Caring for Central Texas Children
Considering the challenges of health care, the Department of Pediatrics knows that it must not only develop new strategies for treating difficult problems such as extreme prematurity, asthma and epilepsy, but also focus on making children healthier by supporting good nutrition, exercise at home and in schools, and on-time, complete vaccination.
By creating a department that serves all children — not just the very ill — Dell Medical School is changing the way future generations get and stay healthy.
Overview of Care
Shaping New Guidelines for Children & Adolescents
Faculty and staff members provide expertise on national nutritional/dietary guidelines created by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They also publish research that sheds light on health challenges for children and adolescents as well as identifying solutions.
Multidisciplinary Team Meeting Needs of Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
The Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Multidisciplinary clinic officially opened its doors in August 2021. This accomplished medical team includes members of the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Psychology as well as Dietitian support.
This clinic offers a collaborative approach to patient care in which eosinophilic esophagitis patients are able to receive all of their necessary care under one roof. This model by the Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Multidisciplinary Clinic provides streamlined care to its patients and their families, with the goal of improving health, nutrition and quality of life.
Helping High-Risk Asthma Patients Breathe Better
The Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine focuses on delivering excellent clinical care through high quality medical management along with an emphasis on education. The division’s care of children with asthma exemplifies these principles.
The Toward Excellent Asthma Management, or TEAM, program is a multidisciplinary effort aimed at improving the health of children with high risk asthma in the community. Individuals may enter the program through referral from their primary care provider or following identification of being at risk for asthma morbidity through recurrent visits to an emergency department or an intensive care unit.
Evaluation includes comprehensive review of risk factors and triggers, radiographic findings, spirometry and a family assessment in an effort to optimize a treatment plan. This plan of care will typically includes most available asthma therapies, including biologic injections if indicated. An educational curriculum is taught at each visit to empower patients and parents to better understand asthma and control symptoms.
The division’s social worker is also available to address any barriers in achieving successful management. The TEAM program strives to improve both outcomes and the quality of life of our patients so their asthma will not hold them back from their goals.