Patient and Family Centered Care at UW

The University of Washington is launching a new program that seeks to improve the quality of care for patients needing medicial assistance. They are forming Patient Advisory committees where patients and their family members can volunteer to add their insights into improving care. The intended result is to change hospital policy in these areas:

Inpatient Cancer
Perinatal/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Rehabilitation
Emergency Department

The program is currently recruiting volunteers to join the advisory committees. Orientation meetings are being held throughout the summer months. Each committee is intended to have a 2:1 ratio advisors to hospital staff personnel.

Persons interested in finding out more information can visit the Patient and Family Centered Care page or contact:

Patient and Family Education Services
Phone: 206-598-2697
E-mail: pfcc@u.washington.edu
Hours: Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: 1959 N.E. Pacific St.
Box 358126
Seattle, WA 98195-8126

I Love You Through and Through

I had been looking for a children's book appropriate for toddlers, and young preschoolers that portrayed how parents love their children at all times, totally and completely, even when children are acting ways that parents don't particularly love. I thought I'd be looking for a book like that for a while as I didn't find one like it at Barnes and Noble or any of the independent children's books shop where I was looking. Until I found the book "I Love You Through and Through" at Walmart.

With rhymes like:

I love your inside, your outside.
I love your happy side, your sad side, your silly side and your mad side"

Its a book that shows children that parents love them completely at all times, with all the cute and silly, even obnoxious and annoying things they do. From the tops of their heads to the tips of their toes, parents truly do love their children through and through and as the book concludes "Yesterday today and tomorrow too."

I highly recommend this book for babies, toddlers and young children. Its a fun sit down, cuddle and tickle with your child book.

Naturopathic Medicine: A Good Bet in Seattle

Almost all parents are familiar with the conventional medical system: with pediatricians, antibiotics, medications, immunizations, etc. The most common form of medical treatment in the United States, conventional medicine (also called allopathic medicine) aims to treat disease and diagnose pathology, but often do not address the root causes of the pathology or how to treat those root causes. Instead symptoms are treated as they arise, often without regard to what is causing them or attempting to prevent their reoccurence.

Some parents are disatisfied with this form of medicine for themselves and their children, and instead of turn to alternative healing methods (often called holistic): including chiropractors, massage therapists, accupunturists and naturopathic doctors.

Seattle is a great place to be if you are a parent seeking a more holistic approach to medical care. It doesn't take long to realize that, as a newcomer drives around the city streets of Seattle and sees many, many offices and signs for chiropractors, massage, accupunture and naturopathic doctors.

As an introduction to naturopathic medicine, the five aims of naturopathy (nature cures) are:

1. First, do no harm
2. To co-operate with the healing power of nature
3. To address the fundamental cause of disease
4. To heal to whole person through individualized treatment
5. To teach the principles of healthy living and preventative medicine

Dr Anca Martalog describes naturopathy this way, " Naturopathic Medicine IS holistic care; it integrates the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the body in order to find the root cause of disease and its symptoms and treat them using natural, safe and effective methods such as acupunvture&chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy, diet, nutrition&supplements, amongst other tools."

Recently, I started seeking out naturopathic health care in Seattle and was suprised at how many options I found!

I've established a relationship with Seattle Natural Family Medicine at 15th and 80th NE for pediatric care for my 15 month old little boy, as well as well woman care for myself. Being disatisfied with conventional pediatric care, I found the atmosphere of the office, as well as the philosophy of the Naturopathic Doctors refreshing. An additional bonus of their practice is they offer a sliding fee scale to low income families, making their care even more afforable out of pocket than costs covered by some health insurance companies.

Other Naturopathic Medicine offices with pediatric services in Seattle include:
Seattle Healing Arts on 9th Ave NE
One Sky Wellness located on 9th Ave NE
Or you can go directly to the source at the Basytr Center for Natural Health.

Many of the NDs (Naturopathic Doctors) in Seattle received their medical degree from Basytr University located in Kenmore, just north of Seattle off Lake City Way. Many NDs use a sliding fee scale that makes naturopathic care available to low-income families, and many NDs are covered by local insurance companies including Group Health, Aetna, Primera, Regence, etc.

Not only is this form of care plentiful in the Seattle area, its also becoming more and more accessible to families of all income levels.

*Note: DSHS Healthy Options Medicaid for children's health insurance does not currently cover any naturopathic doctors.

Passport to Play at the Seattle Children's Museum

The Seattle Children's Museum is a wonderful place for exploration, discovery, play and learning from children ages 0-10 years old. Its over 22,000 square feet of hands on, interactive activities. All of that combines for much fun for parents and children.

Unfortunately, the entrance fee can be prohibitive for many families. A walking one year old costs the same as an adult-- $7.50, making one trip for one parent and one child cost over $20.00 including the cost of parking. Memberships are available ranging from $55.00 for a year (grandparents only) to $75.00 for a whole family.

However, I recently learned of a new option that makes the Children's Museum more accessible to families who cannot afford the costs to enter. Parents receiving some form of public assistance you can get a free Seattle Children's museum membership, called the Passport to Play.

For more information and the application, call Jeanne Stevens 206.441.1768 ext 2334.

Buy Your Copy of the Business of Being Born

In March of this early, the Seattle International Film Festival did a series of screenings of Ricki Lake's documentary The Business of Being Born. The film depicts the way the current maternity care system in working in the United States and compares it to what researchers say birth ought to be treatment. A history of maternity care is also presented, as well as intimate birth stories and the available options for women when preparing to birth their babies.

If you missed the screenings at the SIFF, the DVD of the movie is now available for sale.

Reviews of the documentary state:
Village Voice

"… an absorbing, thought-provoking inquiry …"

Film Journal International

"Every expectant mother should see this …"

New York Times

"… a passionate ground-level examination of home childbirth …"

Almost everyone I have talked to about this movie, or read their thoughts on it say that its highly recommended for every expectant mother to watch. Fathers also benefit from watching the documentary as they are involved in the process of birth and the choices associated with it as well.

Decrease the Chance of Having a Cesarean Section

Last week while on the Seattle Metro bus, I saw a print advertisement that caught my attention. No its not the one that advertises a chance to change the world between finishing college and getting a job--but I am working on doing that. The headline of this ad of which I'm speaking said:

Pregnant? Reduce your chance of a C-section from 1 in 3 to less than 1 in 10.

That was enough to catch my attention.

I'm well aware that the current US Cesarean rate is 30% translating that about every one in three women who give birth in the United States will have a cesarean to birth their baby. This statistic has been condemned by many organizations, including the WHO (World Health Organization) that states that even in high risk populations, the C-section rate should be between 10% and 15%.

So of course, the first question on my mind after reading the headline was, How? I agree that it is uneccesary that every one in three women need a procedure that should only be performed through neccesity or medical emergency, so then how can I avoid a uneccesary C-section?

I then read that the ad was for a homebirth midwifery practice in the Seattle area; Elemental Birth Midwivery. I thought their advertisement was brilliant in its concept and placement. The Metro bus system is heavily traveled by many people each day, making it an excellent place to advertise to not only low income people, but also business professionals using the transit system to commute.

However, I was struck that the statistic cited a 1 in 10 or a 10% chance of Cesarean section, using out of hospital midwifes. It seemed high to me, so I did some homework. The national rate for out of hospital, midwife attended births requiring a hospital transport for a C-section is around 10%. Surprisingly, in accordance with the WHO recommendation.

But I still had another question, what is Elemental Birth Midwivery Cesarean rate? I called and asked and found out that their C-section rate currently stands at 0. That's right ZERO. They have only been in practice for a year, but with all the births they have attended, no mothers have needed to be transferred to the hospital to have a Cesarean.

I will let that statistic speak for itself and make the recommendation to any parents in the Seattle area planning a pregnancy or expecting a baby to look into the option of midwife attended homebirth to avoid the associated risks of an uneccesary C-section.

Bedtime Book

I thought that I would share one of my toddlers favorite books. I was inspired to share this by my mother. On her recent visit, she saw the book for the first time. She was surprised that I would read my son poetry. Then, she looked through the book and wanted a copy for herself.  The book is Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost Illustrated by Susan Jeffers. The illustrations are perfect. My son likes to search for the animals hidden in the woods. It is a lovely way to introduce poetry to a child. I am curious if there are any surprising treasures on your child's book shelf?

Patricia