This talk was recorded live at DFTB18 in Melbourne, Australia. With the theme of ‘Science and Story’ we pushed our speakers to step out of their comfort zones and consider why we do what we do. Caring for children is not just about acquiring the scientific knowhow but also about taking a look beyond a diagnosis or clinical conundrum at the patient and their families.
Katie Tinning is a staff specialist in the emergency department at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. In this talk from she talks about a challenge faced by every parent – trying to work out a baby is crying…all…of…the…time.
Katie reminds us to consider the crying itself, the patient and the caregivers. Whilst the majority of crying is completely normal it is up to us to identify the sick child and provide reassurance when needed, ideally backed up with science. No matter how much you may want to, it is important not to roll your eyes but see the importance of this visit for the parents. Nobody wants to come to the hospital in the middle of the night – most of us would rather stay in bed.
For more on the crying infant then head over to the Pediatric Emergency Playbook and listen to our friend Tim Horeczko on the fussy infant.
If you want our podcasts delivered straight to your listening device then subscribe to our iTunes feed or check out the RSS feed. Please embrace the spirit of FOAMed and spread the word.
