News
February 12, 2010PCC Launches New Healthy Babies Group Well-Child Visits Thanks to Impact Austin
The first Healthy Babies group well-child visit at People’s Community Clinic occurred one Saturday morning in December, and was a huge success. By 9 a.m. ten two-month old patients and their family members had arrived. Siblings were invited to a room where babysitting was provided.
The clinic started with an ice breaker and establishing ground rules (confidentiality, taking turns talking, cell phones on vibrate, breast feeding allowed). The Clinic’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Louis Appel led the group in Spanish, covering a variety of topics--feeding (breast is best), sleeping (not on the tummy), and when to call the doctor.
As each baby was weighed and measured by a medical assistant and examined by Dr. Appel, the others divided into two groups. In one, proper use of the nasal bulb syringe was shown; in the other parents engaged their babies in interactive development play using a mirror. Over time, children learn to identify their parent and differentiate themselves in this process.
Babies and parents were immunized as needed, and parents were provided information about using birth control if they did not want to become pregnant again. By the end of the three-hour session, participants were actively asking questions, including when they would get together again.
One surprise was that there were notably more fathers present than during the standard well-child visit. One of the dads remarked that he’d never realized that a woman who is breastfeeding needs lots of rest, so there’s at least one mom in Austin getting more sleep!
Dr. Appel remarked afterward, “If I think about why I work at PCC, it has something to do with the fact that on a dreary, cold Saturday morning, I can find myself launching a new program that I’ve always wanted to try. Thank you, Impact Austin for making this new model of care possible.”