Utica Pediatrics

04/21/2026

Beginning April 25, 2026, through Labor Day weekend, Utica Pediatrics and Slocum Dickson Pediatrics will not hold Saturday morning sick visits. An on-call physician will remain available via phone for guidance, and local urgent cares or ERs may be utilized for acute needs.

We realize this is a shift from how we have previously handled sick calls on weekends. With the changing needs of our community and low utilization of our sick appointments during these months, we feel this is a good time to give the staff and providers in our office time to relax and enjoy their families.

Later this summer, we will update you on how weekend sick visits will be handled next fall and winter.

Drs. Bard, Griffith and Henderson

04/14/2026

It’s that time of year again! Don’t forget to check your child for ticks!

Please review the photo for areas to pay particular attention to when performing tick checks.

The AAP has published a Lyme Disease symptom reviewer that you can find here:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Tick+Bite #:~:text=Prevent%20Tick%20Bites%3A&text=Tumble%20any%20clothing%20in%20a,are%20ticks%2C%20wear%20long%20clothing.

The AAP has a nice article on tick removal that you can link to here:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/from-insects-animals/Pages/how-to-remove-a-tick.aspx

The AAP has also published information on selecting a repellent:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Insect-Repellents.aspx

As always, our patients can call during regular business hours with any questions or concerns!

04/01/2026

03/20/2026

💙 💛 Rockin’ our socks in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day tomorrow 💙 💛!

03/02/2026

RSV season started a bit later this year. Our sickest babies and todders have been presenting to the office the last two weeks. Flu B, COVID and other viruses are ticking up a but as well.

We are again encouraging families to make sure you have all prescibed medications for your child on hand, including albuterol and inhaled steroids. Test any equipment (nebulizers, humidifiers, etc) to make sure they are in proper working order and clean for when you need them.

You can review this short video from the AAP in hopes that our you become familiar with signs and symptoms of respiratory distress (for RSV and other respiratory infections): https://youtu.be/_2qh31Wndls. When you see a child exhibiting these symptoms, they should be evaluated immediately.

If your child is sick, keep them home from daycare and school, and keep any sick contacts away from your newborn. Viruses that cause minor cold symptoms in older children and adults can make babies extremely ill.

For more information, you can click on the following link:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/rsv-in-babies-children

02/27/2026

As your child starts to crawl or eat table foods and progress through toddlerhood, there are several choking hazards families should be aware of. Here is a nice overview from the AAP:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Choking-Prevention.aspx?_gl=1*hnvv6b*_ga*MTc2MTg2NjY5OS4xNzcyMTkzMzI4*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*czE3NzIxOTMzMjgkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzIxOTMzMzAkajU4JGwwJGgw

02/10/2026

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! You can learn more about caring for your child’s teeth, starting with their first tooth, by going to https://bit.ly/2z13wC4

02/03/2026

The use of Kratom is gaining popularity among teens in our area. Every parent of a teen should know what Kratom is, and the side effects it can cause. Follow the link to learn more about Kratom:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/substance-abuse/Pages/kratom-what-parents-need-to-know-about-this-risky-substance.aspx

01/26/2026

Open regular business hours today…..be safe if you are coming to the office!

01/22/2026

With norovirus (GI illness causing vomiting and diarrhea) going around, now is a good time to remind everyone that hand sanitizers and household wipes DO NOT kill this virus. Tips for cleaning your home can be found in the photo. Review proper handwashing techniques with your children. Daycare providers and educators should remind their children/students to wash their hands with soap and water prior to eating snack or meals.

For more information on caring for a child with this illness, you can follow the link below:

https://uticapediatrics.com/Vomiting-With-Diarrhea

01/15/2026

If your family is not signed up for the Patient Portal, now is a great time to set it up! With the Verizon cellular service issues yesterday, it was very handy for families to utilize when they couldn’t contact us via phone call. The portal is monitored during regular business hours only. A separate account must be set up for each child. For information and an activation code, you can call our office!