In this section I will write about new ways of helping parents so they can be part of the "Pediatric Health Team" in taking care of their child.
I believe that the more Pediatric education the primary care physicians (PCP) give parents, the better quality or outcome of health care.
With the advent of the e mail and the Internet the PCP can now give practical information to patients and parents with least cost.
Here are some of the Best practice Pediatrics tricks that I use which parents love and I feel might be the standard of practice in about five to 10 years.
1. A PCP should have an office website for education and easy communication.
2. A PCP should have a data base of all their patients with e mail and telephone number at a clilck of the mouse.
3. Outcome studies of a group of patients with similar problems, eg. Asthma, Migraine, ADHD, etc should be done by all physicians.
4. All Physcians and Nurse practitioners should have an electronic Newsletter whose goal is give ideas on how to promote healthy habits and reduce injuries.
5. Physicians should have a Clinical History Templates for parents to answer at home and bring a printed copy during the office visit. (See How to Give a Good Clinical history at our Home page.)
6. All of the examining rooms of PCP should have a printer so they can print a prescription.
7. All PCP should have an Electronic Medical Records as soon as possible.
8. All recommendations and treatment should be based on Evidence Based Study when there is such available research.
9. All non urgent E mails should be answered in 72 hours.
10. All PCP should provide patients or parents websites published by National Health Organizations, Specialty Association, NIH, or CDC.