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Pediatric Care is often thought to be focused on a child’s current illnesses, like sore throats or fevers.
However, care from a pediatrician is crucial to a child’s overall development.
It helps shape how a child grows, thinks and feels.
Childhood health care can support development and help identify concerns early, but it does not determine a child’s future health or functioning.
Understanding what is pediatric care – and the full pediatric care meaning beyond treating illness – is what separates reactive care from truly transformative care.
Wade’s Care First offers services to children aged 5 years and older, and operates under the idea that every child deserves to be looked at as a whole person, not merely a symptom.
If you’ve ever asked yourself what is a pediatrician and what do they do beyond treating sick children, then read on to learn all about it.
Starting Right Is Important
At certain times during a child’s development, the brain is far more responsive to input than at any other time during the child’s life.
During these times, children are building new and rapidly developing pathways.
Health care services that are provided during the sensitive periods of a child’s life are vital for the child as they can have lasting impacts on the child’s ability to regulate their emotions, cope with stress, and manage their thoughts and behavior.
The routine pediatric appointments offer a lot of value.
Understanding the full pediatrician duties helps frame why these visits matter so much.
What a pediatrician does at these appointments goes well beyond checking vitals.
They provide an opportunity to:
- Identify problems such as ADHD, learning disabilities, or delays in the development of language skills
- Identify problems with behavioral control before they develop into problems that are more difficult to correct
- Evaluate psychosocial development. It is important to assess whether children are developing the social and emotional skills, as well as the confidence, that are appropriate for their age
Identifying problems when a child is 7 is much better than when they are 17.
The Mind and Body Communicate
Outdated concepts in health care assume the body and mind are independent. In pediatrics, the separation is especially misguided.
Children with unresolved health problems such as asthma, interrupted sleep, infections, and poor nutrition are much more likely to suffer from:
- Anxiety
- Inattentiveness
- Mood swings
The opposite is also true.
When children are emotionally distressed, they often develop physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and sleep issues.
This connection matters whether your child attends pediatric day care or is cared for at home – their health environment directly shapes their development.
A holistic pediatric approach encompasses both sides:
- Potential psychosocial stress is considered for somatic complaints (physical symptoms without a clear cause).
- Sleep hygiene is clinically addressed as a lifestyle concern. Poor sleep in children is associated with executive function impairment and emotional dysregulation.
- Poor sleep in children is associated with executive function impairment and emotional dysregulation.
- Nutrition and activity are evaluated in relation to both physical growth and cognitive function.
Health Literacy is an Essential Part of Preventive Care
Empowerment Through Education
The concept of a health locus of control is critical within health psychology.
It explains whether an individual believes they possess the power to control their health outcomes.
Those with an internal locus of control tend to make better health-related decisions, and this is well documented.
Consistent, specialized pediatric care offers developmental advantages that compound over time.
Belief systems are developed from childhood.
Health literacy over time develops when children are part of discussions around their health.
For example, when providers explain the function of a vaccine, the significance of sleep, or the meaning of a specific symptom.
At Wade’s Care First, we take a different approach. We work with children, which means:
- We provide explanations of diagnoses and treatment strategies using language appropriate to their age.
- We encourage children to express their worries, in addition to their parents.
- We build what the research describes as the therapeutic alliance, a trust where the patient and provider collaborate to improve health results.
- We provide healthcare in a proactive manner, which means we do not wait until something is wrong to provide the necessary health services.
Children are more likely to seek healthcare as adults when they belong to families where health is discussed openly.
They also tend to follow the treatment guidelines and self-advocate in healthcare systems.
Identifying What Is Overlooked
Behavioral Signs Deserving Clinical Attention
Early manifestations of a condition that is likely to improve with intervention are often dismissed as “just a phase,” “boys being boys,” or “she’s just shy.”
Some things that should be noted include the following:
- Lack of attention or impulsivity that impacts performance in school is often a sign of ADHD that can lead to academic underachievement, low self-worth or self-esteem.
- A child demonstrating excessive worry or avoidance of a daily function shows the sign of an anxiety disorder. It’s one of the most prevalent mental illnesses amongst children but can be effectively treated.
- Poor emotional regulation can lead to emotional outbursts that seem unwarranted in situational context, but the right support can help strengthen this skill.
- Psychological issues such as depression can affect children especially when it’s presented in a way that may be different from adult patients.
These types of issues should be addressed as soon as possible to allow more treatment options to be available.
What Patient-Centered Pediatric Care Actually Looks Like
Wade’s Care First offers pediatric care with a family nurse practitioner who listens and builds an individualized care plan.
Your provider takes time to learn about your child’s temperament, surroundings, strengths, and the concerns that matter to your family.
Our Values:
- Individualized – Every child is different. So are their respective care plans.
- Culturally Sensitive – Each family’s values are taken into consideration in every interaction.
- Collaborative – Parents are an essential part of our team.
- Holistic – We assess the entire child, including and beyond the chief complaint.
We also offer same-day appointments when available.
Do you Want Your Child to Build Lifelong Healthy Patterns?
The habits your child develops now will stay with them for life.
Whether you have a behavioral health concern, a routine health check, or a nagging health issue, Wade’s Care First is on your side.
Make an appointment at wadescarefirst.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age for pediatric visits?
Wade’s Care First sees children ages five and older.
Can I ask about my child’s behavior or emotional health?
Yes. Share the concern, when it started and how it affects daily life. The visit can help determine the appropriate evaluation or next step.
Are video visits available for children?
Yes, for concerns that can be assessed safely by video. Some symptoms require an in-person examination or testing.
Answers connected to this topic.
Do sleep, stress and physical activity count as Preventive Care?
Yes. These habits can influence cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health, and are part of a comprehensive prevention plan.
Can a child with ear pain be diagnosed online?
We can review symptoms, but diagnosing an ear infection may require looking inside the ear with an otoscope, so in-person care may be recommended.
Can seasonal allergies in children be managed remotely?
Often. We can review symptom patterns and discuss age-appropriate care, while determining whether an in-person examination is needed.
