Penn Elm Medical Group
488 E. Valley Parkway
Suite 411
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-2000

NEWSLETTER:
DECEMBER 2004

News You Can Use
Inhalant Abuse in Children and Adolescents
Children who have been treated for mental health problems, have a history of foster care, or abuse other drugs, are at an increased risk of abusing or becoming dependent on inhalants. Also, early use of inhalants may be a precursor for later abuse of multiple illegal substances. This news comes from a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, with study results published in the October Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. According to the study of 36,859 young people age 12 to 17, the most commonly used inhalants were glue, shoe polish and gasoline. Other inhalants used included nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, spray paints, correction fluid and paint solvents. Boys were more likely to have used gasoline or nitrous oxide; girls favored glue, shoe polish, spray paints, correction fluid and aerosol sprays. "Children and adolescents who abuse inhalants are at substantial risk of illness and death, so it is important for prevention programs to target children when they are young," says NIDA director Nora Volkow, M.D. To read an NIH summary of the research, go to www.nih.gov/news/pr/sep2004/nida-28.htm.

Hand Washing to Prevent Flu
In a flu season with high public concern and low vaccine supply, hand-washing is instrumental in preventing the spread of illness, and your family may need a few reminders. That's where www.henrythehand.com comes in. Produced by FP Will Sawyer, M.D., of Cincinnati, the web page encourages hand-washing to prevent the spread of illness, and lists four "Principles of Hand Awareness" approved by AAFP and the AMA. The site offers materials for use at home and in schools, including posters, games, curricula, and guidance for parents of newborns and family members of people who have weak immune systems.

Talking to Adolescents About Drinking
For parents and health care professionals alike, talking with kids about alcohol use and abuse can be a daunting task. Yet statistics from NIH's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism paint a frightening picture of the need to educate adolescents about the hazards of drinking... Of people who start drinking before age 15, four out of 10 eventually become alcoholics. Even more disturbing, on average, 7,000 people younger than 21 die from alcohol-related injuries each year. In response, NIAAA has created an alcohol awareness web site — "the Cool Spot" — targeting sixth- to eighth-graders. The site uses colorful graphics and Japanese comic book-style characters to engage these 11- to 13-year-olds. First-time visitors to the site www.thecoolspot.gov take a "Whaddya Know?" quiz that includes questions about the prevalence and risks of drinking, as well as about types of peer pressure. Other sections of the site offer information on these topics, and provide tips on resisting peer pressure to drink.

Important Announcements
Electronic Medical Records
Penn Elm has taken its first step into the new technology age of the 21st century by signing up with Massachusetts-based eClinicalWorks, a company that designs an electronic health record. Beginning in January, Penn Elm will begin transitioning to a new format for scheduling office visits, interoffice communication, and communication with pharmacies, insurance carriers, and specialists. Within three months, the plan is to have all medical records transferred into an electronic format.

What’s New at Penn Elm?
Holiday Party
We just had our annual holiday party for the entire staff and their significant others at the Double Tree Inn in Rancho Bernardo. It was a wonderful time celebrating and thanking our employees for their hard work and dedication to the practice. Special thanks to our planning committee: Kathy Lecocq, Michi Pagan, Laura Williams, Maria Thomas, Irene Glavan, and Kelly Bauer.

Dr. Nicolaysen
We are sad to report the passing of one of Penn Elms' founding partners, Dr. Arthur Nicolaysen. For over 30 years, Dr. Nicolaysen took care of thousands of people in our community. He had the reputation of a warm, kind gentleman who was a great listener and advisor. His patients and colleagues will greatly miss him.

home • about us • what is family practice? • scope of services • our physicians • office locations
emergency & after hours • referrals to specialists • insurance • newsletter/articles
patient forms • links • f a q • patient instructions • radiology • contact us • privacy policy
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTER

© 2004, Penn Elm Medical Group (760) 745-2000
design by Intelligraphics