Who is a pediatrician?
A pediatrician is a healthcare provider who manages infants, children, and teenagers. They oversee children's physical, behavioral, and mental care from birth until age 18. Pediatricians have a crucial role in promoting the health and development of a child.
Their general duties involve:
- Performing physical exams
- Providing recommendations for immunizations
- Ensuring that the child is meeting developmental milestones in growth and behavior
- Diagnosing and treating the child's illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems
- Informing the necessary details about the child's health, safety, nutrition, and fitness needs to the parents/guardian.
- Answering questions about the child's growth and development
- Referring to and collaborating with specialists in case the child needs care beyond the pediatrician's scope.
Education and training
Being a pediatrician requires extensive education and training of almost nine years. Aspiring pediatricians first complete a four-year undergraduate degree. During this time, they study pre-medical courses like biology and chemistry.
Next comes medical school, which again spans four years. Here, they study subjects like anatomy and physiology and participate in clinical rotations. Following this is the three years of pediatric residency. The program involves advanced training in pediatric subspecialties. It ensures pediatricians develop the knowledge, abilities, and experience necessary for successful pediatric practice.
Some choose to go into general pediatric medicine after completing their residency. They may also enroll in fellowship programs to further their education in pediatric subspecialties.
Pediatric subspecialties
There are numerous subspecialties within pediatrics. Some of these are:
- Adolescent medicine: A pediatrician with expertise in adolescent medicine is a multidisciplinary healthcare professional educated in adolescents' distinctive physical, psychological, and social aspects and healthcare issues and requirements.
- Child abuse pediatrics: A pediatrician specializing in child abuse supports children, families, and communities by accurately diagnosing and treating abuse. They consult community organizations on child safety, offer insight into legal proceedings, and direct initiatives to prevent child abuse and neglect. They also participate in multidisciplinary teams that investigate and handle child abuse cases.
- Developmental and behavioral pediatrics: They assist in the detection, treatment, and management of childhood behavioral problems, developmental challenges, and family dysfunctions that jeopardize children's development.
- Medical toxicology: Medical toxicologists focus on preventing, evaluating, treating, and monitoring disease and injury caused by exposure to drugs, chemicals, and biological and radioactive agents.
- Neonatal-perinatal medicine: A pediatrician expert in neonatal-perinatal medicine is the primary care provider for sick newborn infants. This specialist's clinical experience is utilized for direct patient treatment and consultation with obstetrical colleagues to prepare for the care of mothers with high-risk pregnancies.
- Pediatric cardiology: A pediatric cardiologist offers comprehensive care to patients with cardiovascular problems. This specialist is qualified to choose, carry out, and analyze the structural and functional examination of the heart and blood arteries and the clinical evaluation of cardiovascular diseases.
- Pediatric critical care medicine: These doctors are experts in advanced life support for infants to adolescents. It includes the management of life-threatening organ system failure in both medical and surgical patients due to any cause, as well as the maintenance of essential physiological processes.
- Pediatric emergency medicine: A physician who specializes in pediatric emergency care is qualified to manage emergency treatments for babies and children who are severely ill or injured.
- Pediatric endocrinology: A pediatrician specializing in pediatric endocrinology provides advanced care to infants, children, and adolescents with diseases that develop from an abnormality in the endocrine glands, like diabetes mellitus, congenital disabilities, and more.
- Pediatric gastroenterology: These physicians are experts in identifying and treating conditions affecting newborns, kids, and teenagers' digestive systems. Pediatric gastroenterologists use illuminated scopes to observe inside organs while performing complex diagnostics and operations to address diseases such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice.
- Pediatric hematology-oncology: Pediatric hematology-oncology specialists are trained in pediatrics, hematology, and oncology to identify and treat children's blood disorders and cancerous diseases.
There are also other pediatrics subspecialties. It includes pediatric hospital medicine, pediatric infectious disease, pediatric nephrology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric sports medicine, and pediatric transplant hepatology.
When should your child see a pediatrician?
The ideal time for your baby to first visit a pediatrician is within 48 to 72 hours of leaving the hospital. The second visit can be when the child is two to four weeks old.
Your child should visit the pediatrician during their first year at two, four, six, nine, and twelve months. The pediatrician should examine your child at 15, 18, and 24 months after turning one.
Following that, you should take your child to the pediatrician once a year. Moreover, you can schedule an appointment whenever your kid is unwell or has a health concern.
Why should your child visit a pediatrician?
Family doctors can provide regular child care. However, the choice between a family doctor and a pediatrician ultimately comes to personal preference. Below are a few compelling reasons to opt for the best pediatrician near you:
- Pediatricians are trained to address children's physical, emotional, and behavioral requirements.
- Given that pediatricians exclusively attend to children, they often boast a more comprehensive range of experience in identifying and treating childhood illnesses.
- A pediatrician might provide more tailored and specialized care if your child was born prematurely or has a health condition requiring close monitoring.
How do you pick a pediatrician for your newborn?
Choosing the best pediatrician near you involves several active steps. Begin your search for a pediatrician during your third trimester to ensure ample time to find a doctor you and your partner are comfortable with. Seek recommendations from your obstetrician and trusted family and friends, and schedule an in-person consultation to assess the doctor's office and your rapport with them.
Consider the following questions when making your choice:
- Does this doctor maintain a good reputation?
- What is this doctor's training and experience?
- Does the pediatrician align with your views on breastfeeding and immunizations?
- Is the doctor attentive, communicates clearly, and listens to your concerns?
- Will your child have the same doctor for every visit?
- Who provides coverage when the pediatrician is unavailable?
- Is the office staff courteous and helpful?
- Is the office conveniently located?
- What is the wait time for scheduling appointments?
- Does the pediatrician provide evening and weekend hours, and who attends to your child during these times?
- How are emergencies and after-hour calls handled?
- To which hospital is the pediatrician affiliated?
- Does your insurance cover the doctor's services?
If you anticipate a move or insurance change, search for a new pediatrician well before your child's next checkup or illness.
Tips on how to prepare for a pediatrician visit
Preparing your child for their pediatrician visit can ease their anxiety and make the experience smoother.
1. Create a safe environment
Children feel more at ease when they feel safe and secure in unfamiliar settings. Before the visit, talk to your child about the appointment and encourage them to express their feelings. Clear all concerns or fears and reassure them they will be safe. At times, bringing a favorite toy or blanket can provide additional comfort during the visit, helping your child feel more relaxed.
2. Manage expectations
Children are naturally curious and may ask countless questions before the appointment. To prepare them, explain the process in simple, age-appropriate language. Describe the tools the pediatrician may use and what the examination will involve. This will help your child understand the significance of the visit and prevent anxiety. Preparing them beforehand can reduce their fears and allow them to cooperate better.
3. Avoid distractions
Minimizing distractions ensures the pediatrician can properly assess your child’s health during the visit. Before the appointment, turn off your phone and avoid any unnecessary interruptions. Ensure your child’s attention stays on the doctor and the examination process. Bringing a quiet toy or a small snack can help keep them calm and engaged throughout the appointment. Maintaining focus during the visit allows for a thorough evaluation and quicker completion of the examination.
How to find the best pediatrician near you?
Zocdoc is one platform that helps you locate the top-rated and trusted doctors nearby. To find the best pediatrician in Pasadena, California, use the Zocdoc search bar. Register for a free account and enter your condition or symptom, the doctor you want to see, your location, and your insurance plan. Zocdoc will list thousands of qualified pediatricians who meet your search criteria.
You can further narrow the list based on various parameters, like the languages the doctor speaks, their location, the usual wait time, and more. You can even check if the pediatrician accepts your insurance.
When scheduling an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll typically be asked to provide your insurance details or confirm that you'll be paying out-of-pocket. Some healthcare providers require insurance information upfront to secure the appointment. However, if you prefer not to share your insurance or plan to pay without using it, you can find another provider on Zocdoc that accommodates your preference. For more queries, you can visit the Zocdoc patient help center page.
Furthermore, each doctor has a personalized profile on Zocdoc. Visiting these profiles will help you learn about the pediatricians' medical education, clinical experience, credentials, awards, and licenses. You can also browse the updated and verified patient reviews and ratings to help you make a wise decision. Additionally, depending on the pediatrician's availability, you can make an in-person or online appointment.
All bookings on Zocdoc are cost-free, quick, and secure!
Statistics for pediatrics in California
As per the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics data, roughly 4,300 pediatricians worked in California as of May 2021. The same report demonstrates that California had 0.26 pediatricians employed per 1,000 jobs.
According to state estimates, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that since the outbreak began, over 15.5 million children have tested positive for COVID-19 as of March 16, 2023. We have added almost 81,000 of these cases in the past four weeks.
Additionally, The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports on the death rate of children in the United States, which was almost 13 per 100,000. California saw nearly 858 child deaths in 2020.
In 2019–2020, 29% of male and 32% of female children and teenagers in California were overweight or obese. Also, around 1,244,994 or 16% of children in the state had one or more emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions in the same year.
Sources
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
Association of American Medical Colleges[1]
Association of American Medical Colleges[2]
Association of American Medical Colleges[3]
Association of American Medical Colleges[4]
Association of American Medical Colleges[5]
Association of American Medical Colleges[6]
Association of American Medical Colleges[7]
Association of American Medical Colleges[8]
Association of American Medical Colleges[9]
Association of American Medical Colleges[10]
Association of American Medical Colleges[11]
Association of American Medical Colleges[12]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Academy of Pediatrics
KIDS COUNT Data Center[1]
KIDS COUNT Data Center[2]
KIDS COUNT Data Center[3]
Dr. Olfa Koobar
