Mixin’ it up

I know this is a heretical proposition but a mix of acute and chronic complaints keeps the practice of pediatrics stimulating and rewarding and is good for the patients. I found that I knew my patients better after seeing them when they were in need rather than in the less frequent but longer encounters of a health maintenance visit. It takes work, but there is room for both kinds of visit.

Dr. Wilkoff practiced primary care pediatrics in Brunswick, Maine for nearly 40 years. He has authored several books on behavioral pediatrics, including “How to Say No to Your Toddler.” Email him at pdnews@mdedge.com.