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Having a good relationship with a primary care provider is an important part of a child’s development. There are several types of primary care doctors who care for children. The two most common are pediatricians and family medicine doctors. Many parents question which type of doctor to choose for their children. Either type of doctor can provide the care your child needs from birth through adolescence and can refer you to specialists if necessary.

There are many things to consider when making this decision. For example:

  • How old is your child?
  • Does your child have any complex health needs?
  • Is location important to you? And if so, do you have both family medicine doctors and pediatricians near you who are taking new patients?
  • What office hours do the doctors have and which hospitals do they practice and “make rounds” in?
  • What type of access do they have to laboratories and specialty testing centers? Do they have laboratories in their office, or will you have to travel to another location if your child needs a test that can’t be done during an office visit?
  • Is the gender or cultural background of your doctor important to you?
  • Do you know other people who have had good experiences with either type of doctor or with specific doctors?
  • Which doctors are in your insurance network?

You may want to write down a list of questions and the pros and cons of each type of doctor before you choose who you’re going to take your child to see. And remember, you don’t have to stick with a doctor or medical practice if you don’t feel like the doctor is a good fit for your child or your family. So just because you make a choice doesn’t mean you’ll have to live with it for years.


Pediatricians

Pediatricians treat children and adolescents exclusively. They had general medical training in internal medicine, but their residency was focused on children. After their residency, they had to pass a pediatric board exam before they could legally practice. They are experts in all aspects of child development.

Some benefits of pediatricians are:

  • They specialize in caring for children. It’s what they do all day, every day.
  • They are typically quite skilled at communicating and engaging with children.
  • They tend to have experience with child-specific health concerns, including rare congenital conditions. So if your child has health issues, you may want to choose a pediatrician.

Family medicine doctors

Doctors who specialize in family medicine treat people of all ages throughout their lifespan. They frequently treat all members of a family over multiple generations. Like pediatricians, they complete medical school and a residency. However, unlike pediatricians, their residency is in family medicine. It is not focused solely on children. They do have specific training in pediatrics, but it’s not a three-year training. Instead, they spend their three years of residency learning about many aspects of medicine for people of all ages, including pediatrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, psychiatry and internal medicine. They get their certification through the American Board of Family Medicine and they must pass a certification exam before they can practice.

Some benefits of family medicine doctors are:

  • They can treat your child throughout his or her life, so there’s no need to change doctors. This continuity can be very important as your child grows into adulthood because there is likely to be a very strong relationship and your child’s doctor will have years if not decades of first-hand medical knowledge that will help inform treatment decisions.
  • The same doctor can treat your entire family, which can be very convenient for everyone. It also helps your doctor understand the entire family history.
  • A family medicine doctor can offer gynecologic care for girls. Not all pediatricians offer those services.
  • A family medicine doctor can offer mental health counseling for children and families.
  • If the entire family sees the same doctor, that doctor will have access to family medical records.

Referrals to specialists

Both types of doctors can and do refer their patients to specialists. However, pediatricians spend more time with children, so they are more likely to have a better understanding of the pediatric specialty landscape. They may have stronger relationships with pediatric specialists, like pediatric cardiologists who treat congenital heart conditions or pediatric neurologists who treat epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

Some of the specialists that pediatricians and family medicine doctors may refer children to are:

  • Neonatologists, who specialize in caring for newborns and infants with complex or high-risk health issues, such as congenital defects.
  • Pediatric oncologists, who specialize in treating children who have cancer.
  • Pediatric allergists, who work with children who have environmental or food allergies.
  • Pediatric neurologists, who treat children with neurological disorders, such as epilepsy or brain tumors.
  • Pediatric speech and language specialists, who work with children with speech problems and language delays.
  • Pediatric endocrinologists, who specialize in disorders related to hormones, like diabetes or thyroid disease.
  • Pediatric cardiologists, who treat heart problems in children.
  • Pediatric psychiatrists, who diagnose and treat mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety.

Beaumont cares for children

No matter which type of doctor is right for your child and family, Beaumont can help you find one. We have pediatric and family medicine specialists at locations throughout Metro Detroit, so you’re sure find a doctor who offers the services you want and need at a location that’s convenient for you.

Our doctors know children, and we’re dedicated to providing the type of care you expect for your family. Call 248-965-1860 today to make an appointment for your child’s visit. We’re looking forward to seeing you.