A pediatric patient is considered anyone from birth until they become a legal adult.
During this period, the pediatrician focuses on the child’s overall health and well-being, including illnesses, physical growth, and mental and psychological development.
Classification of Pediatric PatientsDuring this stage of life, a close doctor–pediatric patient relationship develops, given the significant amount of time they’ll spend together, whether addressing specific conditions or simply through the ongoing monitoring and vaccinations that are needed.
Pediatricians generally classify patients in order to account for each child’s individual characteristics.
For example, newborns have their own specific needs and follow-up care, while a 10-year-old child or a teenager behaves and responds very differently.
Pediatric patients are typically divided into several categories based on age, including:
- Premature infants, born before week 37.
- Neonate, referring to a baby during their first month of life.
- Infant, up to 12 months of age.
- Young child, classified up to age 4.
- Older child, up to age 10.
- Adolescent, from age 10 onward, until the pediatrician stops seeing them, depending on the region, this can be up to age 18 or 21, though some adolescents may start seeing a general practitioner as early as age 15.
What Is the Doctor–Pediatric Patient Relationship Like?Parents with their first child, in particular, may have many questions about the relationship that will form between the pediatrician and their child, since the pediatrician will accompany and guide them for nearly 18 years.
To provide the best possible care for the pediatric patient, the pediatrician and their entire team work to maintain a good relationship not only with the child, but with the whole family, in order to carry out checkups as smoothly as possible.
Depending on the child’s stage of development, the pediatrician adapts how they communicate, for example, with a newborn or infant, direct verbal communication isn’t possible, so everything is handled through conversations with the parents alongside examination of the child.
With adolescents, on the other hand, the doctor must earn their trust over the years, and at some point, the patient may begin to take part in decisions about their own health.
Nursing Care for Pediatric PatientsAlthough the pediatrician leads the child’s medical care, pediatric nursing staff may be needed to perform specialized primary care and emergency tasks.
Nursing care for pediatric patients includes:
- Wound care.
- Changing bandages.
- Removing stitches from simple wounds.
- Monitoring life support equipment.
- Monitoring the patient’s body temperature.
- Administering medications and injections.
- Assisting the pediatrician during consultations and exams.
Learn more about pediatric patient care at ABC Medical Center’s Pediatrics Center, where we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
