D Magazine’s 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award Winners

D Magazine’s 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award Winners

by | Apr 18, 2024 | Spotlight

Congratulations to Michelle and Valencia on being named two of D Magazine‘s 2024 Excellence in Nursing honorees!
 
Take a moment to read what their coworkers have to say about them:
 

MICHELLE

 
“Three of Scottish Rite’s core values are child-focused, excellence, and education. Michelle positively impacts each of these core values every day. Michelle demonstrates the child-focused value because she consistently puts the needs of her patients and their family ahead of everything else. She advocates for her patients, works effectively with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate care, and anticipates the needs of her patients. Michelle is an excellent nurse and often receives compliments on her patient care. As an RN III on the Inpatient Unit, she is a clinical expert and assigned to patients with complex diagnoses. Despite the increased complexity of her patients, she has not made a medication error or received a patient complaint in her nine years at Scottish Rite.  Finally, Michelle has exceeded expectations regarding education and is a lifelong learner. Michelle started her nursing career at Scottish Rite as a student nurse. Michelle was accepted into our summer Nurse Extern program and was eventually hired as a full-time nurse. Over the past nine years, Michelle has earned her ADN, BSN, and recently, her MSN. She is now a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Scottish Rite.

– Lia Young, RN Assistant Director of Nursing

 
“It has been such a pleasure working with Michelle and being able to witness the thoughtful and holistic care she provides to every patient and family she encounters. She is very patient and caring and without thinking twice, always goes the extra mile for her patients. She fully embodies the definition of an EXCELLENT nurse. We are very lucky to have her be a part of our team!”

– Angie Torres, APRN, CPNP

 
 

VALENCIA

 
“I have worked with Valencia for about 7 years. She embodies all the characteristics of what a great nurse should be. She is a great asset to Scottish Rite. As a peer, she is always willing to help her team. Valencia goes out of her way to contribute and help colleagues during her shifts. Valencia is always willing to share her knowledge and experience with us, providing guidance and support when we need it. Valencia has a kind spirit that shows in her day-to-day nursing with her patients and her peers. We are all lucky to have her as a coworker!”  

–Maria Perez, BSN, R.N.

 
“I wanted to share a few words on Valenica. She is extremely caring, kind, and compassionate. She listens to and spends time with her patients. She also helps her coworkers and team. Valencia will go the extra mile for others, patient, families, and coworkers alike. 
 
Valencia has high integrity and will always do the right thing. She strives to grow in her nursing and to advance her career. She is a great example to all nurses of loving your profession, advancing in your profession, and doing it all to advance nursing care and nursing practice.” 

– Connie Pachicano, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN, Nurse Manager Inpatient Uni
Knock Knees and Bowlegs: Should You Be Concerned?

Knock Knees and Bowlegs: Should You Be Concerned?

by | Apr 9, 2024 | Uncategorized

If you notice your child’s legs curve outward at the knees or that the knees touch but the ankles are apart, your first reaction might be to worry. The good news is that knock knees and bowlegs are rarely a cause for concern, and most children with these conditions require no treatment. However, in rare cases, knock knees and bowlegs can signal a more serious condition.  

What Are Knock Knees and Bowlegs? 

When a child’s knees touch while standing up straight with their legs together, it is called knock knees, or genu valgum. This condition is common as a child grows and typically begins between ages 2 and 4. Usually, knock knees resolve on their own by the time the child is 7 or 8 years old.  

When a child’s legs curve outward while the feet and ankles are touching, it is called bowlegs, or genu varum. This condition often shows up in younger children, especially infants and toddlers. In many cases, bowlegs go away by age 3 or 4.  

Why These Leg Conditions Occur 

If you notice that your child has knock knees or bowlegs, it’s important to let your doctor know and have your child evaluated to ensure there isn’t an underlying condition. The earlier a doctor sees your child, the less likely these or any other orthopedic conditions will impact your child’s development. 

When children develop knock knees at age 4 or older, the cause might be a different health problem, such as: 

  • A healed fracture in growth plates around the knee 

  • Being overweight 

  • Dysplasia, a condition in which abnormal cells can affect bone growth 

  • Tumor in a leg bone that causes the knee to turn inward 

In rare cases, bowlegs can occur due to bone diseases, such as Blount’s disease, a growth disorder that leads to leg problems. Other conditions, such as injury or infection, can also affect how bones grow around the knees. 

Knock knees and bowlegs can also be caused by rickets, a bone growth condition resulting from a lack of vitamin D or calcium in the diet.  

Caring for Your Child’s Legs 

If your child has knock knees, your child’s doctor will closely monitor their development and help them grow correctly.  

The doctor might recommend seeing an orthopedic surgeon if: 

  • Legs don’t straighten on their own 

  • The knee on one side turns in more than on the other side 

  • Your child has a limp, pain, weakness, or trouble running 

Surgical options are available for some older children after age 10 to address these symptoms. 

If your child has bowlegs, observation and time may be the only treatments required to correct the issue. Your child may need to see a specialist if the legs are bowed differently, don’t straighten as they should, or if your child experiences discomfort, immobility or weakness. In some cases, bracing or surgery may be recommended to correct leg alignment.  

When knock knees or bowlegs happen due to rickets, treatment includes adding vitamin D and calcium to the diet or seeing an endocrinologist if a genetic condition causes the disease.  

If you have concerns about your child’s development, schedule an appointment with a lower-limb specialist at Scottish Rite for Children. 

Get to Know our Staff: Latasha Noel-Spann, Laboratory

Get to Know our Staff: Latasha Noel-Spann, Laboratory

by | Apr 4, 2024 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children?
I am a Lab Tech, and I collect specimens from our patients and staff per physician orders.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
I provide a safe environment for my patients while collecting lab specimens and providing the results from them per their physician’s orders.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite?
My very first job was babysitting kids of my mom’s coworkers. I studied biology to become a pediatrician, but I later decided to stick with the laboratory and science side of things. I really like collecting and analyzing blood, and I learned from the best. My mom has been a medical lab technician for more than 35 years.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I enjoy my patients and their families, and of course, my coworkers – they know who they are! I always see a smiling face or hear a welcoming greeting when I am around. I seem to have a positive effect on others!

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
There is never a dull moment. Always expect the unexpected with kids when in the lab. It’s challenging at times – I just make it look easy.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
My past birthday I went to Jamaica, and I had an amazing time!

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
Basketball is my favorite.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
I would like to revisit year 2000. You think I’m living my best life now, but back then it was so fun!

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I’ve dabbled in the movie industry back in the day.

Get to Know our Staff: Lindsay Chiu, EPIC Empower

Get to Know our Staff: Lindsay Chiu, EPIC Empower

by | Mar 26, 2024 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children?  
I am a member of our ambulatory Empower team working on developing build within Epic, our medical records system, to improve workflow and complete ticket requests as well as working alongside our MyChart team. 

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
I work with a variety of departments to improve an individual user or medical team’s use of Epic. I do so by assisting with help desk ticket requests, attending internal as well as external meetings with our Epic support team and working on build support with members of my team. My primary focus has been working alongside Therapy Services at both Dallas and Frisco for a new documentation build.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
Throughout high school and college, I worked at several different restaurants as a hostess and/or waitress – my favorite place was a sushi restaurant in college. I attended undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Missouri (MIZ) and then completed my last clinical rotation at Scottish Rite. After passing my boards, I started working as a physical therapist at Scottish Rite in 2015! I was initially part of the Epic build team focusing primarily on Therapy Services while also providing telehealth services. I found that I really enjoyed using my clinical background to assist Scottish Rite team members in a different way. I then transitioned full-time to the Empower team while continuing to assist with Therapy Services and later expanding to other departments as well.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I am very lucky to be a part of this team – I value and enjoy my coworkers, and I learn something new from them every day. 

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
There is a lot of behind the scenes that goes into build and development within Epic!

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Tokyo.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Breakfast tacos from Taco Deli.

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
I am loving this current year – my son just turned 2 and is at a fun age. However, I would probably go back to 2019, as my husband and I took an incredible trip to Tokyo and Thailand that year.

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?

  1. Not necessarily an item but my family – couldn’t imagine being on the island without them, and it would no longer be deserted!
  2. My glasses – a practical answer, but I can’t see without my glasses.
  3. Lots of snacks. 

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I made it to the state finals of a free throw contest in the fifth grade. Sadly, my basketball skills did not go much further beyond this time.

Nutrition for Injury Recovery in Young Athletes

Nutrition for Injury Recovery in Young Athletes

by | Mar 19, 2024 | Sports Medicine

Nearly 60 million American children play sports, and many of them experience sports injuries. If your child gets injured, the path to healing starts in the kitchen. Proper nutrition for injury recovery may help your child spend less time on the sidelines. The key is knowing which foods to choose. 

Foods to Avoid After an Injury  

Sports injuries force athletic kids to do one of their least favorite activities: sit around. As they watch their teammates run back and forth, children may forget about habits that keep them on their game. Instead of healthy eating, they may want to fill up on unhealthy snacks and sweets. 

Don’t let your children fall into this trap. Encourage them to eat the same foods they rely on when playing sports to ensure the best nutrition for injury recovery. 

After a sports injury, your child should avoid the following: 

  • Inflammatory foods. White bread and pastries are refined carbohydrates, which have much of their nutritional value stripped away. They are also associated with inflammation, which slows the healing process. Similarly, saturated fats found in butter, full-fat dairy, fried foods, and red and processed meats can raise inflammation but don’t offer additional nutrition value.  

  • Sports drinks. Full of electrolytes, sports drinks help your child rehydrate when they sweat excessively during activity. While your child is resting and recovering from injury, however, sports drinks are just another sugary drink. Like refined carbs and fried foods, sugar is associated with inflammation. 

Proper Nutrition for Injury Recovery 

To help your injured athlete maintain muscle mass, feed them healthy, nutrient-dense foods, including: 

  • Complex carbohydrates. Along with providing energy for your body to heal, complex carbs are full of vitamins and minerals. Good sources of complex carbs include lentils, brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat breads and pastas. Rotate these different options into evening dinners to add variation to your family meals.  

  • Fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and minerals found in fresh produce have many benefits. They heal wounds, aid in tissue growth and repair, and more. Fill your child’s plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Find various ways to prepare and present produce to keep things interesting. Dust vegetables with exotic spices like turmeric or crumble berries over Greek yogurt for a creamy afternoon treat.  

  • Healthy fats. Eating healthy fats gives your child an energy boost. Additionally, healthy fats can have anti-inflammatory properties. Add healthy fats to your child’s diet by offering flax or chia seeds, avocado, or fish. Make these options intriguing by mixing avocado into a spicy guacamole or blending chia seeds into a fruit smoothie. When cooking other foods, use olive or sunflower oil for even more healthy fat.  

  • Lean sources of protein. Protein intake protects against muscle loss. Foods rich in protein include lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy products, and nuts and seeds. Think turkey sandwiches, peanut butter toast and grilled chicken over colorful vegetables. The amount of protein your child needs varies, so talk with their provider to determine the right amounts during injury recovery.  

  • Water. Complete nutrition for injury recovery requires hydration to help joints heal. Encourage your child to drink lots of water. To add bright flavor to your child’s beverage, consider spritzing it with slices of lemon or other types of citrus fruit.  

Let your child help you as you prepare their meals and snacks. You may even consider using your child’s time off from athletics to plant a garden filled with fruits and vegetables they can enjoy throughout the year. Building healthy dishes together helps your athlete stay connected to their wellness as they recover. It is also a great opportunity to set and achieve goals as a family.    

A Word on Concussion Nutrition 

When young athletes experience a sport-related concussion, they also seem to benefit from proper nutrition for injury recovery. Research has shown that certain nutrients may benefit children after a concussion. They include:  

  • Protein 

  • Magnesium 

  • Omega-3 fatty acids 

  • Vitamin D 

Additional research is needed on the effects of nutrition on concussion recovery. These nutrients can be found in many healthy foods but talk with your child’s provider before giving your child any supplements after a concussion.  

Is your young athlete sidelined with a sports-related injury? Our expert team at Scottish Rite for Children is ready to get them back in the game. Call 469-515-7100 to learn about our sports rehabilitation services.