The Daily Schedule Of A Paediatrician

A paediatrician focuses on the management of children including neonates, infants, toddlers, pre-teens and even adolescents. In some countries, these specialists will be responsible for the medical care of children up to 18 years of age. Like a physician manages diseases and disorders involving the organic systems of the human body, so does a paediatrician for children. This specialist will have to make sure that certain medications and dosages need to be adjusted considering these patients' physiology.

A paediatrician's role involves more than just managing these issues, but also includes having to deal with problems such as developmental delays, congenital abnormalities and getting consent for medical care (issues of guardianship can become a logistical nightmare).

Paediatricians need to practice the most patience and understanding of all the medical disciplines since they have to work with patients who don't necessarily understand or enjoy what is happening to them. These specialists also have to be extremely diplomatic as they have to deal with parents or guardians who may not necessarily agree with treatment options or each other.

Training

A doctor wanting to specialise in paediatrics will have to complete a residency programme that take 4-5 years to complete. Before that, a doctor needs to obtain their degree in their undergraduate studies by completing the bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery programme over 5-6 years, depending on the institution they are studying at. This is then followed by a mandatory internship training phase that takes 1-2 years to complete.

A qualified paediatrician may then decide to carry on in general paediatric practice, but there are those specialists who decide to sub-specialise further. In order to do so, they have to take part in a fellowship training programme that can take 1-3 years to complete. Many sub-specialties for paediatrics are available and they include the following:

• Paediatric neuropsychology
• Developmental-behavioural paediatrics
• Neonatology
• Paediatric emergency medicine
• Paediatric critical care
• Paediatric infectious disease
• Paediatric cardiology
• Paediatric pulmonology
• Paediatric gastroenterology
• Paediatric endocrinology
• Paediatric nephrology
• Paediatric haematology
• Paediatric rheumatology
• Paediatric allergy and immunology
• Paediatric oncology
• Adolescent medicine

READ Questions To Ask Yourself When Wanting To Study Medicine

Duties and Responsibilities of a Paediatrician 

Besides examining and prescribing medications to children, a paediatrician has many more responsibilities such as the following:

• Administering or ordering the administration of the many immunizations that are available in order to protect children from diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, mumps, measles, rubella and hepatitis A and B.
• Routine check-ups to monitor a child's growth and development from birth to adulthood.
• Working together with other healthcare professionals involved with the child in order to provide them with the best medical care they can receive.
• Working with parents or guardians of children in order to teach them aspects such as how to administer medication at home, bringing the child for follow-up examinations, improving childhood eating habits, promoting regular exercise and improving personal hygiene.

The Daily Schedule Of A Paediatrician

The daily routine for paediatricians includes following up with their hospital patients on a daily basis in order to examine them and order further management. The patients are kept in hospital and discharged when they have improved or they are referred to rehabilitation facilities for further management. Paediatricians may also have patients admitted in the intensive care units (ICUs) and they will be managed 1-2 times a day according to the patient's health needs. These specialist's offices are usually situated in the hospital as they have to be nearby if a medical emergency occurs regarding their hospital patients.

Paediatricians have to be available for on call shifts to provide emergency services after hours and on weekends. These specialists will be consulted by primary healthcare workers and casualty doctors at the emergency room of the hospital they provide services for. The doctors will be consulted to provide an opinion for and/or manage cases such as respiratory distress or failure due to issues such as pneumonia, persistent fevers that don't break despite treatment being given and severe dehydration due to persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea.

Monday

The start of the week is usually reserved for dealing with non-clinical issues such as attending meetings with hospital staff and management as well as medical representatives. 

Once these issues have being attended to, the paediatrician will begin consulting with patients in their office. The specialist will manage patients conservatively with medication and advice to parents, or they may need to admit patients to the hospital for further investigations and management.

Tuesday

The paediatrician will continue consulting with patients during the day as well as attend to any medical emergencies in the casualty department and the ICUs.

Paediatricians will also be present during childbirth during a high risk case or when a pregnant patient is receiving a Ceasarian section. This is in order to make sure that the newborn baby is fine and that there are no medical issues that need attention. In routine childbirth cases, the specialist will consult with a newborn baby once they have been transferred to the baby unit or when they are in the mother's care in the ward. The paediatrician will assess the child for any congenital abnormalities as well as rule out endocrine issues such as diabetes and thyroid problems.

Wednesday

This day will routinely include consulting with in- and out-patients, ordering further investigations, providing appropriate management, discussing management of patients with allied healthcare workers such as physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists and consulting with referring physicians.

READ Questions To Be Answered By Medical Schools When Wanting To Study Medicine

Thursday

Paediatricians will carry on as they do in the week and will also use this day to complete motivation letters for medical insurance companies, complete chronic prescriptions for patients and give feedback to referring healthcare workers.

If the specialist is involved with the academic programme of the local medical school, then they will offer training to undergraduate medical students and postgraduate clinical assistants.

Friday

The specialist will continue to consult with patients in the mornings. The early afternoon will be used to finish up with any unresolved administrative issues and the work wee can then conclude.

If the paediatrician is on call for the hospital over the weekend, then they will be providing medical care for their patients as well as those who have been discussed with the doctor by their colleagues.