In 2017, at just 36 years old, Shelly Vaughn learned she had breast cancer. Although she knew she was at higher risk of developing it since her mother was diagnosed with the disease just 3 years earlier, she said the news still felt unexpected and disorienting. “I went through the motions and heard the words […]
Archives for September 2023
Patient Experience Spotlight: Katelyn McElhaney
Every day at Akron Children’s, we strive to deliver compassionate care and create positive experiences for our patients and families. This month, we’re spotlighting a nurse practitioner at Akron Children’s Pediatrics, Lisbon, who recently received the following feedback from a patient family: “Due to time constraints we needed to see a different provider…The provider we […]
How to protect kids from accidental edibles poisoning
An increased access to marijuana as it becomes legal in more and more states across the country is leading to a growing problem. Edibles are winding up in the hands — and bellies — of children because they look so appealing to eat. In recent years, Laura Pollauf, MD, has seen a sharp increase in […]
Hospital-wide sepsis protocol saves lives
Both Kyle Nottingham and David Detwiler are no strangers to Akron Children’s. Kyle, age 15, and David, age 4, have complex medical conditions that lead to frequent hospitalizations. Kyle has a neurologic condition known as Leukodystrophy hypomyelinating 6, which causes difficulty with muscle tone, spasticity, speech, body movement and eyesight. David, who is blind and […]
When does anxiety cross the line to become a disorder?
You are on a diving board looking below at the deep end of the pool. You are about to deliver a speech. It’s the first day of a new job. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. But when does that anxiety cross the line to become an anxiety disorder? Dr. Laura Markley, who is […]
Child not feeling well? Schedule a sick visit in MyChart
Kids don’t operate 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and their health care shouldn’t either. That’s why Akron Children’s offers families the ability to schedule a child’s sick visit day or night at its pediatric offices through MyChart. Gone are the days of waiting for open office hours or remaining on hold to make an appointment. […]