Methodist Healthcare San Antonio Women’s Health Services

Coughs, fevers and sneezes are commonplace among children this time of the year. How does a parent know when an over-the-counter medicine is enough or when a doctor’s visit is needed? Many area families phone Call-A-Nurse for Children, a service of Methodist Healthcare, at 22-NURSE or 226-8773.

Call-A-Nurse for Children is a free community service that answers questions on children’s health issues. Staffed by pediatric registered nurses, Call-A-Nurse handles calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The service has handled 15,610 more calls this year than the previous year. The top five topics for this year are vomiting, colds and congestion, diarrhea, fever, and cough. In addition to the many calls received from the public, physicians often have their after-hours answering services refer patients to Call-A-Nurse before taking action. With advance notice, the pediatric registered nurses who handle the calls are available for interviews on seasonal children’s health issues and on the success of the program.

If you are interested in this story idea, please phone Shirley Wills at 822-2378 or 365-4488 (cell) or JoAnn King, 575-0171 or 917-7916 (pager). For media assistance during the weekend, please phone Methodist Hospital, 575-4000, and ask for the public relations representative on call. SANTA TO PAY EARLY VISIT TO PATIENTS AT METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ON DECEMBER 24 Santa knows that children who have to be in the hospital on Christmas Day are special. So he has put them at the top of his list, and he will make an early visit to the patients at Methodist Children’s Hospital on Saturday, December 24, at 10 a.m. Santa will visit patients and deliver gifts of stuffed animals and candy canes. With advance notice, media are invited to videotape and photograph as Santa makes his rounds at the hospital.