Primary pediatric care in one community.
Primary pediatric practice in one community was studied by using a household interview survey, a pediatrician mail questionnaire, and an ambulatory care survey of nine practices reporting on all visits over a four-week period. The results for the study year 1975 are compared with those for 1971 and 1967. Pediatricians provided an ever-increasing proportion of ambulatory care. Of all the children who had a regular physician in 1967, only 47% had a pediatrician; by 1975, this proportion had increased to 74%. Well-child care continues to be the largest diagnostic category (30%), followed by treatment for upper respiratory tract infections (24%), otitis media (14%), and lower respiratory tract infections (6%). Variations by practice and patient characteristics are examined. If the observed changes indicate a nationwide trend, a larger number of pediatricians will be needed to cover their growing share in primary care for children. Working in multiple settings and delegating part of the work load to nurse practioners have helped to meet the growing demand.
D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008484:Medicaid; D009518:New York; D010372:Pediatrics; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors