What is pediatrics, and who are pediatricians?
Pediatrics is one of the branches of medicine that deals with mental, physical, and social well-being from infancy through young adulthood. It involves studying biological, social, and environmental factors in the developing child and the effects of disease and dysfunction on development.
Pediatricians are healthcare professionals who focus on children's health, well-being, and development from birth to adulthood. They gain expertise in these tasks due to their interest and training. They work to prevent or solve problems in child health care at the community level. A pediatrician might also publicly advocate for children's interests.
These specialists are responsible for a wide variety of tasks. From infant examinations to managing chronic medical conditions, they do it all. Pediatricians treat infections, traumas, and diseases and provide preventive care. The responsibilities of a pediatrician include the following:
- Performing routine health and wellness checkups
- Examining your body
- Maintaining a record of a child's physical, emotional, and social growth
- Diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and other medical problems
- Administering vaccinations
- Prescribing medications
- Listening to parents' concerns and inquiries
- Assisting parents with their child's health
- Referring families to specialist
- Treating dislocated elbows and shoulders
- Splinting broken bones
- Performing circumcisions
- Removing foreign bodies
What is the training and certification of a pediatrician?
A pediatrician first graduates from medical school before specializing. They take pre-medical courses such as chemistry and biology during their undergraduate classes. Anatomy and physiology are part of the coursework when they are in medical school. They also undergo clinical rotations, learning about the different areas of medicine. Many participants determine what they want to specialize in during their clinical processes. After deciding on the specialization, they enroll in the residency program.
Hence, to become a pediatrician, one must complete a four-year college degree, four years of medical school, and three years of an accredited residency program.
The main aim of the residency program is to broaden their understanding of infants, children, and adolescents. The specialized training involves clinical rotations in various pediatric subspecialties. After completing the training, the American Board of Pediatrics administers a written exam. Later, they can obtain a fellowship from the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).
When looking for a pediatrician, you may come across the initials FAAP; this denotes that the pediatrician is board-certified and holds the highest membership status in this professional organization. Pediatricians must renew their fellow American Academy of Pediatrics certifications to keep their licenses.
Subspecialized pediatricians must also meet the training requirements for each of their subspecialties. These subspecialties programs need two to six years of further training. Current medical information is essential for pediatricians and subspecialists to maintain their certification. All pediatricians must have 12,000-14,000 hours of patient care experience.
What are the different kinds of pediatricians?
Many pediatricians may work as primary care doctors who perform regular health and wellness checkups. They may also diagnose and treat various general health conditions, provide vaccinations, and offer appropriate health guidance to young people and their parents/caregivers.
Other pediatricians may specialize in treating specific medical disorders or age groups. These subspecialties include the following:
- Adolescent medicine specialists focus on providing care to adolescents aged 11 to 21.
- Child abuse pediatricians have specialized training, knowledge, and skills to evaluate a child who may have experienced abuse or neglect.
- Critical care pediatricians facilitate teams of healthcare specialists who treat children in precarious or critical health conditions. They typically work in hospital-based intensive care units (ICUs).
- Developmental behavioral pediatricians assess the behavioral and learning development of children and teenagers.
- Neonatal-perinatal pediatricians treat infants before, during, and after delivery. They also provide care for premature and critically sick newborns.
- Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat various heart diseases in children. Many work closely with heart surgeons to decide the best treatment plans.
- Pediatric endocrinologists focus on the endocrine system and the hormones it produces. They treat various illnesses in children, including diabetes.
- Pediatric gastroenterologists focus on the health of a young person's digestive system.
- Pediatric nephrologists specialize in treating disorders affecting a child's urinary system, including urinary tract infections and kidney disease.
- Pediatric neurologists treat and manage neurological disorders in children. Neurological conditions that present during childhood may persist through adulthood. They oversee their patients' care from diagnosis through adolescence.
- Pediatric oncologists diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer in children.
- Pediatric pulmonologists prevent, diagnose, treat, and manage children with lung diseases and breathing problems.
- Pediatric rheumatologists focus on treating children and adolescents with musculoskeletal disorders, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain.
What can a pediatrician offer you during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, having access to the expertise of a pediatrician can prove invaluable. They can guide and support expectant parents in the prenatal period. A pediatrician can help identify high-risk conditions that might need special attention. Prenatal visits are also a good way of establishing a rapport with the pediatrician for when the baby is born. You can ask questions about the specialist's areas of expertise and years of experience to determine if they suit your requirements.
In first-time pregnancies, the guidance and suggestions of the pediatrician can help develop parenting skills and confidence. Issues you could discuss with the pediatrician include the importance of breastfeeding and marking out shared roles in parenting. You can get answers to your doubts and concerns about ensuring the baby's safety regarding sleeping, proper bedding, bathing, and feeding. The pediatrician can suggest adequate nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum, as this will directly impact the baby's health.
Ways to create a healthy life for your child
Raising children is not an easy task, but there are ways in which you can ensure you are doing the best for your child's health and well-being. The involvement of parents in all aspects of the child's life – from school to home – is essential.
- Nutrition and activity: Since every child is unique, especially regarding dietary requirements, your best bet as a parent would be to consult a pediatrician, who can recommend an ideal nutritionist. Nutritional needs for every child look different socially, culturally, and medically. However, an essential baseline for avoiding sugar-filled and carbonated beverages and foods is standard for every growing child. Healthy meals, proportions, and your child's preferences should be the factors to consider while deciding their meals. Physical activity is clinically proven to reduce symptoms of emotional distress, improve social engagement, develop a healthy body, and even manage some constraints posed by mental disorders and learning issues. An hour of activity scattered throughout the day is ideal.
- Healthcare: Keeping in touch with your pediatrician from time to time is all you need to support, facilitate, and foster a healthy body for your child. Pediatricians will equip you with knowledge, understanding, and timely information on your child's health. They may even recommend certain specialists to deal with any issues that may surface.
- Avoid triggers: Children are innocent and impressionable. The environmental, social, and familiar surroundings a child is subjected to can affect present and future behaviors and lifestyle choices. Avoid exposing your child to unhealthy environments or situations during early developmental stages. Having other reliable adults in school or at home to confide in, giving your child space, respecting their boundaries, and accepting them as they come are a few other things you can do to manage, reduce, and control possible emotional distress.
- Self-care: Parenting is not a thankless task for any parent, as the reward is their child's health and happiness. During these years, parents must not forget to care for themselves, as it will enable them to provide better for their children.
How do you find the best pediatrician near you in Denver, CO?
Are you worried about your child's emotional health? Is your child a victim of abuse? Do you want to get your injured child treated in an emergency department? Does your child have hormonal problems? Is your child sick, and do you need immediate treatment? Don't worry. Zocdoc is here to help you find a skilled pediatrician in Denver, CO.
Even if your child is not sick, seeing a pediatrician for routine checkups can prevent illness and help encourage a healthy lifestyle. Physical examinations aid in the monitoring of a child's health and growth. You should schedule an appointment with the best pediatrician near you, even for minor reasons such as your child's behavior, immunization, or medicines.
Create an account for free on Zocdoc, and type the condition, specialty name, location, and insurance or carrier plan. You'll get a complete list of pediatricians as per your search. Each pediatrician in our vast database has a profile that includes - a brief introduction, practice location, board certifications, education, visit reasons, and availability time. Most importantly, you will find recent, verified patient reviews.
You can always look at the patient reviews to find the top-rated pediatrician for your child's treatment. Virtual consultation options are also available on Zocdoc. With Zocdoc, all the appointments with the best pediatrician near you become safe, secure, and free!
Pediatric care and pediatricians in Denver, Colorado
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2022 shows 470 general pediatricians in Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2021, the infant mortality rate in Colorado was 4.99 for every 1,000 live births. The percentage of suicide death rates among persons aged 10-24 increased from 11.5% in 2007-2009 to 17.4% in 2016-2018.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in 2020, 4.3% of children under 17 had diabetes. Depression affects children and adolescents, making this period of life crucial for recognizing and preventing depression. According to the 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, nearly one-third of middle and high school kids in Denver said that almost every day for two weeks or more during the previous year, they felt sad or hopeless, exhibiting symptoms of depression.
According to the Denver Public Health report titled "Depression in Denver: Through the Lifespan," in Denver, 4% of children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 were diagnosed with depression by a CHORDS-affiliated healthcare provider in 2016. Non-Hispanic whites comprised 4%, non-Hispanic blacks made up 3%, and Hispanics 4%.
The Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service (CHORDS) reports that a medical practitioner detected depression in 11% of children aged 15 to 17 and 7% of kids aged 12 to 17 years old. Since 2003, Denver's School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) have used their Adolescent Depression Care Model. This integrated care has assisted 521 children and adolescents throughout the 2017-2018 school year.
Sources
Medical News Today
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Denver Public Health
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Cleveland Clinic
Verywell Health
WebMD
American Academy of Pediatrics[1]
American Academy of Pediatrics[2]
Children's Hospital Colorado
