Pediatric patients are some of the most fun patients. It is important that medical practitioners help parents make sure their children stay in good health. One good way to do this is to encourage regular physical checkups ("well-baby checkups" or "well checkups"). In general, conducting a physical assessment for pediatric patients is done in the same way as for adults. However, there are some differences.
Starting the Assessment
Whether your patient is a baby or a child, the first thing you will want to do is take temperature, blood pressure, height and weight. You will probably also want to ask whether the patient can provide a urine sample, but with pediatric patients, this can be tricky, so don't be surprised if he is unable to give one. Offering water might help, so keep water on hand.
After this, escort the patient and her family to their exam room, and be prepared to answer questions. Many parents don't realize that the doctor is the one who will answer most of their questions, so they are likely to start asking the person who escorted them to their room. Do the best you can, but don't be afraid to say, "That sounds like a great question, but one that the doctor would be better suited to answer."
When you're asking questions about patients, speak clearly. You might have to repeat yourself if the children are noisy. Stay calm; because you are the first person the patient sees, your demeanor can set the tone for the visit, which more than likely will include some sort of vaccination. It's normal for kids to be antsy at this time.
Many of the procedures for the general examination can be found online as videos.
The Role of the Physician
If you are the physician, then by the time you enter the room, your pediatric patient probably has built up a lot of anxiety and needs some reassurance. Greet your patient with an enthusiastic tone, perhaps telling a joke or pointing out something on his shirt. Your job will be to conduct an examination of organ systems and neurological systems. You will want to check heart rate using your fingers or a stethoscope. Check lung sounds using a stethoscope, and use a light to check ears, nose and throat.
Use child-friendly equipment so your patients know there is nothing to fear. For instance, PediaPals sells all types of creative pediatric medical supplies, from a hippo exam table to the Jamaal Giraffe reflex hammer. Use flavored tongue depressors; kids are so distracted by the taste that they're less likely to notice their gag reflex.
Stay positive and upbeat, and be sure to laugh and giggle with your patients a lot. This will help them to feel at ease for the (likely) upcoming vaccinations. Give parents plenty of time to ask questions. Don't make them feel rushed, and thank them for their time.
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