Children's National Health System

CONCUSSION/PALLIATIVE CARE 15 PUBLISHED IN BOTH the Journal of Neurology and the International Brain Injury Association's Brain Injury journal, the paper will introduce pediatric care providers to a model of active concussion rehabilitation Dr. Gioia calls the "not too little, not too much" approach. This model gradually reintroduces children who have sustained concussions to normal physical, cognitive, and social activity as soon as the acute recovery period is over. Initial step-up activities might include 10 to 20 minutes of easy reading, doing simple math problems, or walking. "We've found that over-restricting children can cause undue anxiety, and too much inactivity can actually exacerbate post-concussion symptoms," says Dr. Gioia, who also is the Director of the SCORE (Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery, and Education) Program at Children's National. "Our new program for concussion management offers providers a more dynamic, individualized way of monitoring a patient's symptoms and finding that sweet spot between rest and activity during the post-acute recovery stage." "THE WORD 'PALLIATIVE' means to ease the burden, and that's what we do by preventing, reducing, and soothing symptoms," says Conrad Williams, MD, FAAP, Medical Director of the PANDA Palliative Care Program at Children's National. "Inpatient and outpatient consulting services are available to children cared for at Children's National and to patients who are referred to us specifically for advanced palliative care." At Children's National, PANDA palliative care specialists guide families by addressing the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of pediatric patients and their loved ones. PANDA Palliative Care Program services include: + Achieving optimal quality of life + Coordinating patient care + Educating families and providers about advanced disease management + Managing pain and symptoms + Offering counseling for families + Promoting healing and comfort Dr. Williams' experience as a specialized pediatric hospice and palliative medicine fellow under one of the nation's top palliative providers at Akron Children's Hospital is invaluable as he leads the PANDA program at Children's National.. "Eventually, we hope to expand our services to the home," Dr. Williams says of future plans. "This will allow us to promote patient-centered and family-engaged care and help reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions." CONCUSSION RECOVERY: A new paper published by Gerard Gioia, PhD, Division Chief of Neuropsychology at Children's National Health System, outlines an active approach to concussion management. BY COLIN STAYTON Extra Care for Advanced Illness BY VALERIE LAUER The unique PANDA Palliative Care Program at Children's National Health System provides comfort and support to young patients facing advanced illness. If you feel a patient could benefit from the support of the PANDA team, email palliativecare@childrensnational.org or call 202-476-4256. Visit www.ChildrensNational.org/AP-Concussions to download free concussion management tools developed by Dr. Gioia and other nationally renowned concussion experts. Not Too Much or Too Little T H E J O S H UA STO U C K M E M O R I A L PA L L I AT I V E S Y M P O S I U M When: Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, 8 a.m.–noon Where: Auditorium, Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Pediatric Medicine The symposium will feature two international pioneers, Sarah Friebert, MD, of Akron Children's Hospital, and Stacy Remke, MSW, LICSW, ACHP-SW. It will include an interactive theater presentation and a panel of community hospice experts. To register, visit www.ChildrensNational.org/ PalliativeSymposium.

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