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Outpatient Clinic Rounds Out Pediatric Services
A new pediatric outpatient clinic opened in April 2000 on the 9th floor of the ACRE Headed by Dr. John Hurley, a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric nephrologist, the clinic is for children who come to the CC as outpatients but may need other health services while here. Hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 pm. The clinic’s nurse is Kelly Cahill, RN.
A 1998 NIH policy mandated that children be included in all human-subjects research unless scientific or ethical reasons exist for not including them.
As a result, investigators are caring for more small patients than ever before. But kids have special needs or can develop non-protocol-related problems that a pediatrician can help with.
“The clinic is a place where investigators can refer a child with a condition they might not be familiar with,” said Dr. Hurley, who joined the CC in December after a 20-year career with Kaiser Permanente.
Non-protocol-related pediatric illnesses, nutrition, growth and development, school problems, immunizations, and common-drug administration are areas where the clinic can provide guidance and advice.
“I hope that investigators won’t think very long about whether to refer a patient to the clinic,” said Dr. Hurley. “We are here to support and\ help whenever possible.”
Dr. Johnson Liu, of NHLBI’s Hematology Branch, tried the new clinic when a child in his anemia protocol developed a fever. “We weren’t sure if the fever was related to the anemia or to some other condition. It was very useful to be able to refer to Dr. Hurley’s clinic.”
Another of Dr. Liu’s young anemia patients has diabetes as well, which Dr. Hurley can help keep an eye on. The new clinic is not to be con- fused with the 13-West and 9-West inpatient pediatric units, headed by Dr. Deborah Merke. That’s where all the CC’s pediatric inpatients are cared for. Rooms have sleeping accommodations for one parent, and there is a playroom for recreation and relaxation.
Dr. Merke is a board-certified pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist. She spent 5 years with NICHD before joining the CC in January of 1999. The nurse manager for pediatrics is Barbara Corey, RN, MSN.
A pediatric day hospital, also located on 9-West, offers a transitional level of care. Services include chemotherapy, administration of blood, and serial testing and specimen collections.
A pediatric consult service rounds out the CC’s comprehensive program of child-centered care. Investigators may request a one-time consultation for an acute pediatric problem or multiple consultations for help in the management of chronic conditions.
To schedule outpatient appointments, enter a request in MIS [pediatric consultation]. If urgent, also page Dr. Hurley or the on-call pediatrician. If routine, also call the appointment clerk at 6-6821 (push "0" to access clerk).