Youth Heart Watch at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

A letter from Youth Heart Watch at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We would like to inform you about a special opportunity that is available to children/teenagers at the Daniel E. Rumph II Recreation Center. The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation, in partnership with the Youth Heart Watch Heart Health Screening Team at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), will provide free heart screenings for children, 5 - 19 years of age, on Saturday December 1, 2012 at The Daniel E. Rumph II Recreation Center.

Address of Recreation Center: 100 East Johnson Street

Philadelphia, PA 19144

The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation was created in July, 2005 to bring awareness to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) and Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). As well as provide FREE screening for heart disease that causes SCA, and to place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) into all Recreational Facilities in the tri-state area.

Why is screening the hearts of our children important? Every year, thousands of children die from sudden cardiac arrest. Most of the time, these conditions can be found by conducting a simple and non-invasive exam called an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram (ECHO). Once found, these conditions can be treated.

The screening is administered by the Cardiology Team from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. You will receive a form with your child’s results if the ECG is normal. If results are considered abnormal, you and your doctor will be informed of the recommendations for follow-up. In addition, the information gathered from the screening will be used as part of a research project currently underway. The findings from this project will support the idea that screening the hearts of children is affordable, practical and saves lives.

In order for your child to participate in this screening, a parent or legal guardian must be present. You will be asked to sign a consent form giving Dr. Victoria Vetter permission to use the data from your child in her research study. Your child’s personal identifying information will not be a part of the study. If your child is over 18 years of age, he or she will be asked to sign the consent.

We hope that you will take advantage of this special opportunity. If you have any questions about the screening, please contact Noreen Dugan, R.N. (Project Manager) at 267-426-5247 or the Youth Heart Watch e-mail address (youthheartwatch@email.chop.edu).

Sincerely,

Members of the Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation and the Cardiology Center at CHOP

SCREENING DETAILS



The study team will meet you at the registration desk so we can review and sign the consent form at the screening visit giving permission to Dr. Victoria Vetter to conduct the tests and use the data in her research study. Your child’s personal identifying information will not be a part of the study. All signatures on the consent form need to be witnessed on the day of the visit.

You will need to complete a list of questions about your child’s heart health. The Heart Health Questionnaire can be completed on a paper format. We will also ask your child to:

-Have his or her height, weight and blood pressure measured.

-Have an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a simple test that records the electrical activity of the heart. We will place stickers on your child’s chest. The stickers are connected to wires. The wires transfer the reading of your child’s heartbeat onto a screen and ECG paper. (See picture to your left.)

-If the ECG shows a possible abnormality, your child will have a screening echocardiogram (ECHO), which is an ultrasound or a picture of the heart created by sound waves. During the ECHO a little gel is placed on your child’s chest. A wand is used to take pictures of your child’s heart. (See picture to your left.)

-A pediatric cardiologist (a children’s heart doctor) from CHOP may listen to your child’s heart.

-Both tests are easy and painless.

Additional Information regarding how to participate in the screening:


Sign-up sheets will be available at the Daniel E. Rumph II Recreation Center. You will be able to pick a time to come to have the testing done.

If your child is playing any sports/activities prior to coming to the screening (the night before or morning of), please be sure that they are well hydrated. Dehydration can lead to an increased heart rate.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes.

All ECGs will be done behind a privacy screen.

Boys will be asked to remove their shirt to get their ECG.

Girls may be asked to unhook their bras (NO sports bras) to get their ECG.

We will have patient gowns available if your child would like to wear one for the procedure.

This visit should take approximately one hour for your child.