Dr. Frizzell: Vaccinations are Imperative

Dr. Noel K. Frizzell, M.D.

Just this week a couple of high-profile politicians were weighing in with their thoughts on vaccination.  While they both say they are pro-vaccination, they are also supporting the parents’ right to refuse vaccine.  These opinions have prompted a huge media discussion of vaccine and public safety. 

I thought this would be a good time to share the thoughts of the physicians at Pediatric Consultants.  Simply put, we strongly believe that vaccines are safe and necessary.  The physicians in our group feel so strongly on this subject that we have decided that we are unwilling to have patients in our practice who choose not to vaccinate.  Not vaccinating a child carries significant risks that we are just not willing to accept.  

The recent outbreak of measles shows what can happen if people make a choice not to vaccinate.  Measles is a serious and preventable disease.  This kind of outbreak does not happen if everyone is properly vaccinated.  It is hard for me to understand the fears that lead some parents to make a choice and accept these risks. Here is an interesting and related discussion (five-minute audio) from this morning’s NPR Morning Edition (follow this link below and then click on play/"Listen to the Story"):   

http://www.npr.org/2015/02/04/383724467/the-psychology-behind-why-some- kids-go-unvaccinated

Lastly, we believe parents who choose not to vaccinate can put other children at risk.  Infants, young children, and immunosuppressed children are at increased risk during an outbreak of preventable infections. 

Sincerely,

Noel K. Frizzell, M.D.

Joining Forces with UT Department of Pediatrics and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

Dear Families and Patients of Pediatric Consultants,

Dr. Noel K. Frizzell, M.D.

Pediatric Consultants has recently made the decision to join forces with the UT Department of Pediatrics and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital by utilizing the services of their hospitalist physicians. 

The trend to have inpatient care of patients provided by hospital specialists began approximately 20 years ago in the adult world.  Hospitalist care has evolved for many reasons, and now they provide a good portion of inpatient care throughout the country.  Hospitalists concentrate their professional activities on hospitalized patients.  By doing so, they can provide a high quality service without the need to maintain a large office practice.  

Most of the physicians in our group now prefer to devote their time to the office practice.  We have decided to turn over our hospital patients to the care of the Le Bonheur physicians because we have great confidence in their ability to provide high quality care.  They will be communicating regularly with us, and we will be involved in some of the management decisions and discharge planning. Also, our physicians at Pediatric Consultants will continue to make rounds few newborns. 

This new process will be quite different from the way we previously cared for our hospital patients, but the physicians of Pediatric Consultants will continue to make sure that your children receive the best pediatric care available.  If unforeseen problems should arise during the transition period, we will certainly be available by phone and hope that you will contact us with your concerns.  

Sincerely,

Noel K. Frizzell, M.D.    

What We are Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Pediatric Consultants wishes all of you and your families a very happy Thanksgiving today! We hope you have a wonderful day and weekend spending time with your family and good friends. We thought we should share some things some of our doctors, nurses, and staff are thankful for today and this holiday season.

Dr. Kip Frizzell
"I am thankful for the good health of all of my close family members. Really, everything else on this list is not as important. I am thankful that my grandchildren live close by. I am, without a doubt, the luckiest person in the world. I am thankful to have a job that I enjoy every day and for my staff who help make it possible and I am thankful for all of the families who trust me with the medical care of their children."

Dr. Dawn Scott
"This year, as always , I am so grateful to have been blessed with two beautiful, healthy, clever children.  I have been particularly thankful this year  that our parents are healthy and have been able to travel so much to spend time with the grand kids."

Dr. Ann Lankford
"It's hard to put into a couple of sentences all that I'm thankful for but here are just a few things.  I am so thankful for my family. I'm thankful for my husband and his unconditional love.  I'm thankful for my three precious children who are my best teachers--about life and about pediatrics.  I'm thankful for 5 years of working at Pediatric Consultants and honored to be working with colleagues whose opinion I respect and trust."

Dr. Chris Mathis
"The thing I enjoy most about working with Pediatric Consultants is the sense of family, I feel like everybody there has my back. The thing I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving is that Dr Pendergrass is on call!! But VSS and I will help."

Dr. Blake Bergeron

"I am thankful for so much, but especially for God's blessings that come through my loving family and friend. To know you are loved and supported is a wonderful blessing. I love our PC team because I feel that we are an extension of each patients' family.  We get to see our children grow from newborn babies through young adulthood, and I love being a small part of that journey each and every day!  It is no small compliment to be trusted with the care of someones most loved person."

Meg Nickell

"I'm thankful for friends and family, and for my wonderful coworkers I consider family!  Working at PC is the best because I get to watch all of the children grow and succeed."

Cassandra Dyer
"I am thankful for my friends and family. What I love most about my job is getting to watch the kids grow. It's like being part of their extended family. We get to watch them grow up."

Lisa Tronsor
"I'm thankful for good health and the good health of my family and friends. One of the special things about Pediatric Consultants is our leadership. Our doctors set such a great example for us each and every day. It's GREAT to work for and with such wonderful friends. Every employee fills a certain niche and are much appreciated both within our practice and in the communities we are so fortunate to serve."

Stephanie Smith
"I am thankful for life. God has blessed my family and I to wake up every morning with a roof over our head, food on our table and clothes on our back and laughter in our belly and a mouth to praise him each and every day.  What I enjoy most about working with Pediatric Consultants is that when I come to work I feel like I never left home. 'Home is where the Heart is.' Being at work is like my second home.  When my home flooded earlier this year, my coworkers, the doctors and my supervisor all helped my family and blessed us with gifts, prayers, and kind words."

Maryellen Morgan
"I am thankful for good health, blessing, and guidance for my family and others. As a Pediatric Consultants associate, we work as a team to serve our patients better with care and understanding and that's what I love most: UNITY."

Terri Hardeman
"I'm very grateful for my family, my friends and my freedom. I have the best job in the world; I consider my colleagues at Pediatric Consultants 'family.' Our patients are wonderful and our docs and staff are the absolute best. Thanks for a wonderful 12 years, Pediatric Consultants, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!"

Checking up with Dr. Frizzell about the Flu Vaccine

Dr. Kip Frizzell

You know all of that stuff you’re seeing on TV about how bad the flu is this year? It’s mostly true. Influenza is more widespread than I have seen in years. If there is any good news, it's that most of the patients are getting well reasonably quickly without any serious complications. 

On television recently, I heard Dr. Nancy Snyderman say, in regard to the flu vaccine, that the CDC “nailed it.” I think this is mostly true, too. However, some of the patients we have seen with influenza actually had the vaccine. In any event, it may not offer 100% protection for everyone who takes it, but it is still the best protection we have to prevent flu outbreaks. The vaccine prevents most influenza and likely makes the virus less serious for those who get it. 

In case you haven’t heard, it’s important to cover your cough, wash your hands, and don’t go to work or school when you’re sick.  These measures will, of course, make a huge difference, but this year you will most likely come in contact with someone who has the flu, so the vaccine is your best protection!

Memphis in May Triathlon 2012

Here are a few photos from the Memphis in May Triathlon 2012! Dr. Kip Frizzell (cycling) and Dr. Marybeth Huggins (swimming and running) competed as a relay team and Dr. Chris Mathis competed in the full triathlon. Congratulations to our athletes!

Dr.

Le Bonheur Celebrates 60 Years

Dr. Kip as a resident

Once Upon a Heart - a collection of 60 stories spanning Le Bonheur's first 60 years - will be available beginning June 15, the hospital's 60th Birthday!


"Le Bonheur's Central Tower opened up while I was a resident. In 2008, I watched the new hospital go up, and now I'm watching the Central Tower come down. I have watched Le Bonheur evolve from a community hospital to one of the nation's best institutions for caring for kids."

- excerpt from "Soft Spot," narrated by Dr. Noel "Kip" Frizzell.

Things You Can Learn & Find on Our Website!

Happy New Year everyone! We hope you are having a great, and healthy, start to 2012 and that the holidays treated you well. We wanted to share some things that our website, www.pedconsultants.com, has to offer to you.

1. A complete list of our doctors, nurses, and staff: http://pedconsultants.com/ourstaff

2. Directions to all three of our locations (Google directions built into web pages): http://pedconsultants.com/locationhours

3. A wealth of Healthy Resources that are terrific reads, as well as Recommended Readings from Dr. Frizzell!
http://pedconsultants.com/healthresources

4. Convenient information about our practice, including appointments, calls, prescriptions, vaccinations, referrals, lab work, and billing and insurance: http://pedconsultants.com/forpatients/thepractice

5. Prenatal information, including insurance and FAQ's: http://pedconsultants.com/forpatients/prenatal

6. Immunization schedules for your little ones: http://pedconsultants.com/forpatients/immunization.html

7. Online services, including the ability to make a payment, request a prescription refill, request test results, or forms: http://pedconsultants.com/online_services

8. And, FAQ's that are updated as needed depending on the time of the year: http://pedconsultants.com/faq

We hope our website is helpful to you, and we are so glad to have the opportunity to help make sure your children stay healthy!

Teens and Fitness

Dr. Frizzell was recently featured in an article about teen fitness in the Commercial Appeal! We talk a lot about healthy living at Pediatric Consultants and on our blog, and this article has great tips for getting active and staying fit:

“In his more than 30 years of practicing general pediatrics, Dr. Noel K. "Kip" Frizzell, CEO of Memphis-based Pediatric Consultants PC, has seen firsthand the problems associated with teenagers who don't get enough exercise.

"Today's teens are not getting close to enough exercise," Frizzell said. "There are a million reasons that we could blame it on, but, overall, the incidence of obesity and poor physical fitness are just way too high. I write a lot of 'healthy living' prescriptions these days, but, unfortunately, it mainly comes up when I'm seeing some of my patients with obesity."

Frizzell recommends at least one hour of exercise each day for teens. "It doesn't have to be a strenuous workout, just something fun that will make you breathe fast and get your heart rate up," he said. "Any kind of play outdoors will do." (Check out letsmove.gov/get-active or bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity /index.html)

Frizzell also recommends limiting screen time (TV, video games, computer) to two hours a day. "You'd be surprised how many kids get six hours of TV every day," he said. "It's hard to be active and stay in shape if you watch that much TV. The type of exercise each child needs is very individualized. Not everyone has good eye-hand coordination or enjoys team sports, but every child (with a parent's help and encouragement) can find an activity that is fun.””

To read the rest of the article, including tips from personal trainers, dance instructors, and parents, click here!

Triathlon Photos!

The race is finished, the results are in, and Dr. Frizzell, Dr. Huggins, Dr. Mathis, and Nurse Cassandra are fully recovered! Now, it's time for some photos from last weekend's fun and exercise at the 2011 Memphis in May Triathlon in Tunica, Mississipp!

Follow this link to view a pictorial review of the event:

http://tinyurl.com/pctri2011

Pediatric Consultants Triathletes!

The race site of this year's Memphis in May Triathlon!

The doctors, nurses, and staff of Pediatric Consultants preach the importance of exercising and staying physically active to our patients and parents on a daily basis. We also practice what we preach! This past weekend, Dr. Kip Frizzell (Le Behoneur office) Dr. Marybeth Huggins (Le Bonheur), Dr. Chris Mathis (Baptist Women's East), and nurse Cassandra Dyer (East) competed in the Memphis in May Triathlon, located this year in Tunica, Mississippi.

Nurse Cassandra kicked off the weekend's fun by completing the sprint triathlon on Saturday. Her husband, Tim, also did the olympic triathlon Sunday! Dr. Frizzell and Dr. Huggins teamed up to form a dynamic duo relay team, while Dr. Mathis completed the entire olympic triathlon on his own! The weather was definitely iffy as hard rain poured down for a large portion of the event, making the course wet, but also perhaps providing a bit of relief from the heat.

All four of our Pediatric Consultants competitors put in hours, days, weeks, and even months of training in order to be able to complete these events. Dr. Frizzell logged over 800 miles on his bike in order to build endurance to complete the 40K (24 miles) bike portion of he and Dr. Huggins' relay team. Dr. Huggins swam 1.4K (one mile) in the water just outside of Harrah's Casino to begin their relay, then she got a brief rest as Dr. Frizzell briskly finished the bike course. Dr. Huggins then ran 10K to finish the race, which would normally be just over 6 miles, but the course actually was longer, almost seven miles total!

Dr. Mathis, a fitness enthusiast and well-rounded athlete, did the entire olympic race by himself, finishing the event in an impressive 2 hours and 50 minutes (that's almost 34 miles total via water, bike, and foot!).

Fun was had by all four and we send them a hearty congratulations for completing such a difficult challenge, and for setting a wonderful example for our patients, parents, and friends!

And the Oscar Goes to...Pediatric Consultants!

It's award season in Hollywood! Since there is no Oscar for best pediatric practice, we wanted to take this opportunity to toot our own horn about a couple of local awards our doctors have received.

Dr. Landon Pendergrass received a Gold Award in the 2010 Family Choice Awards sponsored by Memphis Parent magazine. We’d like to thank all of the patients who voted for Dr. Pendergrass!

Dr. Kip Frizzell was named one of Memphis and Shelby County’s “Best Doctors” in the Memphis Flyer. He also took a Silver Award in the 2010 Family Choice Awards.

We’re so proud of all of our doctors!

Congratulations, Nurse Meg!



Pediatric Consultants staff with the beautiful bride



We want to congratulate Meg (Nickell) Brown on her recent marriage! Her wedding was held January 8, 2011 in Hoover, Alabama. Several members of the Pediatric Consultants staff were in attendance, including Crystal Shields, Martha Frizzell, Beth Spence, Dr. Marybeth Huggins, and Dr. Kip Frizzell, all pictured here. A lovely time was had by all!



The bride dances with Dr. Frizzell



Both Meg and her husband Matt attended the University of Alabama. You know she's a great nurse when she can convince Dr. Frizzell (a Tennessee Vol!) to say "Roll Tide" while dancing to Sweet Home Alabama. Here they are finishing a fancy spin!

Congratulations, Meg and Matt!

Caring for Kids (and Getting Lost) in the New LeBonheur Children's Hospital!



A beautiful view of downtown Memphis from
atop Le Bonheur (photo by Dr. Frizzell) 

We usually see our patients in our offices at Pediatric Consultants for routine visits. We check your growth and development, give vaccinations, and make sure everything is going okay in your lives. We also see you when you’re not feeling so great. We patch you up and offer our best advice and maybe prescribe some medication to help you feel better again.

Sometimes, our patients get very sick and have to go to the hospital. We hope you never have that experience, but if you do, we’ll take great care of you there, too. And lucky for you, we have one of the country’s best children’s hospitals right here in Memphis!

On December 4th and 5th, Le Bonheur moved into its beautiful new home! Dr. Ann Lankford was caring for patients in the hospital on the weekend of the “big move” and had this to say, “The new Le Bonheur is beautiful! The architecture and the artwork are truly stunning and I found myself gazing around at everything: light fixtures, statues, paintings, not to mention the spectacular view of downtown. All the families seemed very pleased with the moving process and the new rooms are very comfortable. Memphis has gained a new gem!”
 

"Where the Wind Plays" by Yvonne Bobo
(photo courtesy of Le Bonheur)


Art is part of the healing process at Le Bonheur. Creative works of art by renowned regional artists and even local children are everywhere you turn. Dr. Kip Frizzell says, “The building is visually spectacular. It's hard not to get distracted by the beautiful views. I also notice new art work each time I walk a new corridor and some of the pieces were done by my patients. So, that's fun when I recognize the artist name on one of the pieces.”



The first PedFlight! Emergency
crews can reach the ED in less than
a minute thanks to a dedicated elevator
(photo courtesy of Le Bonheur)

While you’re admiring the artwork and gazing at the spectacular views, be careful you don’t get lost! Dr. Frizzell says, “On a recent trip to the radiology department and then to the ED, I had to have an escort to show me the way out. The place is BIG.” And take Dr. Leon Livingston’s advice! “Dr. Scott and I did get lost briefly but found our way back without bread crumbs. Do not use the stairwell as a short cut. They will lock behind you!”

Go Kip Go!

For the fifth year in a row, News Channel 3 meteorologist Jim Jaggers rode over 333 miles on his bike to help the children at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. This year, though, he had some company! Dr. Kip Frizzell represented Pediatric Consultants by joining Jim for over 50 miles of cycling on September 22, 2010. Dr. Kip sat down with The Checkup to talk about this experience!

Why did you decide to bike in Go Jim Go? 

Channel 3's Jim Jaggers and Dr. Kip Frizzell

I am a cycling hobbyist - a recreational cyclist.  I ride for fun and fitness.  I have even dabbled in doing the cycling portion of a triathlon, but overall I don't really compete (except with myself).  I got interested in GJG because of my cycling interest and because Le Bonheur is where I live.  It seemed like a natural "fit" for me to participate in this to help raise money and awareness for the hospital.  And I was able to talk fellow Pediatric Consultants pediatrician, Dr. Chris Mathis, into joining me.  Chris, unfortunately, had a pretty serious quadriceps injury two days before the ride so he was not able to participate.  Chris has promised not to play any more kickball!

What's the farthest you had biked before this ride? 

My longest ride was about 40 miles in one day.  I'm not fast enough to get in more miles than that. I cramped up at mile number 50 and just couldn't go any further.  I think on a cooler day, or maybe with more water and/or electrolytes, I might have been able to go 60 miles!

Where did you ride?  

The last day of GJG started in Collierville.  We went to schools in Collierville, Cordova, Germantown, and Memphis,  We had lunch at a Sonic out on Winchester, I believe.  By late afternoon we found ourselves on the new 'Greenway' that runs from midtown to Shelby Farms.  It is really fantastic, by the way!  

What's Jim Jaggers like? 

Jim is great.  He is a very good cyclist and his enthusiasm for the project is contagious.  I really enjoyed getting to know him and I appreciate his efforts on behalf of LB.

What was your favorite part of the ride?  

Team Velo gives Dr. Kip an extra hand after 50+ miles

The people.  I "tweeted" at the end of the day that cyclists are the nicest people in the world.  Everyone was encouraging from the first mile on, teaching me along the way about group riding.  Jim has a group that rides with him each day and they are really dedicated.  On the last day members of Memphis Velo (here's their website), a racing team, joined us.  It was a real treat for me to get to know these cyclists.  They are great athletes and great people.  When I cramped up a bit at the very end, the team literally pushed me for a few miles on the Greenway.  I made a lot of friends on my ride, for sure.

Will you be back for Go Jim Go 2011? 

Sure hope so!

How can people learn more about Go Jim Go?

You can learn more about Go Jim Go by visiting www.lebonheur.org/gojimgo. Thanks to everyone for their support!