If you have a child, it is best to have a family doctor. You should consider one who is also a pediatrician. A pediatrician is a medical professional who has received a thorough training in the study of pediatrics. Specifically, he or she is a specialist in the health of children including newborns.
What Is the Focus of Pediatrics?
This medical specialty focuses on the health of all ages of children. This includes the following groups:
- Newborns
- Infants
- Children
- Adolescents
- Young adults
This field is an all-encompassing one. A pediatrician will focus not just on simply physical health, but will also concern him or herself with the child’s emotional and social health. This is a holistic approach to the well-being of your child.
Nor is the focus only on treatment. A pediatrician looks at preventive measures as well as promoting good health and healthy habits. He or she is aware of and explains to you how to recognize potential problems associated with your child. Your pediatrician can help you recognize any risks and even manage them.
The best doctors will recognize your need to contribute and value your input. They will work with you to detect, manage and prevent a variety of problems that can affect your child in diverse ways including:
- Physical
- Behavioral
- Developmental
- Mental/Emotional
- Environmental
- Social
Specialists in this field also need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively to you – the parent, as well as the patient.
The Importance of Pediatrics and Pediatricians
If you have a child, you need a doctor well versed in the specialized skills of working with and treating children. Pediatricians, while they work closely within a larger network of medical professionals, have a singular but complex task. In pediatrics, a doctor must come to understand the need to not only treat their young patients, but also how to successfully establish connections – verbal and oral, with parents, guardians, families, teachers and social service professionals.
