Children’s Health Advocates Unite

Residents and fellows of MassGeneral Hospital for Children devote most of their time to treating sick children in a hospital setting, but this June they devoted a day to preventing and curing illness outside of the hospital wards.

This year’s fourth-annual Pediatric Residents and Fellows Day at the State House (RFDASH) brought out about 80 residents, fellows and faculty from various hospitals to advocate for legislation that affects children’s health.

“We got a great response from many senators and representatives who didn’t know much about our bills before the meetings, but were very positive afterwards about supporting them,” says Alenka Zeman, MD, who organized the event with fellow MassGeneral Hospital for Children resident adovcate Catherine Aftandilian, MD. “It is very rejuvenating for us to step outside the hospital walls and to let our voices be heard,” Zeman adds.

Hosted by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the day began with inspirational speakers who prompted the audience to advocate for the legislation later.

Capitol reform

James Perrin, MD, kicked off the morning with an impromptu but effective talk on healthcare reform in our nation.

“It’s an incredibly vibrant, complex, amazingly fast time in Washington,” Perrin says. “You should stay tuned and get involved where you can.”

Perrin explained that this is a particularly important year in Washington, DC, as it represents an important opportunity for change before midterm elections next year. Perrin also noted the critical role of Senator Ted Kennedy, who had been a strong advocate for healthcare reform, but whose health was expected to affect his participation.

One bill, many lives

Trauma surgeon Peter Masiakos, MD, switched gears to explain how one bill (S.366) to regulate the use of off-highway and recreation vehicles can save many lives.

Masiakos became passionate about regulating the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the like after caring for Sean Kearney, an 8-year-old boy who died after an ATV accident in late 2006.

“He was a little boy we couldn’t make better,” Masiakos said.

The Kearneys, who spoke after Masiakos, told the story of their son, who they left for a play-date with a trusted family, only to receive a call that Sean had been involved in an accident with an ATV, something the family had no familiarity with. Sean was flown to Mass General Hospital after the accident, but the injuries he sustained under the weight of the 500-lb ATV were too great, and he died five days later.

“We had four children, but we put three to bed every night,” said Katie Kearney, Sean’s mother. She added, “We couldn’t prevent it [from] happening to Sean, but we can prevent it from happening to another family.”

The Kearney’s expressed gratitude for Dr. Masiakos, who stayed with them through the five days Sean was in the hospital, and who became one of the ATV bill’s strongest proponents.

“Passing this law will protect children from the risks that ATVs expose them to,” Masiakos says.

Coordinated health

Following the Kearney family’s discussion, David DeMaso, MD, chairman of psychiatry at Children’s Hospital Boston, spoke about the bill for coordination of children’s mental health care services. The bill (H. 3586/S.757) aims to form a link between care providers, for example in the hypothetical case of a 14-year-old girl with asthma who is also being treated by a psychiatrist for depression and anxiety.

From the perspective of the psychiatrist looking to prescribe the patient depression medication, DeMaso asked his audience a seemingly obvious question: whether it would be a good idea for him to talk with the girl’s pediatrician. That is the essence of the bill.

Immunizations

The final bill in question (H.3453/S.859) would establish the Massachusetts Childhood Vaccines Program and the Massachusetts Immunization Registry. The subject is a particular sore spot for many, as the state has fallen in terms of immunization distribution.

“Massachusetts was number one for immunization and we no longer are and that’s not acceptable,” said State Representative Alice Wolfe.

Sean Palfrey, MD, and professor of general pediatrics at Boston Medical Center, spoke with Ed Brennan, Esq., legal counsel and lobbyist for the MCAAP, on the topic.

“We as pediatricians are known to be not just knowledgeable, but advocates for children,” Palfrey said.

The day culminated with visits to senators and representatives, with the hope that these three bills would soon become laws.

For event organizer and resident Zeman, the event has grown considerably since she first became involved as an intern a few years ago.

It’s exciting because this day just keeps expanding and expanding,” she says. “You realize we can have an impact.”