Pediatric Toolkit
December 2006
Pediatric Toolkit-Gina Solomon
Environmental Health Tools for Pediatricians
A mother of a toddler asks about a pest problem during a well child visit. Ants are invading their house. The pest control company suggested spraying pesticides monthly, year-round. The mother wants to know if that is safe with a young child in the house.
A pregnant woman comes in for a prenatal visit with questions about mercury in fish. She had read an article in a parenting magazine and was concerned about whether it is safe for her to eat fish, and which types of fish she could safely eat.
Questions such as these sometimes come to the attention of physicians, and may be hard to answer, especially without readily available materials that can help educate patients about common environmental health issues. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has endorsed an innovative new tool to help pediatric providers incorporate age-appropriate intervention guidance on environmental health during well-child visits - the Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit. The Toolkit was developed by Physicians for Social Responsibility in partnership with the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at the University of California, San Francisco, and a team of pediatricians from around the country. The Toolkit includes reference and anticipatory guidance materials for both providers and patients including desk and pocket references for providers and “Rx for Prevention” slips and magnets for patients. The components are designed to make it easy for providers to provide information to patients on preventing exposures to toxic chemicals and other substances that may affect child health.
Thirty-four providers in California and Massachusetts recently pilot tested the Toolkit with positive reviews, and the Toolkit was also successfully used in the UCSF resident continuity clinics.
When something less straightforward comes your way, the UCSF Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit can help. PEHSU staffers provide “expert clinical and public health evaluations of children and communities with suspected environmental health problems.” Telephone consultations may be obtained for free by calling 866-827-3478 or visit their Web site at www.ucsf.edu/ucpehsu. PEHSU work is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Upcoming Training: Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit
In order to provide education and training on the linkages between children’s health and environmental exposures, and information on prevention strategies to offer patients, PSR is offering a free half day program. Attendees will learn how to use Toolkit materials to help parents better understand environmental health. Physician experts will cover topics such as how children are exposed to common toxic chemicals/substances like solvents, pesticides, PCBs and metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic; health effects of common pollutants; anticipatory guidance to offer parents during well-child visits; and what makes children uniquely vulnerable to toxic exposures. Attendees will receive materials to pilot test in their own practices.
Who: Pediatricians, family practitioners, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses in pediatric and family practices
When: Oct. 14, 2006; 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Kaiser Oakland Medical Center
Cost: Free. Note: : Attendees must commit to train several colleagues, and use the toolkit in your practice for at least three months.
Register: Contact Lucia Sayre, 510-559-8777, luciasayre@sbcglobal.net
