Photo Contest
Win prizes! It’s easy just send in or bring your Best Kid(s) photo
for our bulletin board. We want your child’s photo to brighten
up our office. One entry per photo. Maximum one entry per child. Deadline
is August 25th.
First Prize $25 Second Prize $15
Third Prize $10
Prize can be a gift certificate to Toys"R"Us or applied to
your copays.
Gardasil
HPV Vaccine or GARDASIL
GARDASIL is a vaccine that helps protect against the following diseases
caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Cervical cancer (cancer of the lower end of the uterus or
womb);
• Abnormal and precancerous cervical, vaginal, or vulvar lesions;
• Genital warts.
This vaccine will be available in the near future. We are trying to
get the insurance companies to at least cover our cost. Please contact
your insurance company representative and ask if they are covering our
costs for this important vaccine.
HPV is a common virus. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) estimated that 20 million people in the United States
had this virus. There are many different types of HPV; some cause no
harm. Others can cause diseases of the genital area. For most people
the virus goes away on its own. When the virus does not go away it can
develop into cervical cancer, precancerous lesions, or genital warts,
depending on the HPV type. In 2005, the CDC estimated that at least
50% of sexually active people catch HPV during their lifetime. A male
or female of any age who takes part in any kind of sexual activity that
involves genital contact is at risk. Many people who have HPV may not
show any signs or symptoms. This means that they can pass on the virus
to others and not know it. You may benefit from GARDASIL if you already
have HPV. This is because most people are not infected with all four
types of HPV contained in the vaccine. In clinical trials, individuals
with current or past infection with one or more vaccine-related HPV
types prior to vaccination were protected from disease caused by the
remaining vaccine HPV types. GARDASIL is not intended to be used for
treatment for the above mentioned diseases.
Flu Vaccine
Flu vaccine will be given on the first and second Saturdays in October.
Even though no shortages are expected at this time, the first Saturday
will be for children at high risk and their families.
Children considered at high risk are:
• All children 6 to 23 months of age;
• Children 6 months and older with chronic disease heart or
lung conditions, including asthma; metabolic disorders such as diabetes,
chronic kidney disease or immune system problems caused by medicines
or by infection with HIV;
• Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term
aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have influenza
are at risk of Reye syndrome.)
Also considered at high risk are:
• Pregnant women;
• Health-care personnel who provide direct patient care;
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children
less than 6 months of age.
Organic Food
Eating organic foods seems to make sense. But if you are trying
to figure out where to best spend your money http://www.foodnews.org
presented this information:
Buy Preferably Organic - the Most Commonly Contaminated:
Apples Bell peppers Celery
Cherries Grapes (imported)
Nectarines Pears Peaches
Potatoes Raspberries
Spinach Strawberries
Sneezing Itching Season
Here are some basic suggestions for all of us:
• Keep windows and doors closed to avoid exposure to
pollen.
• Limit outdoor activities during ozone alert days and
when pollen counts are high.
• Bedtime baths wash off allergens and may improve nighttime
allergy problems.
Teenage Drinking
In 2003, 44.9% of 9th through 12th graders reported drinking alcohol
on one or more of the past 30 days; prevalence of current drinking was
higher for females (45.8%) than among males (43.8%) (CDC, YRBS, 2003).
In 2003, 28.3% of 9th through 12th graders reported binge drinking (having
five or more drinks of alcohol in a row or within a couple of hours)
at least once during the past 30 days. The prevalence of binge drinking
was higher for males (29%) than among females (27.5%) (CDC, YRBS, 2003).
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions, such as breathing.
High levels of alcohol can fatally suppress these involuntary actions.
Binge drinkers can asphyxiate (choke) on vomit, experience an irregular
heartbeat or heart stoppage, become hypothermic (very low body temperature)
or hypoglycemic (very low blood sugar, which leads to seizures).
Binge drinkers can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
Since it takes at least 30 minutes for alcohol to be fully absorbed
into the blood stream, the blood alcohol content of binge drinkers can
continue to rise even after the drinker passes out. Often, friends assume
that drinking buddies who pass out will simply "sleep it off"
and suffer only a hangover the next morning.Unfortunately, many never
wake up.
Signs of alcohol poisoning include:
• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be awakened;
• Vomiting;
• Seizures;
• Slow breathing;
• Irregular breathing;
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness.
If a person exhibits any the above signs, she is in danger of dying.
If there is any suspicion of alcohol poisoning, 911 should be called
immediately. Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead
to irreversible brain damage.
Being impaired or unconscious means that you are no longer able to protect
or defend yourself as needed. Death due to accidents, homicide or suicide
are all associated with alcohol use. Rape and pregnancy are also associated.
Respect yourself - is a message that needs to be repeated often. Let
your child know your expectations. Keep the lines of communication open
about alcohol use. Let them know you are aware of alcohol use in the
school community; discuss peer pressure to drink.
From the CDC:
Approximately 72% of rapes reported on college campuses occur when victims
are so intoxicated they are unable to consent or refuse (Wecshler, 2004).
Two-thirds of victims of intimate partner violence reported that alcohol
was involved in the incident (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998).
FINANCIAL POLICY & PATIENT OBLIGATION
This is our office policy. You will be given a copy and be asked to
sign a copy kept in your chart.
Please be advised of our office policy regarding fees and billing.
As a courtesy to you, we will file your insurance for you. If you have
a copay or a deductible that has not been met, or coinsurance for services,
we expect payment at the time of service. You will be asked to pay for
any services that your insurance determines is non-covered.
Please contact your insurance company prior to your child’s well
visit so that you may become aware of the limitations (if any) of your
policy. If you do not have routine benefits for well checks, you will
be asked for payment in full at the time of service. Immunizations and
labs often have a deductible (if covered), you will be asked to pay
for those as well. Please understand that we do not carry balances
over $200.00. We accept cash, check, debit or credit cards.
We must have at least 24 hours prior notice for cancelling an appointment.
We have held one or more appointment slots open for your child. This
appointment could have gone to another patient who needed to be seen.
There is a $25 fee for this occurrence.
A fee also applies for patient no shows. We remind you 1-2 days in advance.
We make every effort to help you remember. If you do not show up, there
is a $25 fee.
We are aware that many of our patients have been involved in a legal
or divorce situation. We do not involve ourselves in any personal/legal
disputes between our parents or the person carrying the insurance. If
another parent/person is responsible, it is your responsibility to obtain
payment from them.
The person bringing your child to our office for the visit is responsible
for making the copayment or deductible. If you have a balance that has
not been paid on in the past 30 days, they will be asked to make a payment
when they check in.
If you wish to discuss financial problems or questions, please feel
free to contact our office manager. We will help you as much as we can.
Sincerely,
Harold J. Livera, MD FAAP
Jennifer L. Segeleon, MD FAAP
The Best Kids
217 Breckenridge Lane,
Louisville, KY 40207-3858
502-895-9421
office@thebestkids.com |
