General

Seattle Children’s has been caring for children for more than a hundred years, founded on the promise to care for every child in the region and provide the safest most effective care possible. That vision still guides the hospital today, but for Colleen Groll, manager of sustainability programs at Seattle Children’s, she interprets it in a unique way – from an environmental perspective.

“Environmental stewardship is perfectly aligned with our mission and vision,” said Groll. “If we want to positively affect the health of as many children as possible, we have to take responsibility for our environmental impacts. When we take responsibility for our impacts, we take responsibility for the health of the people around us, including the children and families we serve.” Read full post »

Omari Henry, 7, at Seattle Children’s South Clinic.

Cynthia Gordon was just 25 weeks into her pregnancy with her son, Omari Henry, when she fell to the floor of her home, seizing uncontrollably. She was rushed to the hospital and Omari was born a short time later.

Thankfully, both mom and baby made it through the delivery, but not without some complications. Omari suffered brain hemorrhaging from the stress of the birth, and he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

When Omari was 3 years old, Gordon found Seattle Children’s Federal Way Clinic, which offered occupational therapy and physical therapy. There, Omari made huge strides, but eventually, he needed services the clinic couldn’t provide anymore. Read full post »

New data suggests that adolescents in the U.S. are chronically sleep-deprived. Doctors recommend the average teenager get between 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep on school nights, but a recent study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that 87 percent of high school students were sleeping far less.

That’s a real concern for parents and caregivers, as sleep deprived teenagers run an increased risk of physical and mental health problems, car accidents, as well as declining academic performance. But with homework and school start times as early as 7:30 a.m. in some parts of the country, is it even possible for teens to get the sleep they need?

“No, it’s not possible,” said Dr. Cora Collette  Breuner, a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital and co-author of a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement that recommends all middle and high schools delay the start of class to 8:30 a.m. or later.

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Seattle Children’s Hospital has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of 150 great places to work in healthcare.

Seattle Children’s was chosen for its “robust benefits, wellness imitatives, commitment to diversity and inclusion, professional development opportunities and a work environment that promotes employee satisfaction and work-life balance.” Read full post »

‘Tis the season for mistletoe, gingerbread and carefully strung lights. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but also a potentially dangerous one for children. And although festivities, candles and garland may make the holiday season more cheerful, with them come some serious safety concerns.

Tony Woodward, MD, MBA, medical director of emergency medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital, says the most important thing to remember this holiday season is supervision.

“The holidays are a fun and exciting time, but there are a few more things inserted into the environment, like holiday plants, electrical cables, new toys and festive beverages, which are potentially dangerous,” says Woodward. Read full post »