Want to speed up your clinic visit?

In an effort to better meet the needs of our patients and families, it is important to note a recent change that could impact those who visit the Children’s Hematology Oncology Clinic.

On October 22nd, the General Pediatric Clinic moved from the fifth floor in the hospital’s tower to the third floor of the Children’s Specialty Care building. We’re excited this move will positively impact the patients and families who visit the General Peds Clinic and we are glad to share a floor of our building with such an exceptional clinic.

Given this recent move, it is possible that our patients and families could experience a change in wait times while visiting the lab. Furthermore, as we continually work to improve upon patient experiences within our clinic, we are working to proactively address the effect an influx of lab patients could have on those who visit the Cancer and Blood Disorders clinic.

To encourage a smooth transition (while we explore options to enhance patient experiences), please consider the following reminders when you visit the Cancer and Blood Disorders clinic.
• Hang up fall and winter coats in the waiting room upon arrival
• Plan to arrive a few minutes before the schduled appointment time
• Apply any numbing topical creams such as EMLA or LMX before coming to clinic
• Remove any orthotics prior to rooming

We look forward to collaborating with our patients and their families as we warmly welcome the General Pediatrics clinic to the Children’s Specialty Center. Any feedback on this transition is graciously welcome.

Kaci Osenga, MD

Pain and Palliative Care

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota has one of the largest pediatric pain, and palliative care programs in North America, providing care for children at home, in the hospital and in clinics.

To help our patients access these services, we are now offering appointments most Fridays with Dr. Kaci Osenga.

Osenga is a pediatrician who is board certified in General Pediatrics as well as Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  She also successfully completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology.  She has been working at Children's Hospital and Clinics of MN in the Department of Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine for 5 years . We are excited to have her offer pain and palliative care expertise to the patients in the Hematology/Oncology clinic.

See front desk for more information and appointment times.

Welcome Volunteers

HemOnc Clinic Volunteer; Sasha, is having fun painting with Neli, while she waits to see her care team.

You may have noticed some friendly helpers in red vests throughout our clinic.  We are pleased to welcome a new group of designated HemOnc volunteers.  Our volunteers are trained by Children’s Volunteer Services and supervised by Child Life.  The volunteers are willing and available to provide art activities, games, and play time with patients and siblings.  They also offer support to the Child Life staff by helping to organize art and play materials.  Our volunteers are a special group, some of whom are former patients looking for a way to bring comfort and smiles.

Inpatient Visiting

Now that cold and flu season is upon us, we try to be super careful about who visits in patient rooms on the 7th floor.  The entire floor is designated as the cancer and blood disorders floor, although there are usually other kids in any extra rooms because the hospital is almost always full!  Please remember that visitors are limited to those over age 5, which we know can be hard for families with little kids, but the little ones are also the most likely to have picked up a bug from their friends.  And remember handwashing is still the best way to prevent infections.  Feel free to remind anyone you see entering a room without washing or foaming.

There is a parent/family lounge on 7th by the playroom and another beautiful sitting area at the end of the Elliot wing which overlooks the city.  Please visit with other parents in those areas and  avoid visiting in other patients' rooms.  What may feel like a comfortable chat to one parent may feel intrusive and unpleasant to another.  Likewise, if you as a parent are up visiting a friend, please avoid just "dropping in" on another parent who may not be at a spot to see you at that time. Just like in the outside world, a call ahead to arrange a visit is preferred.

Sibling Play Area!

Check-in childcare for siblings!

Sibling Play Area is a fun, creative space especially designed for the brothers and sisters of patients.

Open:

• Monday: 10am - 5pm
• Tuesday, Wednesday: 9am - 5pm
• Thursday, Friday: 9am - 8pm
• Saturday: 10am - 4pm

Closed for lunch Mon - Fri: 12 - 1pm and Sat: 12:30 - 1pm

Children must be 2 years of age or older and must be without cold, flu, or other symptoms of illness.

Helpful tips from one of our famlies!

Laura Bredesen explains how her family has found one of our clinic games useful:
"There is a new game available anytime, but our family has found it particularly helpful during nitrous spinal taps. The game is called "Tell Tale" and was donated by Blue and Orange Games. They make Spot It! and others. Anyway, “Tell Tale” is a small round tin filled with picture cards. We use the cards to tell a story during our five-year-old son's spinal taps. It has helped keep us talking while our son is on nitrous and entertained the nurses and doctors in a positive way. Please ask for it if you think it might help your family. We hope there are others like us who need a distraction and find the picture cards helpful".

Thanks to Blue and Orange Games and the Bredeson family for arranging a donation of games to the clinic.

Did you know...

September was both Childhood Cancer Awareness month and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month? Children's is the primary site for the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry. The Registry opened in December of 2011 and collects information and tissue samples from children all over the world with rare stromal tumors including juvenile granulosa cell tumors and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. Most of these tumors are treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Children with these tumors generally do well when they are found in early stages, thus our research focuses on why these tumors occur, who should be screened for them, and how to best treat them.

Why did we start this Registry? Interestingly, research from the Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Registry, also based here at Children's Hospital, showed a link between this rare lung tumor and ovarian tumors in childhood. If you have any questions about the OTST Registry, contact the coordinator, Anne Harris or the principal investigator, Dr. Schultz. The Registry is funded by St. Baldrick's Foundation, Hyundai Hope on Wheels and the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic.