It’s easy to recognize doctors just by reading their nametags. After all, they have the letters MD (for doctor of medicine) after their last names, right? But what if you see the letters DO? You might be surprised to learn that DO is an abbreviation for another type of physician: a …
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What’s a Nurse Practitioner?
What’s an NP? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has additional education and training in a specialty area, such as family practice or pediatrics. Pediatric and family practice NPs can provide regular health care for kids. Nurse practitioners (also referred to as advanced practice nurses, or …
What’s a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
A primary care physician (PCP), or primary care provider, is a health care professional who practices general medicine. PCPs are our first stop for medical care. Most PCPs are doctors, but nurse practitioners and even physician assistants can sometimes also be PCPs. A PCP is the person your child should …
When Your Child Outgrows Pediatric Care
It might seem like only yesterday that you stepped into the pediatrician’s office for your child’s very first visit. And you might have been a little nervous as you got to know the person who’d be caring for your little one. But after years of interaction (complete with late-night phone …
When Your Child’s in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
It can be stressful whenever kids are in the hospital — and even more so when they’re admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). But a basic understanding of the people and equipment in the PICU can help you feel better prepared to help your child recover. What’s the …
Who’s Who in the Hospital
Having a child in the hospital is a stressful time. And questions about the people who are providing care and their roles can add to the confusion. Here’s a guide to those who take care of kids in the hospital: Medical student: Medical students usually spend the first 2 years of medical …
Finding Respite Care for Your Child With Special Needs
As a parent raising a child with a disability, you might find that “me time” is more fantasy than reality. Sure, you’d love some time to yourself, or one-on-one time with a spouse, partner, friend, or another child. But how can you find that perfect person to care for your …
Giving Teens a Voice in Health Care Decisions
Since your child’s miraculous entry into the world, you’ve been responsible for most — if not all — of the decisions made regarding his or her health care. You scheduled the early-morning doctor’s visits, arranged for X-rays and other diagnostic tests, ordered prescriptions from pharmacies, asked the right questions, and …
If Your Child Has a Heart Defect
About Congenital Heart Defects It can be frightening to learn that your child has a congenital heart defect. But these are relatively common, affecting almost 1 in every 100 newborns in the United States. Advances in medical knowledge and diagnostic technologies can provide very detailed information regarding structural heart abnormalities. …
Is My Child Too Sick to Go to School?
I’m usually a pretty good judge of when my kids are too sick to go to school or daycare, but other times — like when my youngest seems to be dragging but has no fever — I’m just not sure. How can I tell when they’re well enough to go …