Archive for Joanne Barker
COVID-19 and IEPs: Education for children with special needs
When Massachusetts shut down its public schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, educators faced a huge challenge. With little time to prepare, school districts had to redesign classroom lesson plans for close to a million students. The interrupted school year has been especially hard on kids with individualized education programs (IEPs). An IEP is ... Read More about COVID-19 and IEPs: Education for children with special needs
The polio outbreak of 1955: Lessons from an epidemic
“This is going to be a tough year.” Claire McCarthy was a young physical therapist in early March 1955 when orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Grice, made this observation. At the time, Boston Children’s Hospital was the receiving center for adults and children with polio in New England. The hospital typically saw an upsurge in cases ... Read More about The polio outbreak of 1955: Lessons from an epidemic
Preparing your child with autism for a hospital visit during COVID-19
Most kids aren’t used to the sights, sounds, and smells of a hospital. And because of COVID-19, medical settings look and sound much different than usual. Busy hallways are nearly empty. People are wearing face masks. Even kids who come to the hospital often may not recognize the place they’ve visited many times. (Image: David ... Read More about Preparing your child with autism for a hospital visit during COVID-19
If someone in your house has COVID-19
If you or someone in your house has COVID-19, how can you protect other family members from infection when everyone is living in close quarters? Some of the recommendations below may be difficult, especially if you live in a small space with several people. Do your best, and remember the two most important things everyone ... Read More about If someone in your house has COVID-19
Otolaryngology care during the COVID-19 pandemic
With the rapid spread of COVID-19, health care institutions around the globe have quickly revised their standard practices and policies to address the crisis. Protecting clinicians from infection is more critical than ever, particularly in high-risk fields such as otolaryngology. Yet the lack of clear guidelines and shortages of testing materials and personal protective equipment ... Read More about Otolaryngology care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Online ventilator training addresses COVID-19 clinician shortage
While hospitals around the nation and the world scramble to locate enough mechanical ventilators to treat an influx of patients with COVID-19, many also fear a clinician shortage that will grow worse as the pandemic continues. “COVID-19 is straining the critical care workforce in ways we have never seen before,” says Traci Wolbrink, MD, associate ... Read More about Online ventilator training addresses COVID-19 clinician shortage
What running mistakes lead to injury?
Running outside is a great opportunity to get some fresh air and, because it requires so little equipment, may be accessible when other forms of exercise are not. At a lecture in February, specialists from the Division of Sports Medicine and The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention described how running form – the way ... Read More about What running mistakes lead to injury?
Avulsion fracture taps the brakes on a runner’s races
By the time Will Benoit and his parents met Dr. Kristin Whitney, they all had a bad feeling about his left hip. “When she told us Will had a pelvic avulsion fracture, we knew his running season was over,” says his father, Russ. The question was, when would Will run again? From third grade on, ... Read More about Avulsion fracture taps the brakes on a runner’s races
Relationship talks: Staying together through a child’s illness
Among the many stresses of having an ill or injured child, parents often feel a strain on their marriage. Whenever she can, clinical social worker Katherine Preston, LICSW, reassures families that a child’s illness does not automatically spell the end of the parents’ relationship. Based on studies of families facing childhood cancer and diabetes, Preston ... Read More about Relationship talks: Staying together through a child’s illness
Early sports specialization: How to support your child
Early sports specialization — intensive training and competition in a single sport at the expense of other activities — has become the expected norm for many young athletes hoping to excel. While parents and athletes may see specializing as the only way to achieve future athletic glory, getting too serious too early has produced a ... Read More about Early sports specialization: How to support your child