Stress Fracture and Girls

Female teen athletes may be at higher risk of stress fractures than boys. Make sure you're getting the calcium and vitamin D your bones need to stay strong!

http://teens.webmd.com/news/20110215/teen-girls-bear-brunt-of-stress-fractures

Why do I have to wait so long to see the doctor?

Sometimes, parents get upset at us because they have to wait longer than expected to see the doctor. We understand. For the record, WE HATE TO RUN LATE. In this blog post, Dr. Lessin gives us some insight as to why pediatricians sometimes run late. 

We'd love to hear your thoughts and if you have any ways to improve our office in this regard, don't hesitate to let us know.

http://survivorpediatrics.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/why-do-i-have-to-wait-so-long-to-see-the-doctor/

AAP Updates Recommendations on Car Seats

In a new policy published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 21), the AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

The previous policy, from 2002, advised that it is safest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing up to the limits of the car seat, but it also cited age 12 months and 20 pounds as a minimum. As a result, many parents turned the seat to face the front of the car when their child celebrated his or her first birthday.

New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. A 2007 study in the journalInjury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.

For a listing of car seats and their  manufactures, visit this link:

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Product-Listing.aspx

You may also visit healthychildren.org (http://www.healthychildren.org/English/News/pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats.aspx) for more details.

Breast Pumps are Tax Deductible

The cost of having a new baby and returning to work can be a huge hurdle, finally a break from the IRS for new moms.

http://www.workingmother.com/BestCompanies/new-mom-at-work/2011/02/news-breast-pumps-are-tax-deductible

When Insurers Put Profits Between Doctor and Patient

If we had to pick the thing we dislike the most about working at a medical practice, it has to be dealing with health insurance companies. For years we have been saying that insurance companies have a huge conflict of interest. The less they payout in claims, the more they make. Finally, this conflict of interest is getting some attention.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/health/views/06chen.html?_r=3&emc=eta1