Pediatric intensivists specialize in treating seriously ill or injured children, working in intensive care centers to diagnose and treat emergency conditions. They administer treatment, monitor patients, and conduct independent research to stay current on the latest medical innovations. Becoming a pediatric intensivist requires extensive training and certification.
A pediatric intensivist is a doctor who specializes in caring for adolescents, children, and babies with serious illnesses or injuries. Most intensivists work in intensive care centers in hospitals to diagnose and treat emergency conditions. Some pediatric intensivists work exclusively with patients with very particular conditions, such as asthma attacks or head injuries. Most doctors, however, provide specialized care for young people with all kinds of life-threatening disorders.
When a patient is admitted to an intensive care unit, a pediatric intensivist makes a diagnosis by obtaining information about symptoms and performing a physical examination. He or she may order diagnostic imaging tests to look at lesions or take blood and tissue samples for laboratory analysis of disease. With the help of nurses and hospital technicians, pediatric intensivists ensure that young patients are constantly monitored and kept as comfortable as possible while treatment decisions are being made.
After confirming a diagnosis, a pediatric intensivist can administer the appropriate treatment. The intensivist may need to administer intravenous fluids and medications or place a child on a ventilator to stabilize breathing. Depending on the urgency of the patient’s condition, the doctor may decide to monitor the effects of the drugs for a few hours or arrange for immediate surgical procedures.
Treating life-threatening conditions in young people is often very different from caring for adults with similar conditions, as illnesses and injuries affect the development of body systems in unique ways. A young child’s immune system, for example, is typically less effective at fighting relatively common bacteria and viruses. The same pathogen that causes a simple cold in an adult can cause the child to suffer serious respiratory, cardiac and neurological complications. Pediatric intensivists receive extensive training to accurately recognize and treat health problems in young patients.
A person who wants to become a pediatric intensivist usually needs to complete four years of medical school, participate in a three-year pediatric care residency, and enter a two- to three-year fellowship in pediatric critical care. During fellowship residency and training, a new physician has the opportunity to work directly with patients, under the supervision of established pediatricians. He or she learns how to keep patient records, identify different conditions, and administer treatment. Additionally, a physician is required to pass certification exams upon completion of residency and fellowship to obtain a license in their specialty.
Many pediatric intensivists conduct independent research when not treating patients. They review the literature on different diseases and conditions and compose original articles based on their own clinical and experimental findings. It is important for a pediatric intensivist to stay current on the latest innovations in medical technology and treatment techniques to ensure that their patients receive the best possible care.
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