As a parent, you have a choice when it comes to what type of doctor your children see after birth for routine check-ups and at times when illness comes into the picture.
Dr. Mary Ann Mancano, MD, has been a Pediatric Hospitalist since 1993 and is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State Health St. Joseph in Bern Township, working directly with children on a daily basis.
“I come from a very large family and have always been around lots of children,” she says. “I have seven brothers and sisters, all younger than me, and I now have many nieces and nephews. I also had rather severe asthma as a child and spent lots of time in my pediatrician's office. He was an absolutely brilliant, compassionate man who my parents and I adored; this had a profound influence on my career choice.”
Doctor Distinctions
“Both pediatricians and family practitioners have the same medical school training, generally four years,” she notes. “Following medical school, a residency in the chosen specialty is done. This is an additional three years of training for both pediatricians and family doctors.”
Pediatricians spend these final three years devoted to learning solely Pediatrics, while family physicians focus on Pediatric and Adult Medicine.
“Generally, pediatricians take care of patients from birth through age 17, and some pediatricians will see patients through college age or until age 21,” Dr. Mancano says. “Family doctors typically care for patients from birth through the end of life.”
Pediatricians have more experience in caring for children, so they can be a good fit for kids for this reason.
“But sometimes children have complex medical problems which are best managed by a family doctor or pediatrician together with subspecialists,” she adds.
“Family doctors are able to see patients through the entire lifespan, so they are able to care for every member of the family,” Dr. Mancano differentiates. “They often know the medical histories for everyone in the family, which can be advantageous. And it is often convenient for the family for everyone to get their medical care in the same office.”
Considering convenience versus a lack of it is important, too, she explains, mentioning an office's location and the hours of a practice. “Newborns and toddlers often need frequent visits, especially if they are in daycare,” she says.
When to Transition
“In general, girls are often referred to a gynecologist once they become sexually active [not necessarily just once their menstrual cycles start, around age 12 or 13, but possibly earlier or later],” Dr. Mancano explains. “However, many pediatricians and family doctors are comfortable performing pelvic exams and provide GYN care for their female adolescent patients. Once an adolescent female starts going to a gynecologist, she should also continue to be followed by a primary care provider, either a pediatrician or family doctor, for health maintenance, vaccines, and other non-GYN related medical problems.”
“As far as for children, male or female, who are seen by a pediatrician, it makes sense to start transitioning to a family doctor between the ages of 16 and 18, or any time sooner than that, if parents wish to switch over,” she says. “Once a child turns 18, they can also transition to an internal medicine doctor (not to be confused with an intern), also called an internist, someone who sees adult patients. These doctors do not care for anyone under the age of 18.”
Healthy History.
According to academia.edu, Abraham Jacobi is considered the father of Pediatrics by way of his advocacy for children's health. Jacobi lived from 1830 to 1919, studying in Germany and later practicing as a physician in New York City.
