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What is pediatric care? Who are pediatricians?

The American Academy of Pediatrics defines pediatric care as a wide range of medical treatments. It covers chronic and acute disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as preventive healthcare. Pediatricians are medical professionals who specialize in caring for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults until age 21. They emphasize children's physical, social, and emotional wellness.  

Pediatricians can evaluate, identify, stop, and control various child-related disorders. They also consult with parents and guardians as part of their treatment to determine the patient's health state and offer proactive advice. They strive to promote healthy lifestyles, treat chronic and acute disorders, control contagious infections, and decrease the morbidity of children and newborns.

What kind of education and training do pediatricians receive?

Aspiring pediatricians must study and train for at least nine years before they can begin practicing. They must first complete undergraduate studies in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. After earning a bachelor's degree, they must enroll in a medical school where they study and train for four years. 

The first two years in medical school involve coursework such as physiology and anatomy, which students learn in classrooms and laboratories. During the following two years, they receive practical training under the guidance of doctors and specialists. They learn to diagnose and treat illnesses in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals.

Students do clinical rotations in different areas of medicine, such as neurology, pediatrics, radiology, psychiatry, and emergency medicine. During this time, students decide what area they want to specialize in. Also, instead of four years of undergraduate studies and four years in medical school, some schools, such as NEOMED, combine and condense these studies into six years of initial education. 

On clearing medical school, students earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree. Those who wish to become pediatricians must then take up a residency in general pediatric practice, which usually takes at least three years to complete.  Students gain from 12,000 to 14,000 hours of medical training taking care of patients during this period.

According to the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), all pediatricians must clear a stringent state-level examination before they can begin practicing. Pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists must also hold a valid allopathic or osteopathic medical license in at least one jurisdiction in the United States.

Some pediatricians also pursue a fellowship, where they receive additional training in pediatric subspecialties. It can take two to six years, depending on the chosen specialty. A fellowship usually means the specialist is the best in their field.

What are the subspecialties of pediatricians?

Like every other healthcare sector, pediatrics is broad and diverse. We often hear about general pediatricians caring for a child's essential medical needs. However, for specific conditions, there are pediatric specialists. Following are a few different kinds of pediatricians:

• Developmental and behavioral pediatricians assess, manage, and treat newborns, children, and young people with developmental and behavioral issues. They research the causes and treatments of numerous diseases and work to raise public awareness of the social, educational, and cultural effects of childhood disorders.
• Pediatric cardiologists treat patients with cardiovascular issues. They perform a clinical assessment of cardiovascular disease and select, execute, and evaluate structural and functional examinations of the blood and heart arteries. 
• Child abuse pediatricians can recognize and treat child abuse and neglect. They collaborate with neighborhood organizations that work to prevent child abuse and participate in teams that look into and handle such cases.
• Pediatric rheumatologists treat muscles, tendons, joints, and bones in infants, children, and young adults. They diagnose and treat arthritis, back pain, and other injuries. They also recognize and treat inflammatory musculoskeletal system diseases and autoimmune disorders in kids and teenagers. 
• Pediatric critical care specialists provide advanced life support to children from birth through adolescence. The knowledge covers sustaining crucial physiological functioning while managing essential care for patients with medical and surgical conditions experiencing life-threatening organ system failure.
• Pediatric gastroenterologists diagnose and treat infants, children, and young adults with digestive system issues like cancer, ulcers, stomach pain, diarrhea, and jaundice.
• Pediatric endocrinologists provide expert care for diseases caused by abnormalities in the endocrine glands.
• Pediatric nephrologists deal with both normal and abnormal development. They specialize in evaluating and treating hypertension, renal diseases, fluid abnormalities, and kidney and urinary tract functionality, among other conditions.
• Pediatric pulmonologists specialize in preventing and treating respiratory diseases in infants, children, and young adults. They are knowledgeable about assessing noninvasive diagnostic techniques, respiratory functions, and lung growth and development.

What is a well-child visit?

Well-child visits are checkups during which a pediatrician assesses your child's growth and development and carries out the following responsibilities: 

• Performing a physical examination
• Giving your child the necessary vaccinations
• Suggesting you how to handle your child's health emergencies
• Discussing your child's nutritional needs and physical fitness

Further, your pediatrician informs you about sleep schedules, safety, and childhood disorders and addresses any queries you may have about your child's behavior and development. 

After your child is born, a pediatrician near you will conduct the first well-child visit 2-3 days after you take them home (for breastfed babies) or when they are 2-4 days old (for babies released from a hospital before they are two days old). Following that, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the visits should occur when your child is:

• 1 month old or younger
• 2 months old
• 4 months old
• 6 months old
• 9 months old 
• 12 months old
• 15 months old 
• 18 months old 
• 2 years old
• 2.5 years old
• 3 years old
• Once every year between ages 4-21

Necessary vaccinations and vaccination schedules

The recommended vaccination schedule for children is as follows:

• 3-5 days after birth - Hepatitis B 
• 2 months old - Rotavirus (RV), Hepatitis B, DTaP (Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), PCV (Pneumococcal), IPV (Inactivated poliovirus) 
• 4 months old - RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV
• 6 months old - RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV, Hepatitis B, Influenza (flu)
• 12 months old - MMR (Measles, mumps, and rubella), Hepatitis A, Varicella (chicken pox), Hib, PCV, Flu
• 15 months old - DTaP
• 24 months old - Flu
• 3 years old - Flu
• 4 years old - DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella, Flu

Why are routine visits to a pediatrician important? 

Pediatricians manage a child's physical, behavioral, and mental care, from newborns to young adults aged 21. Properly scheduled routine visits serve as a way of better understanding your child's health and developmental issues. Here's why you should take your child for regular health checkups to a pediatrician:  

• Preventing illnesses in the future: During routine visits, your pediatrician will keep track of your child's necessary vaccinations and if there are any immunizations required, depending on your child's age. Since a baby's immunity is still developing, they are more susceptible to acquiring infections and becoming fatally ill. Following your pediatrician's vaccination schedule for your child can help easily prevent contagious diseases like polio, measles, tuberculosis, and diphtheria. It is important to note that vaccines are put through rigorous clinical testing and trials and are highly safe for your children.

• Tracking your child's growth and development: With each well-child or routine visit, your pediatrician will learn about your child's physical and behavioral development. During your visit, you can also voice your concerns about social behavior, sleep patterns, eating habits, or attitudes toward other children and family members. To be better prepared for a well-child checkup, carry your child's previous test results or diagnoses and a list of medications (including vitamins and other supplements). You can also prepare a list of three to five questions you can ask your pediatrician at the start of your visit. 

• Building a trusted partnership with your pediatrician: Routine visits develop trustworthy relationships among the pediatrician, parents, and children. This creates a team approach that allows a child's physical, social, and mental development. 

• Pediatricians are trained to understand your children: Pediatric specialists understand that children are not small adults. They often have special needs, and pediatricians are trained not only to treat health issues in children but also to make them cooperate during examinations and help them feel at ease during appointments. For example, pediatric dentists often have specially designed equipment and decorations in their offices that keep a child's comfort in mind. 

• Routine pediatric visits benefit teenagers: A well-child visit is not only for infants and toddlers. Teenagers could also benefit from them. These routine visits present an excellent opportunity for teenagers to build responsibility for their health. These visits help set a stage of independence for teenagers, who can learn ways to promote lifelong health from their pediatricians. Often, teenagers also have one-on-one conversations with their pediatricians. It allows them to connect with their pediatrician and ask them about things they may be curious about. 

• Pediatricians offer parents guidance on mental health issues in children: Adolescent and teenage years can often feel confusing. It's normal for children to have complex thoughts, emotions, and feelings during this phase. Speaking to your child's pediatrician is a way that you can gain insight into your child's mental health, learn about the signs of issues like anxiety and depression, and provide the necessary support your child needs. Further, a pediatrician can also help parents understand which problems can be solved in their office and which need additional support from specialists like psychiatrists or psychologists.

How should one prepare for a pediatrician appointment?

The pediatrician's office can be stressful for both the child and you because a lot happens quickly. Hence, it will help if you get your child ready before an appointment. The appropriate preparation can make a significant difference and help your child relax, whether the visit is for preventative purposes, to treat an illness and injury, or both. It will be simpler to discuss your problems if you can express them as clearly as possible. Before the visit, list your concerns and questions so you remember everything necessary.

It will be helpful to inform your child that they will see the pediatric doctor within 24 hours of their appointment. Use child-friendly language to explain what they can expect at their office. It is advisable to dress your child simply so the pediatrician can efficiently perform checkups. Emergencies can cause pediatrician offices to fall behind schedule. In that case, keep a book, toy, or any exciting thing or activity on hand for your child to pass the time while waiting.

How do you find the best pediatrician near you in Douglasville, GA?

When addressing problems with children's physical, behavioral, and emotional development, experience is essential. A pediatrician with more experience and education will make your child feel at ease. The goal of Zocdoc has always been to improve the patient experience in healthcare, and pediatric care is no different. 

On Zocdoc, you can find the best pediatricians based on your child's symptoms, preferred location, date, time of appointment, and insurance carrier or plan. Additionally, you can refine the search to locate the pediatrician based on the language, gender, association with the hospital, and whether they treat kids. Every pediatrician has a dedicated profile that includes qualifications, experience, areas of expertise, affiliations, honors, certifications, licensure, and other details. You can review their profile to choose the best pediatricians in Douglasville, Georgia.

Zocdoc also helps patients find in-network pediatricians. Choose your insurance carrier and plan from the drop-down menu to find your plan. If you cannot see your insurance plan on Zocdoc, you can try uploading a photo of your insurance card on the Zocdoc website. Then, allow Zocdoc to scan the image of your insurance card and show you a plan that best matches your card. This service is available only for medical insurance cards, not dental or vision. You can check out Zocdoc's patient help center if you need other insurance information. You may also contact Zocdoc's service team if you need help uploading your insurance card. 

You may also learn about the doctor's treatment approach and determine if it is appropriate for your child by reading verified reviews and ratings by past patients on Zocdoc. You can book both virtual and in-person appointments with a pediatrician near you. While browsing the list of healthcare providers, look for a purple-colored video icon next to their name. The doctors with this icon offer online sessions.

Booking appointments on Zocdoc is free, easy, and safe!

Pediatric health statistics in Douglasville, Georgia

As per the Health of Women and Children Edition year 2024 report by America's Health Rankings, between 2021 and 2022, 19.9% of children between 6 and 17 had mental health problems. The report also stated that the teen suicide rate was 10.5 deaths per 100,000 adolescents between 2020 and 2022. 31.1% of adolescents were found to be obese, and 5.1% of children under 19 were uninsured.

Georgia Child Abuse & Neglect Statistics by the Georgia Department of Human Services

shows that in 2023, around 2,299 children were victims of psychological abuse, and about 1,110 children were victims of physical abuse. Additionally, Georgia had approximately 6,311 child neglect and about 720 child sexual abuse victims.

According to a report by America's Health Rankings, from 2022 to 2023, 30.1% of kids between the ages of 10 and 17 were overweight or obese. Pediatricians usually make an initial diagnosis of childhood obesity, and depending on the condition, they can refer the child to a specialist.

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics[1]

American Academy of Pediatrics[2]

Association of American Medical Colleges[1]

Association of American Medical Colleges[2]

Association of American Medical Colleges[3]

Association of American Medical Colleges[4]

Cleveland Clinic

Verywell Health

Healthline[1]

Healthline[2]

MedlinePlus

Johns Hopkins Medicine

WebMD

America's Health Rankings[1]

America's Health Rankings[2]

Mayo Clinic

The American Board of Pediatrics

American Academy of Pediatrics[3]

UNICEF

Harbor Community Health Centers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Academy of Pediatrics[4]

American Academy of Pediatrics[5]

American Academy of Pediatrics[6]

American Academy of Pediatrics[7]

Georgia Department of Human Services

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.