Charish Barry, MD Charish Barry, MD
Just when you thought your bundle of joy was getting into the routine of sleeping all night, suddenly they are waking up fussy and irritable. They could be sick, but if they are approaching 6 months old, it is more likely it’s their first tooth coming in causing their discomfort. Let’s learn as much as possible about how to soothe a teething baby: tips and remedies for parents.
Continue reading “How to Soothe a Teething Baby: Tips and Remedies for Parents”
Many young couples today have made the decision not to have any children. If you ask them their reasons, they will tell you they don’t want to bring children into a world with turmoil, hate, and uncertainty about their future. After years of living through COVID, now there is war and economic stress which certainly filters down to the kids. Unless you cut your children off from all social media and news, it is going to affect them. Now is the right time for promoting pediatric mental health and learning how to identify signs of stress and anxiety.
Continue reading “Pediatric Mental Health: Identifying Signs of Stress and Anxiety”
Beginning in 2024, Petite Pediatrics will begin offering a new, vanguard program we are ecstatic about. Through our social and emotional service line, we will be able to offer psychotherapy and supportive service for our patients. Recognizing the state of the times, and the surge of mental health needs for children and families in the past three years, we want to offer a holistic approach to medicine and expand our practice in this exciting integrative way.
We know navigating care for children with social and emotional needs is an investment of your time, your own mental energy, and impacts the whole family. We are here to help!
Our program will include:
Stacy Peterson, LCSW, will begin leading this program and will have limited slots open to meet with our patients.
Sign up fast so you can secure your spot with this amazing expert leader, specialized in perinatal mental health, family wellness, and advocacy for children in our community. Members can secure their access to this service by contacting our office. We expect volume and demand to grow, and trust that with Stacy at the lead we will be able to expand this program as needed to meet your needs.
Petite Pediatrics will also partner a local nonprofit, Daisy Drake, to offer scholarship care to community members who can’t afford the costs of the direct patient care model. We are invested in equity and making an impact.
Many parents worry about their child’s eating habits. Maybe they only want mac and cheese for every meal, or they refuse to even touch vegetables. What can you do? One way to help your child eat well and help you worry less is to understand your job and your child’s job when it comes to food. Learn more about this concept and how to help your child eat well and be healthy.
Dr. Charish Barry is a board-certified pediatrician dedicated to providing exceptional care to children throughout Santa Barabra. If you have questions concerning your child’s nutritional needs, request an appointment at our pediatric office today! We also offer pediatric vitamins to ensure your child is getting essential nutrients.
Asthma affects children in different ways. Some children have only occasional asthma attacks. Others have many asthma attacks that send them to the doctor often. If your child has asthma, the first thing to know is that treatment can control it. And, as a parent, you can do a lot to help your child learn to live a healthy and active life. Start by understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments of asthma. Then find out what you can do to prevent your child’s asthma attacks. Here’s more information about asthma in children.
If your child is showing symptoms of asthma, call (805) 845-1221 to request an appointment at our pediatric office in Santa Barbara today.
The flu is caused by several influenza viruses (which are not the same as the virus that causes COVID-19). Most flu outbreaks happen in late fall and winter. Getting a flu shot in the autumn can help prevent the virus for the entire flu season. Most people with the flu get better after a few weeks, but they can pass it to other people who are higher risk of health problems, such as babies, pregnant women, older adults, and people with other serious illnesses. Find out the symptoms of the flu and what to do if you get sick.
If your child is showing symptoms or you are interested in learning more about flu prevention, call (805) 845-1221 to request an appointment at our pediatric office in Santa Barbara today.
Just as adults need to see their physician at least once a year for a wellness visit, so do children. You wouldn’t hesitate to take them if they are sick, but it’s just as beneficial to take them when they are not. It’s a way to be sure your child is developing according to certain benchmarks and that there are no medical or developmental issues. If this is news to you, here is what to expect during your child’s well-child visit.
Continue reading “What To Expect During Your Child’s Well-Child Visit”
The mission of Petite Pediatrics has always been to optimize medical care and provide services that parents desire and children deserve. With this in mind, I am excited to introduce the Pod Care Program at Petite Pediatrics. The Pod Care Program encompasses home visits, virtual care, and our Pod Care site, which is a secure outdoor care space with a Basecamp Airstream Trailer and adjacent pergola. As patients of Petite Pediatrics, your Peapod Membership provides direct access to the Pod Care Program.
Petite Pediatrics has long offered conveniences such as telehealth and virtual care through the Peapod Membership Program. These features have been our standard-of-care, distinguishing us from a general pediatric office. By establishing the Pod Care Program at Petite Pediatrics, we are able to further distinguish our care services for children and offer more choices for families who desire secure, safe and convenient delivery of medical care.
With safety as a top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, launching our home visit service for children with a telehealth and virtual care platform has been an essential way for us to continue to care for our patients. Additionally, our enhanced office safety features, environment controls and outdoor care site provide more security for families and staff during the necessary in-person experiences at the office. I am pleased to be able to extend the Pod Care Program to patients at Petite Pediatrics as we adapt to the changing needs of our community.
The Pod Care Program will have complete physician oversight with direct care provided by Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and requires a signed Home Visit Financial Policy/Agreement (provided below). A pediatrician house call visit may be arranged separately (terms and fees are confidential and available upon request). Please contact us for more information about the Pod Care Program or for scheduling future visits.
On behalf of the providers and staff at Petite Pediatrics, thank you for trusting your child’s care with us.
Sincerest Regards,
During these difficult times, I would like to personally update patients and families at Petite
Pediatrics and our greater community about our “Practice Commitment” and the modifications
we are making to ensure the safe delivery of care for children.
– Charish L. Barry, MD, FAAP
Petite Pediatrics remains committed to providing personalized care for children in an
environment that is inclusive, safe and nurturing.
Environment of Inclusivity
We treasure the uniqueness of each child and we support and celebrate all aspects of the
diversity of each child and family. As a medical home for children providing wellness and acute
care, fostering an environment of non-discrimination is paramount. As such, at Petite Pediatrics,
we believe patients and parents/guardians have the right to be treated considerately and
respectfully regardless of the patient and/or family’s race, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity/expression, cultural background, economic status, education or illness.
Environment of Health & Safety
We are dedicated to ensuring that our office meets the highest standards of safety to help
decrease the spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Our Pueblo Street location has
expanded on-site services to provide separate locations for well and sick visits by utilizing both
indoor and outdoor space. Additionally, we will continue to care for children via telemedicine
and provide home visits. Updates of our practice modifications are provided below.
The in-office hours have been modified for the summer months.
SUMMER SCHEDULE:
Hours:
M/F: 9 am – Noon (Dr. Barry)
T/Th: 9 am – 2 pm (Dr. Barry) / 2 pm – 4 pm (Catherine Cordero, PNP – Telehealth)
W: 9 am – 4 pm (Erin Baird, PNP – Home Visits) / 9 am – 4 pm (Dr. Iris Office Location – Acute Visits)
CARE SITES:
Patient care will be provided either indoor, outdoor, virtually or by home visit.
A. Indoor:
The main office is reserved for all well-child visits, vaccines, behavioral or non-infectious
acute care with Covid19 guidelines:
(1) Pre-visit Covid19 symptom screen
(2) On-site temperature check for parent/guardian
(3) One parent/guardian with patient per visit
(4) Use protective facial coverings (face masks) unless under 3 years of age,
developmental or behavioral limitations, or any safety concerns.
(5) Practice social distancing (as able) by use of outdoor space
B. Outdoor:
During the COVID19 health crisis, our parking lot will serve as our Acute Care Site. This
secure and private outdoor space provides a safe perimeter for children and has
adequate social distancing capability for adults and providers. The handicap parking
space and will remain accessible, however, general patient parking will be unavailable.
C. Virtual:
Telehealth to continue via Spruce and arranged as clinically indicated or requested.
(Services are covered by and billed to insurance.)
D. Home:
Currently available on Wednesday to minimize exposure risk for patients with health
issues or concerns that prohibit ability to come to the medical office site.
(Home visit services incur a separate fee that is not covered by insurance.)
PATIENT PORTAL:
Passport is our new patient portal for direct access to your child(ren)’s immunization records,
lab results, patient visit summaries and informational handouts. Passport does not replace
Spruce for secure messaging, but will increase access to your child(ren)’s health profile.
Stay posted for your invitation to Passport!
BILLING SERVICE:
As of June 1, 2020, Petite Pediatrics has partnered with Accuquik, a local medial billing
company for all of our patient insurance billing needs. Sheryl Hopkins is the liaison for Accuquik
and will be able to directly assist with any insurance billing needs. Katie Welch will continue to
assist with billing needs for services rendered prior to June 1, 2020.
STAYING CONNECTED:
• website: www.petitepediatrics.com
• social media links:
– Instagram: @petitepediatricssb
– Facebook: PetitePediatrics
– Twitter: drbarry@petitepeds
SUPPORTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND BODY:
To help boost our immune response, we are offering Springboard pediatric supplements,
vitamins for kids.
Springboard Supplements & Vitamins (Shoots & Vines) online purchase/onsite pickup members-only.
Excellent for overall immune support include: D-Hist and D-Hist Jr, Buffered Vitamin C,
Reacted Zinc, Probiotics (Flora Bites and FloraBoost), Imu-Max, Natranix immune
support for respiratory health, Kid-D liquid and Vitamin K/Vitamin D and Wholemune,
an immunity supplement for older kids, teens and adults. These are available on our
website or directly at the office via curbside pickup.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS:
Petite Pediatrics’ goal is to offset the burden on Emergency Departments by offering acute
care and telemedicine services for our patients. Additionally, visiting family or friends this
summer can access care through our Virtual Peapod memberships. Overview of plans:
Charish L. Barry, MD, FAAP Petite Pediatrics
Dr. Charish Barry offers concierge-style care that is designed to provide highly personalized care to infants, children, and teens throughout the Santa Barbara area. She and her team of highly trained nurse practitioners will take the time to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a well-child visit at Petite Pediatrics today! Call our Santa Barbara office at (805) 845-1221.
Staying home and physical distancing is still the best way to protect your family from COVID-19. Especially for younger children who may not understand why they can’t run up toward other people or touch things they shouldn’t, it’s best to keep them home. Children who are sick (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, diarrhea, or vomiting) should not leave home.
One of the biggest challenges with having children wear cloth face coverings relates to them “feeling different” or stereotyping them as being sick. As more people wear these cloth face coverings, children will get used to them and not feel singled out or strange about wearing them.
Due to very limited supply now, professional grade masks like N-95 masks should be reserved for medical professionals on the front lines who have increased risk of exposure to coronavirus.
For a complete list of COVID-19 content for parents, go to the AAP HealthyChildren.org website and link to the HealthyChildren.org 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Most resources are also available in Spanish.