At Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida, it is our mission to provide comfort, hope, and the best possible care to our patients, as well as their family and friends.
We accomplish our mission thanks to our expertly trained and experienced staff in advanced pediatric critical care medicine. Their skills have allowed us to care for the most critically ill patients across South Florida and made us a premier provider.
Our team is happy to announce and welcome our newest staff member, Kara Applegate, ARNP. Kara has been a part of the JDCH family since 2015 and she recently transitioned from the hospital’s Pediatric Hospitalist Team to PCCSF. Read on to get to know her!
Kara went to Florida State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Afterward, she moved to Atlanta where she started her nursing career in the PICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Then, after completing her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, she began working as an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner in the same PICU. In 2015, it was time to come back home to South Florida and she began working as an ARNP with Pediatric Hospitalists of South Florida. Now, she has transitioned to working with the critical care team at Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida.
She has a special interest in the care of patients with complex medical concerns and also works as the nurse practitioner at Kidz Korner, a long term care facility for medically complex and fragile children.
Kara recently got married and when she is not at work, she enjoys spending time traveling with her husband, fishing, and cooking.
Posted by lavandosky
A new school year has arrived! Following are some tips to help your children ease into their back-to-school routines and get them off to a healthy start.
- Make sure that your child’s school is aware of any medical conditions that your child may have, including allergies, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or vision problems. Make arrangements for the school to administer any medications that they may need during class
- Healthy eating is crucial for a successful school year. Make sure that your child’s eating habits are back-on-track before the new school year starts by reintroducing healthier meals and making them aware of the benefits of nutritious options so they can start making better choices on their own
- As the new school year approaches, it is imperative to get kids back to a regular sleep schedule. Check with your pediatrician to see how much sleep your child should be getting according to their age
- Anxiety can be a problem, especially if children are heading to a new school with new classmates. Encourage your kids to discuss any anxieties they may be experiencing
- Computer screens keep children’s minds stimulated longer than intended, start limiting your child’s playtime in front of computers, cellphones, and tablets as back-to-school season approaches
- Make regular physical activity part of your child’s back-to-school routine. Exercise supports overall well-being, a healthier immune system, and helps kids stay alert and focused when they get back to class
- Go a step further by encouraging your child to sign-up for a sport they enjoy. Participating in team sports has lots of benefits, including physical and mental health, stress reduction, and an increase in self-confidence. Check if your child’s school requires a sports physical and schedule it before the school year starts
- Make sure that your child’s backpack isn’t hurting their back. Choose a sturdy backpack with good built-in support and thick padded shoulder straps. Teach your child how to spread the weight of the bag evenly
Posted by lavandosky
Summer is officially here! As children enjoy more recreational time during the summer, parents should remain attentive about their activities and distinctive needs during this season. Following is information that will keep your child’s summer as carefree as possible while staying healthy.
Posted by lavandosky
At some point, most people have sucked helium out of a balloon to make their voices squeaky and high-pitched. The seemingly harmless party trick – which is especially popular among children – has led to some serious, life-threatening illnesses, and in some cases, even death as the helium enters the lungs and deprives the body of oxygen.
Nine-year-old Tuesdai Joyner learned the dangers of this activity first-hand while at a birthday party last month. The otherwise healthy young girl joined the other children as they each took turn inhaling helium from a balloon. After her turn, Tuesdai ran over to her parents who were getting ready to leave. As she ran to her mother, she passed out, fell to the ground, and had a seizure.
PCCSF’s Dr. Allan Greissman shared Tuesdai’s story and the hidden dangers of inhaling helium exclusively with WPLG Local 10.
While Tuesdai’s case is rare, it serves as an important warning to parents on just how dangerous this activity can be. Tuesdai’s mother, Altaria Butler, would advise parents to not let their kids participate in this activity.
Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida Featured on Local 10 5-23-19 from Diana Somarriba on Vimeo.
Posted by lavandosky
At Pediatric Critical Care of South Florida, it is our mission to provide comfort, hope, and the best possible care to our patients, as well as their family and friends.
We accomplish our mission thanks to our expertly trained and experienced staff in advanced pediatric critical care medicine. Their skills have allowed us to care for the most critically ill patients across South Florida and made us a premier provider.
Our team is happy to announce and welcome our newest staff member, Dr. Eric Norman. Read on to get to know him!
Dr. Norman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Society for Critical Care Medicine and Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society. His professional interests include the care of children with congenital heart disease, ICU delirium and the use of bedside sonography in the PICU. Eric enjoys spending time with his family traveling, camping, fishing and photography.
Dr. Eric Norman received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Yeshiva University, followed by a Doctor of Medicine from the SUNY-Stony Brook – School of Medicine in Stony Brook, NY. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at Winthrop University Hospital, in Mineola, NY. He continued his training in Pediatric Critical Care at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Il, and additional training in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI before moving to South Florida. He joined PCCFS in 2019.
Posted by lavandosky
