Category: Healthcare Insights
WAYS TO SERVE
Published by Feeding Matters on Jan 04, 2018
With the start of a new year, we are energized to continue our work advocating for a functional system of care for children with pediatric feeding disorder, knowing it is not possible without the ongoing support, time, and expertise of medical providers, researchers and allied healthcare professionals.
By joining forces, we are expanding educational opportunities, accelerating identification and igniting research. From professional councils to research committees, groups are coming together to generate amazing results for this misunderstood and underserved population of vulnerable infants and children. Watch this video to learn how Feeding Matters is helping healthcare professionals propel this field forward.
Monumental change isn’t easy, but with your support we are poised to create a stand-alone diagnosis for pediatric feeding disorder, screening tools, comprehensive insurance coverage, and best practices the feeding community deserves.
If you are passionate about pediatric feeding disorder, we invite you to join us in creating a world where children with pediatric feeding disorder will thrive.
Opportunities for CollaborationOFFICE HOURS WITH MICHELLE MASTIN, PHD: INTENSIVE FEEDING THERAPY
Published by Feeding Matters on Aug 13, 2018
We know how hard it can be to get your questions answered by medical professionals, and we understand the struggle in determining the right next steps in your child’s feeding journey.
That is why Feeding Matters is launching the new Office Hours workshop series. Each complimentary, 60-minute session will allow families navigating pediatric feeding disorder the opportunity to have their burning questions answered by medical and allied healthcare professionals while learning more about valuable topics.
Join us on Thursday, September 13 for our inaugural workshop Office Hours with Michelle Mastin, PhD: Intensive Feeding Therapy. Dr. Mastin, a clinical psychologist and program director of the Children’s of Alabama Intensive Feeding Program, will discuss intensive feeding therapy, including a definition and common terminology, to help you determine if this may be a fit for your family.
Live participation in this workshop is only open to the first 150 registrants, so sign-up today! Don’t fret: everyone who registers will receive a recording of the workshop and the ability to view it at their leisure.
Please email programs@feedingmatters.org if you have topics you would like discussed as a part of the Office Hours workshop series.
The medical community continues to emphasize the important role nutrition plays in producing positive outcomes. Good nutrition can support a child’s growth and development, or in some cases improve their recovery and response to treatments. Tube feeding can be a lifesaving medical intervention for children with complex needs.
When a child is referred for enteral feeding, it’s important for parents and caregivers to partner with their physician to identify the tube that will best fit the child’s nutritional, medical and lifestyle needs. Tube feeding is a lifestyle adjustment for both the child and the parent, and there are a variety of available options. The gastrostomy (G) tube is the most common feeding tube for pediatric patients. G-tubes are surgically placed through the abdominal wall as a means of accessing the stomach to provide nourishment, hydration, and medication. Standard G-tubes are longer and protrude from the child’s body. The excess tube can lead to unnecessary mishaps. By accident or intention, children are likelier to tug at or dislodge their feeding tube. When the tube falls out, time is of the essence. The tiny surgical hole in the skin can begin to heal within just a few hours, making delayed re-insertion a painful and, in repeat cases, a costly experience.
Parents are already overwhelmed from managing their child’s condition. It’s difficult to create a new sense of normalcy when medical complications are compounded by feeding tube mishaps. In an effort to avoid these mishaps, advanced