Career Profiles Pediatrician
Pediatriciansare medical doctors who specialize in the care of children. They work at hospitals, clinics, treatment facilities, or in their own private practices. They conduct routine examinations and also determine the best course of treatment for childhood illnesses or injuries. They also advise parents and children on preventative care and how to avoid long-term injuries or medical problems. Some are general practitioners in pediatric care while others specialize in a particular age, area of the body, or health condition or illness.
The work of a pediatrician is quite varied. It involves working with children of all ages, newborns all the way up to individuals in their late teenage years. Somespecific everyday dutiesof pediatricians are the following...
- Examine patients, both well-child checkups and examinations necessary because of injuries or illnesses.
- Address specific growth and development concerns.
- Order, perform, and interpret the results of diagnostic tests and procedures in order to determine correct diagnosis and the best course of treatment.
- Explain tests and procedures to parents or guardians of children before they occur and explain the results of them after they occur.
- Explain treatment options for various illnesses, conditions, and injuries and recommend the best possible treatment course to children (depending upon their age) and their parents or guardians. Treatment options include but are not limited to prescription medicine, therapy, vaccinations, specific procedures, etc.
- Keep an eye on patients' condition and progress and determine whether a current treatment is working or if another treatment would better serve the patient.
- Review and update the medical histories of patients.
- Educate patients, parents and/or guardians, community members and other professionals, etc. on topics such as healthy diet, activity, hygiene, the prevention of and how to stop the spread of disease, etc.
- Take a leadership role in directing supporting staff members such as nurses, interns, technicians, specialists, therapists, office workers, etc.
Pediatricians undergo a great deal of education and training before they are able to practice. They must first complete a pre-med program at an accredited college or university and then compete to get into medical school. When they are accepted into a medical school, they generally face three to four more years of schooling followed by an internship and residency. This way they have a great deal of real-life pediatric experience before they become solely responsible for the care of patients of their own.
Wages for pediatricians vary based upon the particular location where they practice, whether they are practicing in a clinic, hospital, or in their own practice, and their level of skill and experience. Generally, the more patients they have, the more they earn. Their salary also depends on what they specialize in and if they conduct surgeries. The average salary for a pediatrician in the United States is currently$165,720 per year.
