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Trends in Pediatricians Developmental Screening: 2002-2016

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend screening children for developmental problems by using a standardized screening tool and referring at-risk patients to early intervention (EI) or subspecialists. Adoption of guidelines has been gradual, with research showing many children still not being screened and referred.

METHODS:

We analyzed American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Survey data from 2002 (response rate = 58%; N = 562), 2009 (response rate = 57%; N = 532), and 2016 (response rate = 47%, N = 469). Surveys included items on pediatricians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding screening and referring children for developmental problems. We used descriptive statistics and a multivariable logistic regression model to examine trends in screening and referral practices and attitudes.

RESULTS:

Pediatricians’ reported use of developmental screening tools increased from 21% in 2002 to 63% in 2016 (P < .001). In 2016, on average pediatricians reported referring 59% of their at-risk patients to EI, up from 41% in 2002 (P < .001), and pediatricians in 2016 were more likely than in 2002 to report being "very likely" to refer a patient with global developmental delay, milestone loss, language delay, sensory impairment, motor delays, and family concern to EI.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pediatricians’ reported use of a standardized developmental screening tool has tripled from 2002 to 2016, and more pediatricians are self-reporting making referrals for children with concerns in developmental screening. To sustain this progress, additional efforts are needed to enhance referral systems, improve EI programs, and provide better tracking of child outcomes.




d

Trends in Pediatric Malpractice Claims 1987-2015: Results From the Periodic Survey of Fellows

BACKGROUND:

Pediatricians are less frequently sued than other physicians. When suits are successful, however, the average payout is higher. Little is known about changes in the risk of litigation over time. We sought to characterize malpractice lawsuit trends for pediatricians over time.

METHODS:

The Periodic Survey is a national random sample survey of American Academy of Pediatrics members. Seven surveys between 1987 and 2015 asked questions regarding malpractice (n = 5731). Bivariate and multivariable analyses examined trends and factors associated with risk and outcome of malpractice claims and lawsuits. Descriptive analyses examined potential change in indemnity amount over time.

RESULTS:

In 2015, 21% of pediatricians reported ever having been the subject of any claim or lawsuit, down from a peak of 33% in 1990. Report of successful outcomes in the most-recent suit trended upward between 1987 and 2015, greatest in 2015 at 58%. Median indemnity was unchanged, averaging $128 000 in 2018 dollars. In multivariate analysis, male sex, hospital-based subspecialty (neonatology, pediatric critical care, pediatric emergency medicine, and hospital medicine), longer career, and more work hours were associated with a greater risk of malpractice claim.

CONCLUSIONS:

From 1987 to 2015, the proportion of pediatricians sued has decreased and median indemnity has remained unchanged. Male pediatricians and hospital-based subspecialists were more likely to have been sued. Greater knowledge of the epidemiology of malpractice claims against pediatricians is valuable because it can impact practice arrangements, advise risk-management decisions, influence quality and safety projects, and provide data to guide advocacy for appropriate tort reform and future research.




d

Continuous Albuterol With Benzalkonium in Children Hospitalized With Severe Asthma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The albuterol dropper bottle used to prepare solutions for continuous nebulization contains the preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAC). BAC, by itself, has been shown to cause bronchospasm. We hypothesized that BAC would decrease the therapeutic efficacy of albuterol in patients with acute asthma exacerbations.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective cohort study comparing the clinical outcomes of patients <18 years of age receiving continuous nebulized albuterol with and without BAC. For the primary end point (duration of continuous albuterol nebulization), we compared the 2 groups with Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival curves, conducted a log-rank test of difference, and adjusted for baseline characteristics using multivariable Cox regression. A P value <.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS:

A total of 477 patients were included in the analysis (236 exposed to BAC and 241 controls). The duration of continuous nebulization was significantly longer in the BAC group than in the control group (median of 9 vs 6 hours; 15.7% required continuous nebulization compared to 5.8% of controls at 24 hours). The control group was 79% more likely to stop continuous nebulization at any particular point in time (hazard ratio 1.79; 95% confidence interval: 1.45 to 2.22; P < .001) and 43% more likely to stop additional respiratory support (hazard ratio 1.43; 95% confidence interval: 1.16 to 1.75; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

BAC is a functional albuterol antagonist associated with a longer duration of continuous albuterol nebulization treatment and additional respiratory support, suggesting that preservative-free albuterol formulations are safer for use in continuous nebulization.




d

Home Chef Meal Delivery Service

True to its name, Home Chef is the homiest of meal services we've tried. The recipes are simple and not too adventurous, but for some home chefs, that's a good thing.




d

Igloohome Deadbolt 2S

The Igloohome Deadbolt 2S allows you to lock and unlock your door using your phone, a touch-screen keypad, or physical keys, though it lacks many of the features that you get with similarly priced smart locks.




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GoDaddy GoCentral Online Store

Given that GoDaddy's GoCentral Online Store is an add-on service to its web hosting product, you'll find its features a little more limited than much of the competition. But if you're a GoDaddy customer, then it's a great way to start quickly.




d

Salesforce Pardot

Although it's pricey, the intuitive Salesforce Pardot offers standout features, making it a leader among today's marketing automation platforms.




d

Champions League Fantasy: Inside info

Who takes the penalties? Who can't you afford to ignore? And who are the bargain signings that could make all the difference?




d

Champions League Fantasy Matchday 7: What the numbers say

UEFA.com studies the statistics to find out which players are predicted for big Matchday 7 totals.




d

Champions League Fantasy popular picks and potential differentials

Ahead of Matchday 7, UEFA.com looks at some obvious selections and some lesser-owned options.




d

Champions League Fantasy Matchday 7: The Scout squad

As the knockout stage kicks off this week, The Scout has put together a squad drawing on players from nine teams.




d

Paris v Dortmund facts

Two Erling Braut Haaland strikes have given Dortmund an advantage to take to Paris, although Neymar's away goal could prove crucial.




d

Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Goalkeepers

UEFA.com delves into the numbers and finds clean sheets were at a premium in the first legs.




d

Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Defenders

The start of the knockout rounds provided a reminder there is still plenty of value to be found at the defensive end of the field.




d

Manchester City v Real Madrid facts

A first-leg comeback has put Manchester City in the driving seat as Real Madrid travel to north-west England facing a 2-1 deficit.




d

Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Midfielders

Key differentials were once again to the fore in the round of 16 first legs, although Serge Gnabry took the headlines again.




d

Fantasy Football Matchday 7 lessons: Forwards

Erling Braut Haaland and Robert Lewandowski continued to hit the net, although injury means the latter is likely to miss the second leg.




d

Serving God through coffee shops and carpentry

Jose, an Argentinian worker serving in Southeast Asia, tells of how he entered overseas service and what he has seen God do through his not-so-typical ministry.




d

God of unity

Rosario, Argentina :: Crewmembers with experience working with least-reached people share a message of unity between churches.




d

A transformed heart

An Albanian man's heart is forever changed after suffering a heart attack and meeting Jesus in his recuperation.




d

Unexpected love and respect

Rosario, Argentina :: Church members from a vulnerable community learn about human trafficking and experience care and respect.




d

The God of India, Singapore and the Middle East

Doron's experience on Logos Hope shows him God's faithfulness and uncovers leadership abilities he is using today in a new role.




d

Visiting an underground church

Despite being aware of the need for discretion when talking about Jesus, Argentinian Cecilia felt no fear while she was in Central Asia.




d

God called you, and God has a plan for you

An OM worker in Cambodia shares about how a new training she is attending is transforming the way she does ministry.




d

'They don’t understand what love is'

Noy shares her journey of experiencing God's love for herself and forgiving the community that persecuted her family.




d

Ordinary woman, extraordinary journey

God uses Janet to reach people through one-on-one encounters at a bookshop in a closed country.




d

'To the whole world’

Tinashe disciples and shows Zimbabweans that they, too, are called to serve; everyone can share their own stories with others to show the love of Christ. 




d

Educational Technology Has Limitations

Deep and lasting learning can best come from the relationship between teachers and their students.




d

Tech Company Wins Ed. Dept Award to Create Accessible Books

Benetech, a Palo Alto, Calif. based software company, is embarking on is third 5-year award with the U.S. Department of Education to create books for students with print disabilities.




d

Response: 'Embracing Technology' as a Tool for Differentiation

Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, Becky Shiring, Katie Robinson, Dr. Sonny Magana and Dr. Monica Burns contribute their suggestions on using tech to differentiate instruction.




d

Digital Technology Is Gambling With Children's Minds

Writing, reading, focusing, and remembering have all been transformed in ways we don't yet fully understand, writes psychologist Elias Aboujaoude.




d

Could Artificial Intelligence Automate Student Note-Taking?

An AI-powered digital assistant to take notes for you? It’s already happening in the workplace, but classroom note taking could prove harder to automate.




d

Education Technology

Although educational apps for preschoolers abound, many don't include sound teaching strategies, says a new study in the journal Learning, Media and Technology.




d

Education Technology

The lack of access to technology and internet connectivity at home is especially severe among poor, rural, and minority students, according to a new survey from ACT's nonprofit Center for Equity in Learning.




d

Education Technology

One-to-one technology programs may boostmath scores over time, finds a new study in the Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis journal.




d

Technology Has No Impact on Teaching and Learning

If we truly want educational technology to take root in schools and finally live up to the promise we've been expecting for more than a decade, schools need to develop a cadre of well-trained tech instructional coaches.




d

Education Technology

More than two-thirds of districts are very confident in their networks' ability to support a digital device for every student, and nearly a quarter of districts now average two devices for each student, finds the latest annual report of the Consortium for School Networking.




d

Education Technology

A massive international analysis finds more screen time is associated with a lower sense of well-being among teenagers, but the effects are too small to require policy changes, according to a study in the journal Nature Human Behavior.




d

Education Technology

When it comes to a key international test, there's little evidence that technology use benefits student scores and some evidence that it could drag them down, according to a new report by the nonprofit Reboot Foundation.




d

A Better Use of Ed Tech




d

Technology 'Doesn't Replace Good Teaching'

Anne Jenks, Michelle Shory, Ed.S, Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D, Kim Jaxon, Dr. Beth Gotcher, Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, Ph.D., and Keisha Rembert share their suggestions for using tech effectively in class.




d

Technology in Education: An Overview

From blended learning to computerized testing, digital and online technologies are reshaping the classroom experience for millions of students.




d

Michelle Darnell named director of Smeal's new Tarriff Center

Michelle R. Darnell, associate clinical professor in management and director of honor and integrity at Smeal, has been appointed as the inaugural director of the Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility.




d

Penn State Smeal MBA student unites community with fitness

When Penn State students were faced with the unprecedented challenge of remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester in response to COVID-19, Orlando Acevedo saw an opportunity to connect his community by organizing a 9-week fitness challenge.




d

Penn State Smeal names spring 2020 Senior Award honorees

The Penn State Smeal College of Business has announced the recipients of its spring 2020 Senior Awards.




d

Hintzes commit $100,000 for emergency aid to students

Two of Penn State’s most generous supporters and prominent alumni leaders have made a new commitment to support students impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Helen S. Hintz, 1960, and Edward “Ed” R. Hintz, 1959, have directed $100,000 to the Student Care and Advocacy Emergency Fund.




d

Penn State Smeal panel explores pandemic's effects on sustainability, business

The Penn State Smeal College of Business Center for the Business of Sustainability recently hosted the first in a series of virtual fireside discussions titled “The Impact of Coronavirus on Sustainability and Social Impact,” to explore how recent momentum in sustainability efforts has been altered.




d

Smeal supply chain student marshal points to professor as guiding force

Rachel Hooker, who will graduate May 9 with a 3.99 GPA in supply chain and information systems, has been selected as the Smeal College of Business’ spring 2020 supply chain and information systems student marshal.




d

Yaeger selected as the Eberly College Cooperative Education Student of the Year

Emilee Yaeger, an undergraduate student in the Science BS/MBA accelerated joint degree program, has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 Eberly College of Science Cooperative Education Student of the Year Award. The award recognizes the student’s academic achievements and contributions to the participating employer, the University, the community, and the field of cooperative education.




d

Leadership comes naturally to Penn State Smeal spring 2020 student marshal

Jake Griggs, who will graduate Saturday with a 3.95 GPA with dual majors in management and political science, has been named Smeal’s spring 2020 management and organization student marshal.