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Providence Tarzana Medical Center
Expert Care for the Littlest Patients
By Staff Writer
When your little one is sick, the world stops. The single focus is on finding the best care.
Providence Tarzana Medical Center brings some of the cutting-edge diagnostics and treatment found in special children's hospitals to the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities. It's about treating the smallest of patients with special skills and with equipment designed especially for infants and children.
In recent weeks, Providence Tarzana rolled out its new pediatric ambulance, one of numerous investments Providence Health & Services has made since acquiring Tarzana last September.
The colorfully decorated, kid-themed ambulance is equipped to transport newborns and children up to age 17. It features seats for a physician or parent to ride along and even has a DVD player to play children's shows.
"It's important for kids to have the best medical care at all times," says Dr. Cesar Chavarria, creator of the child-friendly pediatric ambulance. "That includes reducing anxiety for transfer to the hospital."
"The purpose of this ambulance is to help us better reach out to the community," adds David J. Asplund, the hospital's associate administrator. "We get frequent calls from doctors' offices or other hospitals that don't specialize in pediatrics and they have a patient who needs to come into the Emergency Room or be admitted to the hospital. They don't feel comfortable having Mom or Dad in their worried condition drive the child to Tarzana.
Though this is a new program, it has already garnered a positive response says Dr. Chavarria. "I have been in the ambulance with a mother of a very sick child, and she was very appreciative. Plus doctors at the hospital are very happy with it."
"It's one of the ways we help families who are in distress." Asplund says.
Providence Tarzana's comprehensive pediatrics program includes intensive-care units for newborns and children as well as a diabetes program to serve a growing number of diabetic youngsters.
"Our Neonatal ICU has consistently been ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation," hospital Chief Executive Dale Surowitz said, noting favorable review by the Vermont Oxford Network, a pediatrics advocacy group.
The NICU and the Pediatric ICU provide some of the most advanced equipment and strategies of care available today for diagnosing and treating critically ill newborns and children.
Chief Medical Officer Glenn Irani, trained as a pediatrician, said Providence Tarzana is one of few community hospitals in the region that handle pediatric surgery, orthopedics, urology and other subspecialties.
"It's all done here unless it's something rare like an organ transplant," Dr. Irani said. "Beyond that, we have several pediatric subspecialists on staff here that also are on staff at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. That means the best standard of care is available for your child closer to home."
The pediatric team of physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff takes a family-centered approach, encouraging parents to participate in their children's care.
Our team includes both pediatric hospitalists and pediatric intensivists. A pediatric hospitalist is a physician board-certified in pediatrics with added expertise in the special needs and care of hospitalized children. He or she monitors the care patients receive in the hospital and reports back to the referring pediatrician on any changes in condition.
To arrange for ambulance and direct admitting service call our physician-to-physician hotline at:
(818) 881-4677.
www.providence.org/tarzana/services/pediatrics
Sculptra ® "Facelift in a bottle"
By Raffi Dishakjian M.D.
Your face is the first thing people notice. When age begins to catch up, our appearance doesn't reflect how we feel on the inside. Facial ageing is a complex and continuous process, including thinning of skin, loss of elasticity, appearance of expression wrinkles, bone volume loss, sagging excess skin, excess fat accumulation in the jowls and under chin areas, increased pore size, as well as age spots, fine lines and broken vessels.
For patients above 40 who follow a healthy lifestyle, are fit, and close to ideal weight, the primary problem is loss of the youthfulness of the face. This is often made worse by the simultaneous loss of skin collagen. The net problem is a deflated, wrinkled and hollowed out face.
When it comes to minimally invasive volume correction in the face, Sculptra ® stands out. Referred to by some physicians as a "Face lift in a bottle", Sculptra® represents a unique non-invasive option.
Sculptra ® is a synthetic injectable material known as poly-L-lactic acid. This synthetic polymer is derived from Lactic acid, a type of fruit acid that is biocompatible and completely biodegradable. Poly-L-lactic acid has been widely used for over 30 years in dissolvable sutures, and soft tissue implants. This polymer, when injected in to the desired areas, naturally stimulate the body to produce its own collagen, increasing the volume of depressed areas gradually. The result is a fuller, smoother, more youthful and natural-looking face. Sculptra ® allows your trained physician to "sculpt" your face by restoring its natural contours and smoothing out wrinkles, creases and folds. Sculptra ® is ideal to correct skin depressions in the temples, eye rings, cheeks, nasiolabial folds, marionette lines and chin.
Generally, 2-3 treatment sessions over a 3-to 4-month period may be necessary. Visible results appear gradually and progressively after each treatment. Many patients find this incremental improvement socially desirable. Unlike other traditional treatments, Sculptra ® results can last up to 2 years or more.
Sculptra ® is administered using an ultra-fine needles. Sculptra ® injections should only cause slight and tolerable discomfort. Numbing creams on the skin and local anesthetic can also minimize discomfort. Each Sculptra ® treatment session takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Periodic touch-up treatments may also be needed.
While the upfront cost of sculptra ® may be higher than other temporary filler injections, the longer duration and ability to globally restore volume over the whole face end up making it less expensive. Although Sculptra ® has been FDA approved for HIV related facial fat loss, it has been used off label for several years now for cosmetic applications and is approved in Britain and Canada. Sculptra ® is soon expected to be approved in the USA for cosmetic use.
Side effects of Sculptra ® are temporary and minimal, but can range from redness to slight bruising, bleeding, small bumps, tenderness, or swelling. These side effects generally last a few days to a week, and are coverable with appropriate make up. On rare occasions palpable or visible bumps have also been reported.
Raffi Dishakjian M.D. specializes in minimally invasive facial rejuvenation techniques at Nu Vela Esthetica in Porter Ranch, CA. He is a Board Certified physician and a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and has extensive experience with needle based fillers for facial rejuvenation.
Call 818-832-4500 for a free consultation to discuss you facial rejuvenation needs. To learn more visit us at nuvelaesthetica.com
Healthy Happenings
Carbohydrate Counting
Ongoing. Class for individuals who want to improve blood sugar control through carbohydrate intake. Providence Tarzana Medical Center's Tarzana Campus, 18321 Clark St., Tarzana.
(818) 345-8955
Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Support Group
2nd Sat. each month, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. A free "Young Onset Parkinson's Support Group. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(866) 499-2732
Brain Injury Support Group
2nd Wed. each month. Free. Provides encouragement and education. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 885-8500 ext. 2833
Mental Health Support Group
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Free. Support group for family members of those with mental illness. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 994-6747
Cancer Orientation
Every Tuesday, 12-1:30pm. New patients will learn about treatment, financel issues, directives and support. Northridge Hospital Medical Center at 18300 Roscoe Blvd. at the Leavey Cancer Conference Center.
(818) 885-8500 ext. 2855
Brain Tumor Support Group
Second Wednesday each month, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Support for those suffering with brain cancer. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 885-8500, ext. 2833
Breast Cancer Support Group
Second and Fourth Tuesday each month, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Meet with other breast cancer patients to discuss treatment options and mental comraderie.
Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 885-8500, ext. 2833
Breastfeeding Support Group
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Meet with other new mothers. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 885-8500, Ext. 2298
Chronic Pain Support Group
Second and Fourth Tuesday each month, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Help dealing with chronic pain. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge.
(818) 885-8500, ext. 3680