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: Pediatrics And Choosing a Pediatrician
DEAR DR. PAUL: My wife is 8 months pregnant and
we were wondering how to choose a pediatrician for our new baby.
Also, what exactly does a pediatrician do?
PEDIATRICIAN DR. PAUL Answers: Technically, pediatrics
means "doctor of children". However, it's more than just following
and treating sick children. The specialty of pediatrics is equally
devoted to following and ensuring the normal growth and development(both
physical and mental) of children from birth through adolescence(18
years of age). Unlike most medical specialists, pediatricians
deal with a constantly changing patient population; When a child
is born, he or she grows from a 7 pound baby to a one year-old
who's walking and talking. During the routine check ups, pediatricians
follow these changes making sure they occur normally. In addition,
the pediatrician also helps in disease and injury prevention.
Immunization (vaccination) prevents children form serious disease,
and safety/environmental preventative awareness will protect children
form injury.
One of the challenges in pediatrics is that babies don't speak
and therefore cannot communicate. The pediatrician must obtain
the necessary details from the parents or caregivers. Additionally,
any treatment, although intended for the child, must be fully
explained to the parents who themselves administer it. I refer
to this as "medicine by proxy"; Treating children through an intermediary.
Contrarily, when dealing with older children or adults, the treatment
and communication occurs directly between doctor and patient.
The following summarizes the key roles of a pediatrician:
- Ensure normal growth and development(physical AND psycho-social)
- Help in the prevention of BOTH illness and injury
- Diagnose and treat( follow if necessary) illness or other
conditions
- Provide the necessary support, information and resources
so that parents can understand as much as possible about their
children's growth, development, safety, and overall health
and wellness
How to choose a pediatrician for your new baby? A pediatrician
is a medical doctor who has gone to school for four extra years
(residency) after medical school to study and to practice in the
field of pediatrics. To be a recognized pediatrician, one has
to pass specialty examinations in order to be certified as a pediatrician.
In the Unites States, The American Board of Pediatrics is the
certifying organization. In Canada it is the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Making sure your doctor is
certified is just one aspect. Being comfortable with the pediatrician
you choose is key. Meeting your new pediatrician before your baby
is born is a good idea. Also, get to know the office staff and
facilities, working hours, and evening /weekend availability.
This will help you determine whether or not you are comfortable
with the pediatrician, and, very importantly with his/her office
and practice setup. Because you're going to have a lot of questions
about your child's health and wellness you must be comfortable
with the pediatrician you choose. Also, "word of mouth" based
on friends' and family's previous experiences is also a good source
of information in helping with your choice. |
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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