What is Pediatrics?
Pediatrics is the specialty of medical science that encompasses the physical, developmental, emotional, and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Pediatrics recognizes that children differ from adults anatomically, physiologically, immunologically, psychologically, developmentally, and metabolically and that children’s health encompasses both their physical status as well as the interaction with external factors in the child’s environment (e.g., family, schools, community, other child-serving organizations). Pediatricians actively interact with parents or guardians to determine a child’s health status and to educate and provide anticipatory guidance about their child’s normal health and development. In addition to general pediatrics there are at least 20 pediatric subspecialties. Think of them as being similar to adult subspecialties with the difference being age of the patient.
The sociodemographic makeup of children continues to reflect a wide diversity with respect to race/ethnicity, gender identification, and household composition and income. Many pediatricians thus also elect to address common childhood concerns at the community, state, or national level. Common areas of advocacy and policy interventions reduce infant and child morbidity and mortality, decrease exposure to infectious diseases, encourage healthy lifestyles, address behavioral and mental health concerns, foster health equity, and assist with day-to-day difficulties associated with acute and/or chronic childhood conditions. Pediatric care thus encompasses a broad spectrum of health services including prevention, early detection, and management and may be practiced in the office, hospital setting, or community.
Choose to become a Pediatric Care Provider
Pediatrics practice is characterized by flexibility and adaptability. A good pediatrician has broad based knowledge, strong critical thinking skills, and the flexibility to practice in a wide variety of settings and circumstances. Pediatricians have the skills to recognize and refer ill children to higher levels of care, manage the care of hospitalized children, and see sick children in a primary care office, urgent care, or other settings. Pediatricians formulate questions for consulting subspecialists and co-manage children with chronic physical and mental health problems.
Pediatricians are lifelong learners. They stay current with advanced and emerging technologies and understand and manage the business of medicine. Pediatricians utilize data management science to inform patient care resulting in high-value patient-centered care, continuous quality improvement, and ethical service delivery.
The discipline is characterized by a collaborative, compassionate, cognitive, scholarly, and relationship-oriented approach to comprehensive patient care.
Pediatricians are the voices for children, so are vigorous advocates on their behalf. They have a strong presence within their local communities, where they promote health and health equity in ways that build public trust in the profession. In their interactions with others, they exhibit cultural humility and empathy. They are grounded in principles of social justice, advocate for underserved populations, and seek to eliminate disparities in care. They are collaborative leaders who lead by example and practice interprofessional team-based care. Pediatricians use broad communication skills with patients, patients’ families, treatment teams, communities, and health care managers and systems.
Pediatricians partner and connect in their relationships with colleagues, team members, and patients, maximizing both their own and their teams’ well-being. They find meaning, joy, and purpose in efficiently caring for patients and are equipped, educated, and trained to lead and manage teams. The pediatrician’s coordination of care extends through the end-of-life, including grief and bereavement management for the benefit of children, families, and their team members. The discipline is characterized by a collaborative, compassionate, cognitive, scholarly, and relationship-oriented approach to comprehensive patient care.