From an interview with
Dr. David Steflik
McLeod Pediatric Cardiology

A team of pediatric subspecialists at McLeod cares for critical illnesses in children – from those babies are born with to those that children can acquire, such as the COVID-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

“Some things we’ve seen over the last few months are fairly urgent,” said McLeod Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. David Steflik. “So, having subspecialists close to home is very important – and not just one – but a team of pediatric subspecialists, with whom families can develop quality relationships.

“As a pediatric cardiologist, I deal with congenital heart problems as well as infections and inflammation of the heart. I collaborate on a daily basis with pediatric intensivists, pediatric hospitalists and neonatal intensivists.

“One of the conditions we are seeing today is MIS-C. When this occurs, there can be multiple organ systems involved – including the gastrointestinal system, cardiac system, endocrine system and more.

“As a cardiologist, I’ll guide treatment or monitoring of the heart function and rhythm. The pediatric intensivist and pediatric endocrinologist will collaborate with me on a daily basis. Sometimes the team is even larger than that.

“Recently, a pediatrician called me about a newborn baby who seemed very sick. Within an hour, the family was in my office, and we diagnosed a critical congenital heart disease that can be deadly if not treated promptly. We walked the family over to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and our medical team worked together to ensure this baby received timely care. The baby is now at home doing well.

“If these services were not available at McLeod and the family needed to drive several hours for care, there is a very good chance this baby would not have survived.”

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE
It is important to establish a relationship with a pediatrician or primary care physician who can follow your child and identify any potential issues that may require the care of a subspecialist.

Find a pediatrician or primary care physician near you.