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At the Forefront of Newborn Screening By Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN: By: Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN It’s a tiny prick on a newborn baby’s heel, but it can have a huge impact on the rest of their life. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared newborn screening one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 21st century
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A Team-Focused Strategy to Tackle Tough Topics By Lauren Dominique, MA: By: Lauren Dominique Team members of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office) recently embraced an opportunity to participate in a shared reading and discussion group to advance their understanding of the ongoing inequities faced by people of color
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Obesity & Weight Management At Connecticut Children’s, we believe in treating the whole child — not just the number on the scale. Our weight management services take a holistic, team-based approach to care that supports your child’s physical, emotional, and developmental health. When you come to us, you’ll Article
What Are the New COVID-19 Variants, and Do They Infect Kids More Easily? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: In addition to all the news about the COVID-19 vaccine , you’ve probably been hearing a lot about new variants of COVID-19 . Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, shares what we know so far. What does it mean when there’s a new “variant” of COVID-19? A Condition
Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) Usually, the aorta is attached to the left side of the heart, and another artery called the pulmonary artery is attached to the right. This allows blood to flow through the lungs to receive oxygen, and then for that “oxygen-rich” blood to flow through the rest of the body. But in Condition
Single Ventricle Defects The heart has two pumping chambers, called ventricles. When a baby is born with only one working ventricle, it’s called a single ventricle defect. This creates serious and complex problems for the heart – but with state-of-the-art care, kids born with these kinds of congenital We Ask Because We Care "We Ask Because We Care" is an initiative designed to enhance our understanding of our patients' needs. By asking more detailed questions about race, ethnicity, and preferred language, we aim to provide personalized care tailored to each individual. Your responses are
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From Your Couch to a 5K: Tips to Get Active and Reduce Childhood Obesity By Melissa Santos, PhD: September marks the beginning of autumn, painting trees in bright reds and oranges with bright blue and sunny skies. That makes it the perfect time for families to break out their walking shoes, because it’s a scientific fact that beautiful scenery can boost feel-good hormones
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Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole between the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. The most common is called an ostium secundum ASD, located in the center of the wall separating the atria. Depending on an ASD’s size and location, it can allow blood to mix between the atria Article
More Than the Blues? Kids and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: As the days grow shorter and the hours of sunlight decrease, your child may feel sad or sluggish from the gray skies. For some kids and teens, this feeling may be a more serious problem known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologists
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) Clinical Pathway Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (SSRD) is a clinical presentation where symptoms or impairment cannot be fully explained by an identifiable disease process given the current medical evidence. This pathway seeks to evaluate and ultimately explain to patients and their
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Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole between the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. Depending on its size and location, it can allow blood to mix between the ventricles, and cause too much blood to flow to the lungs. As a result, the heart and lungs have to work Article
Fresh Check Day Joins Connecticut Children’s to Expand Youth Mental Health Movement By Isabella Baldino: As youth mental health continues to demand urgent national attention, Connecticut Children’s Youth Suicide Prevention Center (the Center) is taking a major step forward by assuming management of Fresh Check Day —a nationally recognized, evidence-informed mental health promotion
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North Hartford Ascend's Approach to Strengthening Families By Jacquelyn Rose, MPH: This is the first blog in a three blog series regarding North Hartford Ascend’s Inaugural Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework Community of Practice. In September of 2024, Childhood Prosperity Lab (the Lab) led the inaugural North Hartford Ascend Strengthening