A Pediatrician is a physician who has completed training in college, medical school and an accredited residency program dedicated to learning how to diagnose and treat a range of childhood illnesses and support the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Pediatricians maintain a state-specific medical license as well as board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) which represents a dedication to the highest level of professionalism in patient care and provides a standard of excellence by which the public can select pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists.  Many of these professionals also belong to a nationwide not-for-profit coalition of dedicated pediatricians known as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which provides continuing education, annual scientific meetings, publications, seminars and statements from committees to help its members provide excellent care for America’s youth. The AAP also provides a section for parents and caregivers known as HealthyChildren.org which contains valuable information and resources for common topics from newborn care, to sleep and nutrition, and even puberty and school readiness. This useful resource can be found here: https://healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx.

Routine wellness care begins as soon as your baby is born! The hospital or birthing facility where your baby makes their grand entrance will have an on-call doctor available for your baby’s first checkup within their first few hours of life. After they are discharged home from the hospital, your new baby will have their first office visit within their first 2-3 days at home. Your baby will likely be seen again within the following weeks to monitor weight gain, feeding, sleep patterns, etc., and will have their first monthly checkup at 1 month of age. After this visit, your baby will be seen in the office at 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months, 8-10 months, and 12 months of age. Frequent office visits in the first year of life provide ample opportunities for parent education, close monitoring of growth and development, and a team-based approach to any questions or concerns that arise as you navigate the first year with your new baby. Routine childhood immunizations are an integral part of your baby’s first year and beyond. After the 12 month visit, your baby will be seen again for wellness checks at 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, and 2.5 years, and then will begin coming to the office annually for well visits.

Acute care or ‘sick visits’ can be scheduled at any time, and we will do our best to accommodate you for a same-day visit to address any concerns as they arise. In addition, we have trained physicians and other healthcare providers available 24hrs/day, 7days/week to answer your acute questions after office hours or during weekends. We aim to be an important resource for your and your children around the clock!

The implementation of routine childhood immunizations has led to major improvements in child health and safety and drastically reduced mortality from many vaccine-preventable diseases in childhood. Pediatricians firmly believe in the importance and efficacy of preventative care for children, which includes immunizations. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advocates for appropriate funding for public immunization programs to help eliminate cost as a barrier for families who wish to keep their children safe with routine vaccination. The Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) can be found here: https://publications.aap.org/redbook/pages/Immunization-Schedules and is published at your pediatrician’s office for your reference. Your pediatrician will discuss each vaccine with you in detail and discuss the importance of each component as well as any potential side-effects and any contraindications or precautions to vaccination. You will have ample opportunity to discuss your concerns with your doctor so that you can feel comfortable and confident that you are doing your best to keep your child safe.