FAQ's for Child Specialist/ Pediatrician in Vadodara

FAQ’s for Child Specialist/ Pediatrician in Vadodara

WHO IS A PEDIATRICIAN?

A pediatrician is a child specialist. A pediatrician is a medical doctor who sees the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For many young people, a pediatrician is the primary care provider from birth, perhaps through the age of 18. The word pediatrician comes from the Greek word for child.

A pediatrician is often the first person parents call when their child is sick. A pediatrician in general practice must be skilled at treating common childhood ailments, from ear infections to minor injuries. Subspecialist pediatricians may have additional training in treating young people with serious or chronic illnesses, from developmental disorders to childhood cancers.

Being a pediatrician is about more than treating illness. More than any other patient, children grow and change. An important part of the job of the pediatrician is to help ensure that children are achieving milestones in their growth, behavior, and skills. Educating the parents in the proper care of children is also part of the pediatrician’s role. Pediatricians often advise parents in matters of health, nutrition, safety, and fitness.

Treating young people can be a challenge. A pediatrician’s youngest patients lack the communication skills to tell a doctor what is wrong with them. The pediatrician must rely on intuition and deductive skills to properly assess their health. Older children can be unruly or fearful patients, requiring vast reserves of patience and empathy.

Caring for children is a challenge, but the payoff can be extremely rewarding. Pediatricians often enjoy long-term associations with their patients, and watching them grow into healthy adults can be among the more gratifying experiences in medicine. For a person who loves children, there are few higher callings than that of the pediatrician.

PEDIATRICIAN IN VADODARA?

Dr Vinit Mehta (MD Pediatrician) is the Pediatrician in Vadodara. He is the owner of the Aashrey Child Clinic (Child Specialist/ Pediatrician in Vadodara) Vaccination Centre.
Aashrey Child Clinic is run by a child doctor in Nizampura, Vadodara. For the requirement of pediatrician in Alkapuri, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 2.5 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Gotri, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 7 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Karelibaug, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 4 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Sama Road, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 1.5 km away.
Address: GF 7, Devdeep Complex, Next to ICICI Bank, Deluxe Busstop, Nizampura, Vadodara.
Contact Num: +918347990180
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rEViCfowWavhvvoT7
Timings: Morning 9 to 11 am; Evening 5 to 9 pm. Open even on Saturday- Sunday. Closed on Wednesday.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN VADODARA?

Choosing a pediatrician is one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your child’s health, and it can be a difficult one.

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the physical, behavioral, and mental care of children.

They don’t just care for babies and toddlers, though. Pediatricians also care for adolescents up to age 18 and sometimes beyond.

They perform physical examinations and immunizations, monitor development, and diagnose and treat illnesses.

You’ll have a long-term relationship with your pediatrician, so it’s important to pick the right one.

If you’re expecting, you should choose one about 3 months before your due date.

Things to consider when choosing a pediatrician
With so many options in your area, how do you pick the right pediatrician? Here are a few factors to take into consideration.

1. Is the office location convenient?
As you narrow down your choices for a pediatrician, consider the location of the doctor’s office. Babies see their pediatrician a number of times during the first year of life — typically, every 2 to 3 months.

Choosing a doctor close to your home, work, or daycare can be more convenient and save time.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can choose a doctor with offices easily accessible by public transportation.

2. Is the pediatrician recommended by your OB-GYN?
The good news is that you don’t have to choose a pediatrician alone.

Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll likely establish a friendly, trusting relationship with your OB-GYN. If this is the case, you can ask them for recommendations.

Also, feel free to get recommendations from your family doctor or primary care physician.

3. Will the doctor do the first checkup at the hospital?
As you speak with different pediatricians, ask whether they’ll complete your baby’s first checkup at the hospital.

Some pediatricians will visit your baby shortly after delivery, but only if they’re affiliated with the hospital you’re in.

If not, your baby will have the first checkup from a hospital-affiliated doctor and then have another checkup at your pediatrician’s office about 5 days after delivery.

4. Is the doctor recommended by friends and family?
You should also get pediatrician recommendations from family and close friends.

If they have a great relationship with their child’s pediatrician, you may have a similar experience.

5. What are the doctor’s credentials and experience?
All pediatricians graduate from medical school, complete a residency program, and receive state licensing. But not all pediatricians are board-certified.

Board certification is a voluntary process that requires additional training in pediatrics. Upon completion, doctors take an examination to become certified by The Indian Board of Pediatrics.

Board certification is a valuable tool because these pediatricians have demonstrated competency in:

patient care
professionalism
communication skills
medical knowledge
6. How does their practice operate?
Consider how the office operates to ensure it aligns with your needs.

Some questions may include:

Does the office allow same-day or last-minute appointments?
Are the office hours convenient for your schedule?
Do the pediatricians offer evening and weekend hours?
If it’s a group practice, will your baby see different doctors or the same pediatrician each time?
7. How was your introductory visit?
The initial office visit helps you determine whether a pediatrician is right for your child. It’s vital to choose a doctor you’re comfortable with, as this encourages open communication.

Observe how the pediatrician interacts with your newborn or child. Do they show a genuine interest in your baby? If your baby has unique issues, is the doctor familiar with these issues?

Listen to your gut. If you don’t feel comfortable after the visit, this isn’t the right pediatrician for you.

For expecting families, pediatrician offices offer similar visits where you can meet the pediatrician and staff, ask questions, and tour the office.

WHAT SERVICES DO PEDIATRICIANS IN VADODARA OFFER?

Choosing a pediatrician is one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your child’s health, and it can be a difficult one.

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the physical, behavioral, and mental care of children.

They don’t just care for babies and toddlers, though. Pediatricians also care for adolescents up to age 18 and sometimes beyond.

They perform physical examinations and immunizations, monitor development, and diagnose and treat illnesses.

You’ll have a long-term relationship with your pediatrician, so it’s important to pick the right one.

If you’re expecting, you should choose one about 3 months before your due date.

At Aashrey Child Clinic, the following facilities are available:
OPD, Immunisation/ Vaccination, Adolescent Counselling, Growth Monitoring, Dietary Advice, Developmental Assessment, Nebulisation, Hospitalisation etc.

CAN A PEDIATRICIAN OFFER VACCINATION PLANS FOR YOUR CHILD?

A pediatrician is the best doctor or one can say the only doctor who manages and gives a vaccination to children. It comes under the role of the pediatrician to provide vaccination plans for children.

The course of Pediatrics includes an in-depth study of each and every vaccine of the child.

Each and every vaccine-preventable disease like Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, H. Influenza B, Swine flu (Influenza), Rotaviral Diarrhoea, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Meningococcal Meningitis, etc. Pediatrician learns about the schedule of vaccines, dosing of vaccine, route of administration, catch-up schedule, types of vaccine, and vaccine side-effects & contraindication.

From the birth of the child, the pediatrician prepares the vaccination schedule for the child. From the birth dose of BCG, OPV-0, and Hepatitis B, the pediatrician decides the whole vaccination plan. Missed vaccination of childhood can be given in adolescence for which vaccination plans are made by the pediatrician. Also, adult vaccination can be planned by a Pediatrician.

At Aashrey Child Clinic, we wish to inform you that Vaccination Services for your children are available here. The make and brands of the vaccines used at our Vaccination centre are at par with International Standards and comply with the schedules of most of the countries.

WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK EMERGENCY CARE FOR YOUR CHILD?

It is rare for children to become seriously ill with no warning. Depending on your child’s symptoms, you should usually contact your child’s doctor for advice. Early recognition and treatment of symptoms can prevent an illness or injury from getting worse or turning into an emergency.

What is an emergency?
An emergency is when you believe a severe injury or illness is threatening your child’s health or may cause permanent harm. In these cases, a child needs emergency medical treatment right away.

Discuss with your child’s doctor in advance what you should do and where you should go in case of an emergency.

Emergencies can result from medical illnesses. In an emergency, your child may show any of the following signs:

Strange or more withdrawn and less alert behavior
Unconsciousness or no response when you talk with your child
Rhythmic jerking (a seizure)
Increasing effort or trouble with breathing
Skin or lips that look blue, purple, or gray
Neck stiffness with fever
Increasing or severe persistent pain
A cut that is large, deep, or to the head, chest, or abdomen
Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure for 5 minutes
A burn that is large or involves the hands, feet, groin, chest, or face
Any loss of consciousness, ongoing or worsening confusion, headache, or vomiting after a head injury
Many emergencies involve sudden injuries. These injuries are often caused by the following events:
Bicycle or car crashes
Falls
Burns or smoke inhalation
Choking
Drowning
Firearms or other weapons
Electric shocks
Poisoning

BEST CHILD DOCTOR/ BEST CHILD TREATMENT IN VADODARA?

Most pediatricians’ offices set aside times for expectant parents to visit. Call the office to set up an appointment. During your “meet and greet,” you can tour the office and talk with a doctor or nurse.

Some doctors offer group classes for expectant parents to learn about the practice and discuss newborn care. Others offer one-on-one interviews. Many insurance companies encourage these prenatal appointments or classes and will cover their cost. But check first with the doctor’s office and your health plan.

Here are some things to consider as you decide if the practice is right for your family. Make a list of your questions to help you organize your thoughts.

What are the office hours? Make sure the schedule works for you. For example, you may prefer a doctor who offers weekend and evening hours.
Does the doctor work alone, or as part of a group? If it’s a solo practice, how will your child get care when your doctor is not available? If it’s a group practice, who will see your child if your doctor is not available?
Is the doctor affiliated with a pediatric hospital if there’s one in your area?
How does the office handle phone calls?
During office hours — Can you call in with questions for your doctor at fixed times? Many pediatric practices have a nurse on hand to answer questions.
After hours — If you leave a message with the answering service, how quickly will you get a call back, either from a doctor or a nurse? Does the practice offer telemedicine where you can video visit with a pediatrician or nurse?
Can you email your doctor? Does the practice use electronic medical records to make it easier to share your child’s health information? Does the practice let you view your child’s test results and get health information online?
If your child has an emergency, will the doctor handle it, or will your child be referred to an emergency room or urgent care center?
How much do services cost? Must you pay in full at the time of the visit, or can you pay over time?
If other care is needed, how does the practice decide whether to refer your child to a specialist?
What are the office’s vaccination policies? Are all patients required to be vaccinated on the immunization schedule of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
If you haven’t yet had your baby, will your doctor come to the hospital when you deliver to examine your newborn?
Besides allowing you to ask questions like these, your visit is a great time to see how the office runs. Is the waiting area clean and child-friendly? Is the staff polite and helpful to patients in the waiting room and to people on the phone?

While you’re waiting, talk to the other parents. Ask them what they like best about the practice and why they feel good about the care the doctor provides.

Is This Child Doctor a Good Fit for Me?

After you’ve had a chance to talk with the doctor and other members of the care team, do you feel you will work well together? Is the doctor willing to explain things carefully? Does the doctor seem to be a good listener? Will you be comfortable asking questions? Do you think the doctor would mind if you wanted to get a second opinion?

Do you and your doctor share beliefs about issues that are important to you? For example, how does the doctor feel about circumcision? Breastfeeding? Alternative or integrative medicines or techniques? Use of antibiotics and other medicines? Remember that the doctor may be seeing your child for years to come.

Keep your notes about the doctors you didn’t select. If your insurance changes, you may find yourself looking for a new doctor. Or it may take a while to find a doctor you’re happy with.

Choosing a health care provider before your baby is born will help you feel confident about your baby’s care. Knowing you have chosen the right doctor will help you feel calmer and more in control.

WHAT DOES A PEDIATRICIAN DO?

Your pediatrician may care for your child’s health from birth up to 18 years old. During this time, your child will have numerous wellness visits to check their physical and mental development.

The nature of appointments will vary as your child becomes older, but they’ll have their first checkup within 5 days of delivery.

After the initial checkup, your doctor may schedule a 1-month appointment. Then they’ll see your baby at least every 2 months up until they’re 6 months old.

After 6 months, you’ll see your pediatrician every 3 months until your baby is 18 months old, and then every 6 months until 30 months old.

After this, your pediatrician will schedule wellness checks on an annual basis.

During these visits, your doctor will:

complete a physical examination
take measurements
assess their development
administer shots
talk about health and safety
answer any questions you have
Every wellness visit includes anticipatory guidance. This is advice about what’s to come developmentally for your child and how to help keep the child healthy and safe between visits.

Many of the same core skills required of the average physician are also required of pediatricians. Additionally, you would be expected to work with children and teens across broad ranges of age and development. As such, you would need to be especially interested in the following:

Working with Children and Teens: Children and teens often have stronger anxieties about seemingly routine procedures. Additionally, you must be able to discern unusual activity in the child’s body or in their behavior that might indicate abnormal development.
Problem Solving: Every patient is different. Whether seeking a complicated diagnosis of the child’s symptoms or convincing a child to do something that they do not want to do, you will need to be a calm problem-solver. At times, you may even have to deal with problematic parents.
Service Orientation: A good pediatrician has empathy for how their patient is feeling and for what they need. In some circumstances, you will temporarily have to surrender meeting your own needs in order to serve your patients.
Monitoring: Caring for the medical needs of children requires careful monitoring through their developmental years. You will need to know your patient well enough to notice anything unusual (in addition to watching your patient’s body respond to treatment).

WHICH REPORTS SHOULD I CARRY WHILE VISITING A CHILDREN HOSPITAL?

You should carry all the necessary medical reports with you while visiting Children’s Hospital. All the previous medical reports. Previous vaccination record.

If you are changing the doctor then you should without fail to inform the new pediatrician that why you had to change the doctor and what all treatment was given to the child until now to prevent overtreatment or misuse of antibiotics.

Bring any significant hospital admission details, past history, drug history, family history, or any other consultation other than that for pediatrics done for your child.

If you are consulting the pediatrician after the birth of the child, then do bring the Obstetric-Gynecologist file so that the Pediatrician can not whether there was any antenatal problems, date of delivery, APGAR score at birth, any significant issues intranatally, cesarean or normal or assisted delivery, birth weight and whether or not newborn is given a birth dose of vaccination or not.

Pediatricians don’t just care for babies and toddlers, though. Pediatricians also care for adolescents up to age 18 and sometimes beyond.

They perform physical examinations and immunizations, monitor development, and diagnose and treat illnesses.

You’ll have a long-term relationship with your pediatrician, so it’s important to pick the right one.

If you’re expecting, you should choose one about 3 months before your due date.

WHAT IS A CHILD SPECIALIST CALLED?

The child Specialist is a Pediatrician. A pediatrician is a medical doctor who sees the needs of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For many young people, a pediatrician is the primary care provider from birth, perhaps through the age of 18. The word pediatrician comes from the Greek word for child.

WHO SPECIALIZES IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN?

Pediatricians are highly educated medical professionals with an undergraduate degree and four years of medical school, as well as a three-year practical residency, under their belts. The medical school involves two years of intensive classwork, including anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, and two years of hands-on experience working with practicing doctors in various specialties. A generalist pediatrician usually has a three-year pediatrics residency following med school, but a specialist, such as a neonatologist, will have yet another two- to three-year residency or fellowship in the subject area.

WHAT ARE DIFFERENT JOBS PERFORMED BY PEDIATRICIANS?

Providing medical care for children and teenagers requires a special kind of physician. It is not enough merely to evaluate, diagnose, and treat health issues; pediatricians must be able to pick up on unusual trends in the child’s physical development.

Pediatricians typically serve patients under 21 years of age and are often vital to identifying and diagnosing early signs of health issues.

Pediatrician Duties & Responsibilities
As a pediatrician, you would be responsible both for observing and treating growing children, as well as advising their parents and guardians on a course of action. A pediatrician’s duties include, but are not limited to:

Helping children and teens feel at ease during physical check-ups
Advising parents/guardians on any unusual or exceptional developments
Assessing symptoms
Diagnosing
Prescribing medication
Ordering necessary tests to follow-up on symptoms
Interpreting lab results
Recommending specialized treatment or care
Understanding and abiding by consent laws relevant to legal
Generalist Pediatrician
You typically think of generalist pediatricians as family doctors in private practice, and most are. But many also work in hospitals, in education, and in research positions. Pediatricians work with parents and caregivers to improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of infants, children, and adolescents. A pediatrician’s primary responsibility is to diagnose and treat diseases, infections, injuries, and other conditions, but prevention and advice regarding healthy lifestyles for children and adolescents is another central focus in general pediatrics.

Specialist Pediatricians
All pediatricians start off as generalists, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, almost a third of pediatricians become specialists at some point in their careers. The number of pediatric specialties has grown to more than a dozen, as of 2012, and includes pediatric anesthesia, medicine-pediatrics, pediatric oncology, pediatric critical care, pediatric neurology, pediatric cardiology, and perinatal pediatrics. Almost all of these specialists have completed a multi-year fellowship, and most have passed a comprehensive exam to become board-certified in the specialty.

WHAT AGE DOES THE PEDIATRICIAN COVER?

In many health care institutions in India, sick children up to 12 or 13 years are registered under Pediatric service and older children under adult Medicine service. This age cut-off has been traditional. Some 3 to 4 decades ago, sick children were treated by physicians who were primarily responsible for adult medical service. Children were considered miniature adults and the main concern was only to scale down the doses of medicines according to the body weights of children. It did not matter very much where a child was admitted for treatment, because the same physicians treating children and adults. The children’s wards had short beds and only children below about 12 or 13 would fit in them. Taller children, who were usually older, were admitted to adult wards. Even after Pediatrics came of age as discipline, somehow the traditional age cut-off remained. Even today, when sick persons are registered at the hospital reception desk, those under 12-13 years are sent to the Pediatric clinic and older children are sent to the Medical Clinic.

Adult Medicine (or Internal Medicine as it is often called) is usually preoccupied with the diagnosis and treatment of physical illnesses. Symptoms without disruption of functions of organs or issues are often attributed to ‘functional’ illness, usually without going into further details. The strength of Internal Medicine is this ability to dissect out deviations from normal physiology and we must agree that such diagnostic expertise is absolutely essential for us to understand disease processes and to be able to treat them according to pathology and/or etiology.

Pediatrics is also concerned with such diagnostic accuracy of physical illness. Since the patterns of illnesses vary very much between adults and children, the same principles as those used by Internists are necessary for Pediatricians also to diagnose and understand disease processes and to treat diseases rationally. But Pediatrics goes beyond disease. Childhood is the formative stage of life towards adulthood and we are concerned about growth, development, and disease prevention, both physical and otherwise. This process of growth, development, and vulnerability to deviation from the normal or optimal path of growth and development do not cease with age 12 or 13 years but proceeds up to the late teenage, that is until a person is an adult. For this and other reasons, there are many advantages for teenagers td cone under the purview of Pediatric care. Obviously, it does not matter as to who, the Internist or the Pediatrician, treats a teenager with typhoid fever or thyroid nodule. But, special skills are necessary to counsel a teenager who faces the stress of rapid body changes and the consequent confusion of self-image and relationships.

PEDIATRICIAN / PEDIATRIC DOCTOR NEAR ME?

PEDIATRIC ONLINE CONSULTATION?

Consult the best Pediatricians online in 15 mins. Video Call or Chat with a child specialist for your kids’ all health problems including children’s health, disease, growth, development, and even vaccination.

Consulting a pediatrician is recommended after the birth of the child. Can ask about general health and care of newborn. How to take care of newborn? When to vaccinate the newborn? etc can be asked.

Dr Vinit Mehta is available for online consult for any newborn, toddler or teenage child-related queries. Book an online consult now.

TOP PEDIATRICIAN IN VADODARA?

Dr Vinit Mehta (MD Pediatrician) is the Pediatrician in Vadodara. He is the owner of the Aashrey Child Clinic (Child Specialist/ Pediatrician in Vadodara) Vaccination Centre.
Aashrey Child Clinic is run by a child doctor in Nizampura, Vadodara. For the requirement of pediatrician in Alkapuri, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 2.5 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Gotri, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 7 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Karelibaug, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 4 km away. For the requirement of pediatrician in Sama Road, Vadodara, Aashrey Child Clinic is 1.5 km away.
Address: GF 7, Devdeep Complex, Next to ICICI Bank, Deluxe Busstop, Nizampura, Vadodara.
Contact Num: +918347990180
Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rEViCfowWavhvvoT7
Timings: Morning 9 to 11 am; Evening 5 to 9 pm. Open even on Saturday- Sunday. Closed on Wednesday.
Dr Tushar Shah (MD Pediatrician) is the Pediatrician. Hospital’s Name is Navkar Hospital. It is located at A-2/54, Mai Krupa Society, Opposite Mental Hospital, Kareli Baug, Kareli Baug, Vadodara. Timings: 9:30 am till 12:30 pm while in the evening 5:00 to 8:00pm. Contact Num: 02652460263
Dr Jigen Shah (MD Pediatrician) is the Pediatrician. Hospital Name is Dadaji Hospital. It is located at A-1, Pratap Nagar Rd, Pratapnagar, Bhatia Chawl, Moghul Wada, Vadodara. Timings: 7:00 am till 7:30 pm. Contact Num: 02652458995

BEST CHILDREN HOSPITAL ADDRESS AND NUMBER?

CHILDREN HOSPITAL FOR EMERGENCY?

CHILD SPECIALIST DOCTOR NEAR ME?

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PEDIATRICIAN?

Your pediatrician may care for your child’s health from birth up to 18 years old. During this time, your child will have numerous wellness visits to check their physical and mental development.

The nature of appointments will vary as your child becomes older, but they’ll have their first checkup within 5 days of delivery.

After the initial checkup, your doctor may schedule a 1-month appointment. Then they’ll see your baby at least every 2 months up until they’re 6 months old.

After 6 months, you’ll see your pediatrician every 3 months until your baby is 18 months old, and then every 6 months until 30 months old.

After this, your pediatrician will schedule wellness checks on an annual basis.

During these visits, your doctor will:

complete a physical examination
take measurements
assess their development
administer shots
talk about health and safety
answer any questions you have
Every wellness visit includes anticipatory guidance. This is advice about what’s to come developmentally for your child and how to help keep the child healthy and safe between visits.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THEIR PEDIATRICIAN?

Do you feel rushed during your appointments?
Is the office clean?
Is the waiting room kid-friendly?
Do you have to wait a long time to see the doctor?
Are the office staff professional?
Does the doctor explain things clearly?
Is the doctor empathetic?
Does the office return calls in a timely manner?

At Aashrey Child Clinic, Dr Vinit Mehta gives time to each and every patient. Answers all the queries of parents and grandparents. Usually, it is appointment-based consultation without zero wait time and totally hassle-free. Aashrey Child Clinic is women and child-friendly and neat & clinic consultation room as well as a waiting room. The office staff is caring and kind. The doctor (Dr. Vinit Mehta at Aashrey Child Clinic) is soft-spoken, kind-hearted, and empathetic towards children.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN?

Establishing a good relationship with your pediatrician also involves effort on your part, which includes communicating effectively.

Write down your concerns before each appointment so that you don’t forget to ask an important question.

Also, mention all of your concerns when setting up the appointment. If you have three concerns, but only mention one when scheduling the appointment, your doctor might be ill-prepared.

If there isn’t enough time to address your other concerns, you might have to schedule a separate appointment.

Also, make sure you understand any instructions you receive about your child’s care. Speak up if you’re unclear about something.

And don’t be afraid to provide honest feedback. If you feel that the doctor rushes your appointments, or they’re not taking your concerns seriously, have an honest conversation about this. Your pediatrician might appreciate the feedback.

When giving feedback, though, do so calmly and respectfully, to avoid putting your doctor on the defensive.

WHAT IS THE AGE OF PATIENTS TREATED BY PEDIATRICIANS?

Pediatrics is also concerned with such diagnostic accuracy of physical illness. Since the patterns of illnesses vary very much between adults and children, the same principles as those used by Internists are necessary for Pediatricians also to diagnose and understand disease processes and to treat diseases rationally. But Pediatrics goes beyond disease. Childhood is the formative stage of life towards adulthood and we are concerned about growth, development, and disease prevention, both physical and otherwise. This process of growth, development, and vulnerability to deviation from the normal or optimal path of growth and development does not cease with age 12 or 13 years but proceeds up to the late teenage, that is until a person is an adult. For this and other reasons, there are many advantages for teenagers t0 come under the purview of Pediatric care. Obviously, it does not matter as to who, the Internist or the Pediatrician, treats a teenager with typhoid fever or thyroid nodule. But, special skills are necessary to counsel a teenager who faces the stress of rapid body changes and the consequent confusion of self-image and relationships.

Policy Statement

Policy on Age of Children for Pediatric Care (1999)

For fulfilling the professional obligations of pediatricians to the society at large, the purview of pediatrics commences with the fetus and continues through newborn, infancy, preschool, and school-age including adolescence up to and including 18 years of age.

An Explanatory Note

This policy has been adopted by the Academy by unanimous approval both at the Executive Board and General Body, during the Annual Conference at Jaipur, in February 1999. It must be pointed out that we were guided very much by the ‘Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989. Article 1, of the Conventions, states: “For the purposes of the present Convention; a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless, under the law applicable to the child, the majority is attained earlier”. In India, the right to vote in political elections is attained at the age of 18. In the United States of America, Pediatrics covers up to 21 years of age. Thus, we could have defined the age as below 18, or up to 21 or till the last year of the teens (nineteen), but our collective wisdom has accepted it as up to and including 18 years.

It is generally accepted that children with chronic illnesses and who are under the continuous care of a pediatrician will continue to be cared for by the same doctor for a while longer, and not just up to the age defined here.

What Actions Do We Need to Take?

By stating a policy, it does not mean that all pediatricians have the training, aptitude, knowledge, or skills necessary to care for adolescents. We must learn them, and we must teach and train. For this purpose, an ad hoc Committee has been appointed and we will be guided by their recommendation about the modalities and range of contents for training Pediatricians in Adolescent Medicine and Care. Once these are decided upon, the Academy will establish a process by which training opportunities will be made available widely.

In the newly published lAP Textbook of Pediatrics, a whole section has been included on Adolescent Care. If Medical Colleges will adopt the new curriculum on Pediatric teaching as described by the Medical Council of India; this .section will become essential, and thus, future Physicians and Pediatricians will have already learned the foundations of Pediatrics including Adolescent Care.

We have amidst us a number of Pediatricians with special interest and skills in Adolescent Care. It will be in order for us to include topics of adolescent issues in our seminars, conferences, and Continuing Education programs.

The Government of India is establishing a major program under the title, ‘Reproductive and Child Health’. The WHO has created a new Department called ‘Child and Adolescent Health and Development’. Both these developments are indicative of the changing world view on the needs and opportunities for care in the adolescent period of development. The Academy is not far behind them.