As expected , pediatric infectious disease specialists also took a leading role throughout the pandemic , Flesher went on to say , working closely with Kara S . Willenburg , M . D ., chief of infectious diseases at Marshall Health . “ Dr . Mariana Lanata has worked tirelessly , taking a leading role alongside our hospital partners on decisions regarding visitation , isolation , and she was instrumental in getting the pediatric monocolonal antibody clinic at Hoops up and running . With the addition of Dr . Jacob Kilgore this fall , we were able to expand the availability of our pediatric infectious disease specialists , providing coverage seven days a week , 365 days a year .”
Children who are admitted to the hospital often have conditions that require the services of a subspecialist .
“ If you admit a patient with Chrohn ’ s disease , you need a pediatric gastroenterologist to help you manage that condition and care ,” Flesher said . “ Without a subspecialist , you ’ d be limited in the services the patient would be able to receive , which could result in a need to transfer the patient out of the area for the remainder of their treatment .”
While there may still be some needs that require patients to travel outside of the area , Flesher notes , it is important to have local pediatric subspecialists who can provide follow-up care to children after being treated outside the region .
In 2020 , the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine launched the state ’ s first pediatric hospital medicine fellowship program , followed in 2021 by a new neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship that will welcome its first fellow in July 2022 . Pediatric hospital medicine fellows work in the inpatient unit , frequently consulting subspecialists and learning from what the subspecialist recommends for the patient , all of which adds to their knowledge base .
In the outpatient setting , Marshall Health recently opened a dedicated pediatric sub-specialty clinic in Putnam County , bringing pediatric allergy and immunology , endocrinology , nephrology , and developmental-behavioral pediatrics closer to patients in the Metro Valley and southern West Virginia .
Referring physicians and general pediatricians can also now connect directly with a Marshall pediatric subspecialists 24 / 7 . Physicians can call 304-526-2646 or 1-877-531-2244 , the same number as the transfer center at Hoops , and request a consult with a subspecialist . The call center will patch the physician through to the appropriate subspecialist in a number of pediatric specialties , including allergy / immunology , cardiology , critical care , endocrinology , gastroenterology , hematology , infectious disease , nephrology , neurology , and oncology .
“ The direct connect line allows providers to have access to our subspecialists in a timely manner so they can provide the best care to their patients ,” said Jack R . Stines , M . D ., pediatric cardiologist and associate professor at the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine .
For more information , call Marshall Pediatrics at 304-691-1300 or visit marshallhealth . org .
Image : Susan L . Flesher , MD , professor and chair of pediatrics
AUTHOR
Sheanna M . Spence
Marshall Health First in Region to Complete Postless Hip Arthroscopy
Orthopaedic Surgeon Dana Lycans , M . D ., of Marshall Orthopaedics , recently completed the Tri-State ’ s first postless hip arthroscopy to repair hip impingement and labral tear .
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive way to perform hip surgery . It uses a small arthroscope or camera to look inside the joint while the repair is made with small instruments . Traditionally , a padded post is used in the perineal area to ensure the hip joint stays open during the procedure . Postless hip arthroscopy is a new , cutting-edge technique that eliminates the need for a post by using a special surgical table to create the pull traction on the leg required for the surgery .
“ My goal as a surgeon is to provide relief for the patient while minimizing the risk of complications ,” said Lycans , an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine . “ Eliminating the post allows for decreased pain post-operatively , less risk for nerve damage and numbness , and the potential for a faster recovery when compared to traditional hip arthroscopy .”
Other postless hip arthroscopy advantages include decreased nerve and soft tissue complications , decreased muscle shutdown related to compression against the post , more thorough visualization of the hip joint , and the option for bilateral hip arthroscopies in the same surgical setting , allowing for a quicker recovery .
All the same procedures that traditional hip arthroscopy is used for can be performed without the post .
For more information , call the Marshall Sports Medicine Institute at 304-691-1880 or visit marshallhealth . org .
Image : Dana Lycans , MD , assistant professor , orthopaedic surgeon
West Virginia Medical Journal • December 2021 • 13