This accuracy directly impacts patient care. With a complete medication history including updates to the patients’ allergies, physicians can order medications from the retail pharmacy to be delivered to the bedside as part of the “Meds to Beds” program. Clinical technicians also assist with clinical tasks, reorder doses and coordinate discharges so patients leave with everything they need. If a patient is not tolerating a medication or has run out, clinical technicians work closely with pharmacists and the care team to resolve issues quickly. In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), they also review transfer records and vaccine administration schedules to support safe care.

Clinical technicians are cross-trained to provide support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever they are needed in the hospital. In the ED, dedicated clinical technicians are available around the clock to assist pharmacists, improving both safety and turnaround time for medications. During codes, clinical technicians coordinate medication delivery to the bedside and assist the pharmacists with drawing up emergency medication doses.

Through the program, clinical technicians help patients identify and resolve issues with their medications.

“When we take medication histories, we sometimes find patients haven’t been taking their medications at all,” Hernandez said. “Other times, their symptoms are actually side effects from taking a medication incorrectly.”

Expanding a Program That Leads the Field
The clinical technician program began in 2013 to support clinical pharmacist activities on the inpatient units. From 2011 to 2012, pharmacy students piloted medication history taking in the ED. As a result of this pilot, medication history technicians were added in 2015 in the ED, inpatient units, and later, Perioperative Services.

In 2022, the medication history program merged with the clinical technician program, creating a more comprehensive, integrated service supported by additional full-time positions.  

Today, the program continues to grow. Pharmacy completion of medication histories has increased from 89% of admissions to 98% in 2025. The team is recognized as a leader in the field.

“We have one of the most robust programs in the country with research dedicated to this,” Yeh said.

That recognition extends beyond Cook Children’s. At a recent Children’s Hospital Association conference, the Cook Children’s program was highlighted as a model for medication history programs nationwide. Hospitals across the country have reached out to learn about the program’s structure and success.

Most importantly, the impact is felt by patients and families every day.

“We take a holistic approach to improving the patient experience, from transitions of care to how we measure success,” Yeh said. “This program makes a difference for patients every day.”

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and it can make the difference in someone’s life to have emotional and mental health support with access to the resources they need. Being open to mental health education and counseling as well as finding the right medication or treatment is key. Often, parents can be hesitant to have their child on psychiatric medication. Cook Children’s psychiatrists are answering parents’ questions and raising awareness to help alleviate stigma and treatment for children.

What are mental health conditions?

Depression, ADHD, anxiety and behavior problems are the most common mental disorders found in children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, causing distress and problems getting through the day.”

Kristen Pyrc, M.D., Medical Director of Psychiatry Outpatient Services and the Partial Hospitalization Program at Cook Children’s, said they diagnose mental health conditions when they are limiting a child or teen’s functioning.

“Worries, sadness, and anger are all normal emotions, but we become concerned when a kid’s sadness or anxiety keeps them from doing things that bring them joy, or things they need to do to take care of themselves like attending school, showering and interacting with friends,” she said.

How can mental health conditions be treated? 

Both counseling and medication can be used to treat a child with a mental health condition that affects their everyday life, but parents are often hesitant about having their child try medication.

“I’ve found medication and counseling to be equally effective for a child with anxiety and depression, but the combination of both gets kids better faster and safer,” Dr. Pyrc said.

Akemi Watkins, M.D., in Cook Children's Behavioral Health also recommends medication when needed. “If a child has moderate to severe depression or anxiety, we’ll recommend starting medication because current evidence suggests that a combination of medication and therapy is more effective than medication or therapy alone.”

Why are parents hesitant about their child taking medication?

Many parents are concerned with their child taking psychiatric medication because of potential side-effects, medication dependency, the stigma associated with it and even their own experience with mental health medications. The cost of prescription medications, especially name brand, can also be a major hurdle.

If a parent is questioning their child trying medication, Dr. Pyrc recommends, “Consider the risk of not treating anxiety, depression and ADHD, and whether that keeps them from reaching their full potential.”

Is it possible to get financial help to access medication?

The cost of medication often prevents parents from having their child try it. Name-brand prescriptions, especially when they are new to the market, are also out of most people’s price range.

Both Dr. Pyrc and Dr. Watkins help patients have access to their medication by finding similar, lower cost medications and recommending ways to find more affordable pricing.

“GoodRx can help you find the lowest cost pharmacy in your area,” they said. Dr. Pyrc also tells patients about CostPlus Drug Company which has many psychiatric medications at much lower costs that can be mailed.

How can we make taking medication a routine?

Helping a child get used to a new daily routine of taking medication can be challenging. Dr. Pyrc advises “habit-stacking” to make it easier.

“It means ‘stack on’ taking medication to something that you already do every day. Most people brush their teeth twice a day, so getting into the habit of taking medication after brushing your teeth is easier than trying to remember to take it at noon,” she said.

Setting phone notifications can also be helpful and Dr. Watkins advises the parent or guardian to be responsible for dispensing medication for safety reasons.

Medication Success Stories

Both Dr. Pyrc and Dr. Watkins have seen a lot of success stories when children and teens find the right medication.

“One of my favorite memories was a 1^st grader who had ADHD and got into trouble at school every day to the point that he did not want to go to school,” Dr. Pyrc shared. “After we started medication, he brought me his behavior log that had a smiley face for good behavior every day. I still remember the look on his face glowing with pride, and honestly, that is why I do my job.”

Dr. Watkins also experienced seeing her patients’ overall well-being and mental health improve.

“I had a teenage patient with depression and anxiety, and she was started on sertraline,” Dr. Watkins said. “After getting to a therapeutic dose, she was less socially isolated, less overwhelmed with anxiety and said that she was having fewer days where she felt depressed. She felt more motivated to attend school and her grades eventually improved as her depression and anxiety improved.”

Additional Support

When parents are still debating whether or not to have their child or teen try a psychiatric medication, Dr. Pyrc recommends they visit with their pediatrician who can help them understand what is “normal” or if something does need to be addressed. She also recommends researching the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) to learn more about anxiety, depression, ADHD, sleep disorders and Autism in the AACAP Parents’ Medication Guides.

Sickle Cell Awareness Month is recognized each September. For many of the more than 100,000 Americans living with the disease, acute painful episodes and chronic pain happen year-round. As if living with sickle cell disease (SCD) isn’t tough enough, they often face stigmas that come with fighting the disease.

People with SCD suffer from sickle cell pain crisis. These symptoms can lead to absenteeism from both school and work. This may create a false impression that the person with SCD is “lazy.”

Twelve-year-old Daylen Parrish, a patient at Cook Children’s Medical Center since 2009, understands both the pain and stigmas all too well. He was 10 days old when his family first met Clarissa Johnson, M.D., a hematologist/oncologist and lead physician at Cook Children’s Sickle Cell Program.

Daylen’s mother, Erikah, says they met Dr. Johnson on her first day of work at Cook Children’s, and though that moment was scary, that wasn’t where their story began.

Erikah and her husband both carry the sickle cell trait, which one in every 13 Black or African American children are born with. Since they were aware they were carriers, the couple had conversations about not having children because they knew their child would likely be born with SCD. They were surprised when they found out they were expecting and knew they had a long road ahead of them.

Daylen spent the first few years of his life in and out of Cook Children’s.

“It became our second home,” Erikah said. “We were there eight to 10 times throughout the year. It was hard as a mother because when he was young and couldn’t speak, I didn’t know if he was crying because he was a baby or because he was in pain.”

She says one thing that she vividly remembers is the learning curve and the hard days of ‘trying to get it right and figure things out.’

Erikah says Dr. Johnson was good to her family from the very beginning.

“I remember her telling me we were going to try everything we could to make sure Daylen lived as normal as a life as possible,” she said.

“I've been managing his care since he was a newborn,” Dr. Johnson explained. “His parents have always been very receptive to any sort of new therapies that are out there and they just want what’s best for him. We all want what’s best for him, and want him to live his life, even with SCD.”

Daylen would agree Dr. Johnson has kept her promise to do just that.

“I love being at Cook Children’s,” he said. “It’s like a hotel, and better than being at school, except the pain part. But it’s a nice break, who wouldn’t like a break with good food?”

As Daylen has gotten older, his trips to Cook Children’s have become less frequent, but he’s faced new challenges.

“I can’t do what my other friends can do at school,” Daylen explained. “Sometimes at recess, I have to stop and take a break. Or if I am playing with my friends outside, I have to stop a lot.”

Daylen says this is because he becomes tired and cannot push his body to keep going like the rest of his classmates or friends. He says this has been hard for him because sometimes he feels like he doesn’t fit in and can’t do the things others can do.

Erikah says she is proud of her son every day for his fight through daily tasks and SCD episodes. Additionally, she says Daylen has the most supportive and kind friends that anyone would be blessed to have and she is thankful for them being inclusive to her son. 

Another challenge Daylen faces is the daily medications and doctors’ visits that he says other kids don’t have to go through.

“He takes hydroxyurea, which is one of the common therapies that we use for patients with sickle cell,” Dr. Johnson explained. “Generally, that has worked out well for him. There's a newer drug, not FDA approved yet for his age, but he was able to participate through a clinical trial and is receiving that, and that does seem to potentially be offering him some benefit also.”

Daylen says he understands the importance of having to take his medications, go through clinical trials and attend his doctor’s appointments, but he hopes for a day when things can be normal for him.

“All the doctors and nurses have become family to us,” Erikah said. “From day one, I have never felt alone at Cook Children’s and have met other families who have children with SCD and it has made this process so much easier for us. We are grateful for Cook Children’s.”

“I love the doctors and nurses at the hospital,” Daylen said. “I am glad they help me when I am sick.”

Dr. Johnson says fostering those relationships with patients and patient families is important.

“It helps when you have a relationship with a family, to be more of a partner in care,” Dr. Johnson said. “There is built-in trust there when you’ve been with a family through multiple scenarios, so it helps when you have a relationship.”

Daylen and his family are hopeful there will one day be a cure for SCD, but until then, they will continue their fight and share their stories to encourage others.

For more information on SCD, listen to Dr. Johnson on “Unraveling the Complexities of Sickle Cell Care” on Cook Children’s Doc Talk podcast.

What is sickle cell disease (SCD)?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder in the United States. It causes the body’s red blood cells to harden and become shaped like crescents, or sickles, instead of resembling healthy, round discs. Sickle cells can get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen to organs in the body. These changes in cells can cause repeated episodes of severe pain, organ damage, serious infections, or even stroke. A person with SCD is born with it. People cannot “catch” SCD from being around a person who has it.

This serious disorder is most common among people whose ancestors come from Africa, South and Central America, the Arabian Peninsula, India, and Mediterranean countries, including Turkey, Italy, and Greece. In the U.S., it is especially prevalent in the African American population, where an estimated one in 500 people has the disease. This often-invisible and rare disease impacts over 100,000 people— most of whom are of African descent and will require regular blood transfusions to help manage their disease. 

Well, it is not from teething but it could be from the treatment you are using for it.

Fever, congestion, diarrhea, fussiness, putting things in their mouth, not sleeping well, you name it and someone has attributed it to teething.

So how do you treat the pain associated with teething?

There are lots of products available most of which are not helpful and can be potentially harmful.

Avoid products with benzocaine and lidocaine (oragel and other gels). These have been known to cause a problem in babies called methemoglobinemia where your child will turn BLUE. I mean smurf crazy blue and is obviously a medical emergency. Also, avoid products with belladonna (teething tabs) as this has known to be poisonous and doesn’t have studies proving that it decreases pain anyway.

This quote comes from the healthychildren.org article on teething (click to see full article):

“To ease your baby’s discomfort, try gently rubbing or massaging the gums with one of your fingers. Teething rings are helpful, too, but they should be made of firm rubber. The teethers that you freeze tend to get too hard and can cause more harm than good.) Pain relievers and medications that you rub on the gums are not necessary or useful since they wash out of the baby’s mouth within minutes. Some medication you rub on your child’s gums can even be harmful if too much is used and the child swallows an excessive amount.”

So what symptoms really do come up before babies cut their teeth? When can we expect teeth to erupt? What can we do for our children when they are teething?

The best study I have found about teething was done in 2000 and included lots of kids and 475 tooth eruptions. Click here to see the study.

The symptoms that they found to be associated with teething were the following:

• Biting
• Drooling
• Gum-rubbing
• Sucking
• Irritability
• Wakefulness
• Ear-rubbing
• Facial rash
• Decreased appetite for solid foods
• Mild temperature elevation

The following symptoms were NOT associated with teething:

• Congestion
• sleep disturbance
• stool looseness or increased stool number
• Decreased appetite for liquids
• Cough
• Rashes other than facial rashes
• Fever over 102 degrees F
• Vomiting

I have seen some studies that will include congestion in the symptom list for teething. I think one of the main misconceptions is about fever. I commonly have parents ask if 102-103 temp could be caused by teething and the studies are pretty clear that if the fever is that high, it probably isn’t just teething.

If our children are particularly fussy from teething, we will occasionally use Tylenol^® and if more than 6 months old Motrin^® according to weight appropriate dosing sporadically for a day or 2 until symptoms subside.

The main thing is that you have to be flexible with your child and allow them a little extra grace for changes in sleep and feeding habits. Teething is normal and should be consider a normal developmental stage. It can be disruptive to schedules and the extra fussiness can make things stressful. Hang in there, this phase is temporary.

Related article:

4 teething myths every parent should know