Southwest Pediatrics Medical Home newsletter

April 2010

Care Coordination Grant

Summer Library Programs

Birth-to-3

Clinic Notes

New Berlin Therapies

Autism Resources

Car Seat Safety

Southwest Pediatrics awarded grant to support care plan coordination

By Bob Rohloff, MD, pediatrician, Children's Medical Group-Southwest Pediatrics

We are excited to announce Children's Medical Group-Southwest Pediatrics has been awarded funding from a Medical Home Quality Improvement grant from the Wisconsin Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program and Regional Centers for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs. With the grant money, Southwest Pediatrics will implement one of the most important facets of medical home care – creation of care plans and care coordination.

Care coordination and care plan development is the cornerstone of medical home care. These aspects of a medical home help parents communicate complex medical issues when seeking care at from someone other than their primary care physician. They also help improve communication between families and physicians, and serve as transition documents when children and youth with special health care needs move to adult care. Care coordination can decrease emergency room visits and hospitalizations resulting in improved care and less cost.

Barb Malinauskas, RN, a nurse clinician at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Clinics-New Berlin, will assist with Southwest Pediatrics' efforts. She has experience in care coordination of children and youth with special health care needs. Malinauskas has been reviewing charts, developing care plans and meeting with the pediatricians and staff at Southwest Pediatrics. Soon, she will be contacting families of children and youth with special health care needs to talk about care coordination. If the family chooses to take part in the program, Malinauskas will visit the family's home to develop a care plan for their child. Once the care plan is completed, it will be placed in the child's chart. A copy of the plan also will be given to the family.

We are working with Children's Hospital and Health System to place care plans on the Family Portal on chw.org. Families can access the plan when they travel or when they visit an emergency room or specialist's office.

Barriers to care coordination in a primary care office mostly are cost and time. We will be able to find out what it will cost our office per child for care coordination. We will compare those costs to the benefits physicians, staff and families involved with care coordination notice. We are hopeful that we will find that the benefit is significant enough to justify its cost, allowing the program to continue.

We have started care coordination with six children, and we will expand that number to 20-40 children and youth with special health care needs. So far, the participants have been chosen at random by the physicians and staff. However, we will consider any family who is interested in participating. Contact our office at (262) 789-6020 if you are interested in participating in the care coordination project. 

Make a splash and read at your library this summer

By Melissa Schneider, deputy library director, New Berlin Public Library

This year's summer reading program is called "Make a Splash: Read!"  The program runs Monday, June 14, through Thursday, Aug. 5.

Everyone can join the reading program at the New Berlin Public Library! If your child is young and can't read yet, an adult can read to him or her and keep track of the time read. Children who read on their own can keep track of their own time. There's also a teen and adult program. When you track your time, you can earn prizes.

In addition to reading programs, New Berlin Public Library offers other activities to keep you busy: 

• Story time. The Youth Service Department offers story times for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
• Bedtime Stories. For all ages. Held at night twice a month.
• Child Playgroup. For children and their caregivers. Held each Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Play and socialize with other kids!
• Clubs. School-age children can join our Chess Club, Craft Club or Lego Club.
• Read to Rover Program. Children will improve their reading skills as they read aloud to therapy dogs.
• Family Afternoon Programs. Various times throughout the summer. Programs include performances by magicians and musicians.

A fishing program, bike-decorating program, a "Where the Wild Things Are" Party and our annual End of the Summer Party are also a part of the summer lineup. And, don't forget our Bubbleology Program.

A full program schedule with specific times and dates of activities will be available on the library's Web site in mid-May. Be sure to check the Web site throughout the summer for program information, event updates and more.

You also can follow the New Berlin Public Library on Facebook and Twitter. Get more information at www.newberlin.lib.wi.us.

You do not need to be a New Berlin resident to participate in library programs. For more information, call (262) 785-4980. The library is located at 15105 Library Lane in New Berlin, Wis. 

What is the Birth-to-3 Program?

By Missy Kueht-Becker, MS, CCC, SLP, program manager, Birth-to-3, Lutheran Social Services

The Birth-to-3 Programis Wisconsin's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities, and their families. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law, provides the framework for a comprehensive program and coordinates developmental, health and social services within communities. The Department of Health Services oversees the Birth-to-3 Program in Wisconsin and has developed rules that specify the program requirements.

Who is eligible to receive services?

The Birth-to-3 Program is for infants to three-year-olds. Eligibility is based on a diagnosed disability or significant delay in one or more areas of development. A program team will evaluate a child's ability to learn (cognitive development); move, see and hear (physical/motor development); communicate and understand other's communication (speech and language development); respond to and relate with others (social and emotional development); and eat, dress and care for daily living needs (adaptive development). A Birth-to-3 Program service coordinator helps families understand and participate in the evaluation process. Services and support a child and family receive are based on individual needs. Eligibility for this program is not affected by a family's income. However, parents may need to contribute to the costs of services.

In Waukesha County, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, manages the Birth-to-3 Program. During the last 10 years, the program has effectively moved from providing services in a center-based model to offering services in a natural environment for members such as at a home, park or YMCA.

The focus of the services is to support parents and caregivers of the child, not just the delay or disability. The program provides support through education about development and assistance in recognizing and understanding the ways to better interact with the child. The program helps families identify their child's areas of need, but focuses primarily on helping create a routine or activity to maximize the child's potential.

A primary service provider, or a professional who works with a team, offers consultation and coaching for the family. This provider works closely with a family to ensure that all the necessary support and resources are provided for the family. The Birth-to-3 Program fosters a strong parent-child relationship and experience through everyday learning opportunities. The program embraces evidence-based practices to provide the best outcomes for the family and child.

To make a referral in Waukesha County, call (262) 548-7212. The Birth-to-3 Program is available in every Wisconsin county. For all other counties, call Wisconsin First Step toll-free at (800) 642-STEP (7837).

Some children who have developmental delays or disabilities need extra support. The Birth-to-3 Program is one way to provide this support. 

Clinic notes

By René Petritis, RN, Children's Medical Group-Southwest Pediatrics

Don't delay. Schedule your summer physical today! Spots are filling up fast.

If your child will be involved with sports or activities as part of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, keep in mind that physical exams completed before April 1 are valid for the remainder of this school year and next year. Physical exams completed after April 1 are valid for the next two school years.

Wisconsin's Department of Health and Family Services requires anyone entering grades 6, 9 and 12 to have a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDaP) vaccine. This vaccine is recommended for children older than 11. The state also requires children entering kindergarten and grades 6 and 12 to have the second Varivax, or chicken pox, vaccine.

To schedule an appointment for your child's physical and/or vaccines, call our office at (262) 789-6020. 

New Berlin Therapies offers summer class opportunities

New Berlin Therapies is a therapy clinic for children and adults with three locations in southeast Wisconsin.

The following summer class opportunities are available:

• Art: All ages. Friday, June 25, through Friday, Aug. 13.
• Yoga: All ages. Friday, June 25, through Friday, July 30.
• Handwriting Without Tears. Ongoing individual sessions.
• Therapeutic Listening. Ongoing individual sessions.

New Berlin Therapies also offers sensory fitness classes, social skills group, Preschool Handwriting Without Tears and dance.

Other summer programs include:

Meditation
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, April 21, through May 19
Cost: $75
Learn several techniques to relax and reduce stress. Participants will be enabled to release tension, relieve pain, concentrate better and bring about positive changes in their lives. The process is simple, straightforward and powerful. For teens and adults.

Preschool speech and language group
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Fridays, June 25, through Aug. 13
Cost: $200
This group is ideal for children who show signs of delays with expressive language and/or articulation development. Small groups of children will participate in language exercises that emphasize stimulation of sound development, expressive communication and social play. For children ages 2 to 4 with good language comprehension and who are able to follow basic directions.

Preschool class: 3- to 5-year-olds
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 21, through Aug. 16
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, June 21, through Aug. 16
No class July 5
Cost: $475
Small groups of children engage in language-based activities emphasizing social skills, play and concept development, language facilitation and sensory-rich motor skills. A screening will take place before the session to ensure each participant is placed in the proper group.

Next Step transition class
9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 22, through Aug. 12
Cost: $475
This classroom experience is designed for young children who receive speech therapy, physical therapy or occupational therapy. It is ideal for children who will enter an early childhood program at 3 years old. The program emphasizes social skills, play and concept development, taking turns and language skills. Therapists with sensory/motor skills and language/communication development experience lead the class. Limited to eight participants. For children ages 2 to 3.

Call New Berlin Therapies for a brochure or more information at (262) 782-9015, ext. 227. You can also e-mail office@nbtherapies.com. 

Identifying resources for children and youth with Autism spectrum disorders and their families

Date:May 25, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: New Berlin Public Library-Community Room, 15105 Library Lane, New Berlin, Wis.

Speaker: Meg Steimle, BA, outreach specialist at the Southeast Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

Registration: Please R.S.V.P. to Michelle (262) 814-7076 by May 21, 2010. 

In this training, you will learn:

• The big picture of resources available.
• How to match available resources to unique child and family needs.
• About free information and referral services that are always available.

This training is open to parents, providers, teachers and others who have an interest in learning about resources that support children and youth with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

This training is sponsored by Southwest Pediatrics, the Southeast Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and is made possible by a Combating Autism Act Initiative State Implement Grant through the Department of Maternal and Child Health. 

Free booster and car seat safety check Thursday, April 29

Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin Coalition, led by Children's Health Education Center, is hosting a free booster and car seat safety check from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Mukwonago Fire Department, 1111 Fox St., Mukwonago, Wis.

Certified car seat technicians will help families ensure children are riding safely. At the safety check, a trained child passenger safety specialist will make certain seats are installed correctly and that they are appropriate for the age and size of the child. No appointments are necessary.