Careers in Pediatrics

1. Careers in Pediatrics By Kay Ostensen, Ph.D.

2. Dr. Debra Miller, Pediatrician • This reporter visited the office of Dr. Debra Miller, Pediatrician at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach.

3. Pediatrics are the fourth most common specialty in American practice of medicine.

4. Pediatricians see patients from infancy through age 21.

5. The Office Manager has a wide array of duties including scheduling, arranging employee shifts, connecting the doctor with referring physicians, and coordinating hospitalizations.

6. Files must be kept in a securely locked cabinet for a minimum of ten years. The HIPPA laws adopted in 2006 have significantly added to the complexities of the information sharing system for medical personnel.

7. Vaccinations are a crucial part of early pediatric care. Pediatricians encourage every family to get shots and public schools require them.

8. In the office lab simple tests such as strep cultures and TB test results can be determined. Medications needing refrigeration are also kept in the pediatric lab. Blood tests are sent out to a local lab.

9. The office is divided into two waiting rooms, designated “well-child” and “ill-child.” This separation serves to protect patients from infectious diseases.

10. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has 60,000+ members from over ten countries.

11. The practice of pediatrics is divided into the care of infants, children, teenagers, and sometimes college youth. Most of the work that pediatricians do involves treatment of minor injuries, infectious diseases, and administration of immunizations. Major difficulties such as broken bones, or chronic ailments are referred to specialists.