patients at Main Campus and CHOP's Specialty Care & Surgery Center, King of Prussia.

Neurology Team Continues to Expand

Attending physician Lawrence Fried, MD, is the latest addition to the Division of Neurology. Dr. Fried specializes in epilepsy and will see patients at Main Campus and CHOP's Specialty Care & Surgery Center in Brandywine Valley. France Fung, MD, who also specializes in epilepsy, has expanded her services to the CHOP Specialty Care Center at Virtua. To refer a patient, call 215-590-1719.

Neurosurgery Satellite Services

Neurosurgery patients can now make outpatient appointments, including post-op follow-up visits, at the CHOP Specialty Care & Surgery Centers in King of Prussia and Brandywine Valley. Both new and existing patients can schedule appointments at one of these locations by calling 215-590-2780. Providers, please call 215-590-5277.

• Brandywine — Benjamin Kennedy, MD, first and third Friday of each month
• King of Prussia — Shih-Shan Lang Chen, MD, second Friday of the month; and Gregory Heuer, MD, PhD, fourth Friday of the month

ENT Appointments in Lancaster

Beginning Oct. 5, 2017, Robert O’Reilly, MD, attending physician in the Division of Otolaryngology, will be seeing patients at CHOP’s Specialty Care location in Lancaster on the first Thursday of the month. All appointment requests can be made by calling 215-590-3440.

Call Our Clinician Priority Phone Line

Have you tried our new Clinician Priority Phone Line yet? Call 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467) and press 2 to be connected to the on-call physician or nurse practitioner in the CHOP program you specify. Patient families can also use this line and press 1 for assistance. Find other easy ways to get in touch.  

Referring Patients in Link2CHOP Physician Portal

Link2CHOP is a real-time, web-based portal that gives you easy access to your patients’ CHOP medical records and makes the referral process smooth and streamlined. Log in to expedite appointments and see materials scanned to the chart. If you’re not already using the system, make sure you sign up and get started!  

Contact Us

We want to hear from you! We encourage feedback from our partners. Please contact us at PhysicianReferralSer@email.chop.edu with questions, suggestions or concerns. If you change your address, add new physicians or have any new information you want to share with us, be sure to update your information.