Diabetic Ketoacidosis Clinical Pathway Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially fatal metabolic complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. DKA consists of the biochemical triad of hyperglycemia, ketonemia and metabolic acidosis, resulting from absolute or relative insulin deficiency in the presence of an
Article
A Year in Review: A Reflection from Childhood Prosperity Lab on 2024 By Jacquelyn Rose, MPH: As we settle into the new year, it's the perfect moment to look back on the milestones we reached last year and shift our focus to the exciting plans we’re putting in motion for the months ahead. As I reflect on 2024, it's clear Connecticut Children’s Childhood Prosperity Lab
Article
Beyond Trigger Thumb: Wide Awake Surgery Gets 2 Thumbs Up By Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS: You don’t usually think of surgery when you hear the phrase, “wide awake.” Until you’ve met 10-year-old Finley, AKA the next Taylor Swift, author, president, Wimbledon champion, sister, daughter and pet owner who “does it all.” Finley’s journey with Connecticut Children’s started
Eating Disorder Clinical Pathway Eating disorders are increasingly prevalent in pediatrics and represent a complex interaction between medical and psychiatric manifestations. The need for a standardized approach is critical, due to the high risk of the condition (eating disorders have the highest mortality of
Article
Fecal Incontinence: Potty Talk for Caregivers By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: This blog post is made possible by collaboration with Connecticut Children’s Foundation . The mind and body are intertwined; take it from a GI psychologist! Connecticut Children’s is fortunate to have its own program for pediatric psychogastroenterology, which includes two
Article
Connecticut Children's President & CEO James E. Shmerling Announces Retirement After Decade of Leadership Hartford, Conn. – After a decade of transformative leadership, James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, President & CEO of Connecticut Children’s, has announced his plans to retire at the end of 2025. His tenure has been marked by extraordinary growth, innovation, and an unwavering
Esophageal Button Battery Management Clinical Pathway In the US, approximately 3,500 children are treated annually in emergency departments for button battery ingestion. Button batteries that are lodged in the esophagus have the potential to cause catastrophic thermal injuries. Quick recognition and removal of the battery leads to
Article
Healthy Food, Healthy Kids: The SCOR Initiative Against Food Insecurity By Nancy Trout, MD: "You are what you eat" is a saying that reflects the deep connection between food, nutrition, and health. Unfortunately, the rise of diet-related diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, is driven by diets that are high in unhealthy
Article
Medical Mystery: Could It Be POTS? By Irfan Warsy, MD: This article was published in March 2025 and was last updated on June 23, 2025 with a video. Does your child complain about dizziness all the time? What about fatigue, or strange symptoms that don't seem to fit any one diagnosis? If this is the case, you might wonder: could they
Fever and Sepsis Evaluation in the Infant (Ages 29-60 days) Clinical Pathway Fever is a common reason for visits to the Emergency Department (ED) and for admission to the hospital. Nationally, there are 500,000 ED visits annually for children ≤ 60 days of age with fever. Though most febrile illnesses in infants less than 90 days of age are caused by viral
Nasogastric Tube Discharge Home Clinical Pathway Factors that may contribute to extended hospital stays for premature infants include inability to feed fully by mouth and differences in approaches for discharge home with partial nasogastric (NG) feeds across hospital subspecialties. Once discharged, these families may
Article
Partnering for Family Support: Connecticut Newborn Screening Network and Alexion Charitable Foundation By Debra Ellis, NBS, RN: The Connecticut Newborn Screening Network (the Network), a program within the Office for Community Child Health , provides crucial support to families of infants who receive out-of-range newborn screening (NBS) results. Our goal is to ensure that every family—regardless of their
Fever and Sepsis Evaluation in the Neonate (0-28 days) Clinical Pathway Neonates presenting with fever are at high risk of having and/or developing a serious bacterial infection. In addition, neonates can present with extensive HSV disease. Early identification and management is critical for improved outcomes. The AAP released a new clinical practice
Gastroenteritis and Dehydration Clinical Pathway Acute gastroenteritis in children is most commonly caused by viral pathogens, accounting for 1.7 million Emergency Department visits and 200,000 hospitalizations annually. Complications of gastroenteritis, include dehydration and/or electrolyte abnormalities and acid base