Medical care for children and adolescents – the role of pediatric practices

Pediatricians provide care to children and adolescents while they are growing up. These doctors are familiar with the unique physical, mental and social aspects of development during childhood and adolescence.

Those working in a pediatric practice require sensitivity and the ability to respond to the development stage of each child – after all, some young patients may not understand the reason for an examination of a particular course of treatment. Alongside pediatricians, physician assistants also play an important role. They coordinate procedures in the pediatric practice and provide support during examinations and treatments.

The layout and furnishings in a pediatric practice also differ from those in practices providing care for adult patients. As well as a child-friendly, playful environment, the pediatric practice also has some small-scale medical equipment for its patients. For example, there are special stethoscopes for listening to children’s hearts and special weighing scales for babies.

A pediatrician is familiar with medical conditions that typically occur during childhood and adolescence. These include developmental disorders such as speech and language difficulties as well as dyslexia. They also include typical infectious diseases like hand, foot and mouth disease, chickenpox and rubella. 

Some infectious diseases also develop differently in children. For example, pneumonia can produce very similar symptoms in children and adults, but these same symptoms may also be indicative of other illnesses in children. This knowledge is important because children and adults sometimes require different treatment for the same illness.

A pediatrician also needs to know which medication can be given to children and in what dosage. 

As well as treating sick children, pediatricians also administer vaccines and conduct health screening/check-ups. In Germany, screenings for children and adolescents are known as U and J check-ups. These check-ups are intended to detect any illnesses or developmental anomalies at an early stage so that they can be treated as soon as possible. 

For more information about screening for children and adolescents, see our article dealing with
health checks for children and adolescents.

Pediatricians also play the role of intermediary and coordinator in the patients’ care. If necessary, they arrange for their patients to have special tests or treatments, prescribe occupational therapy or speech and language therapy or refer children to hospital. They also know which types of tests and treatments are available outside of the pediatric practice and are typically informed of diagnostic findings from specialized practices and hospitals to which their patients are referred. Pediatricians can help parents to understand and process the findings. Their overview also helps children to find the best way to manage their illness. The same applies to medication – for example, pediatricians monitor their effectiveness and possible side-effects. 

Various aspects can be considered when choosing a suitable practice. These include: 

• location and accessibility
• consulting hours offered and organization of the practice
• services and additional qualifications
• the relationships between the doctors and their patients 

The accessibility of a practice is an important selection criterion for many parents. The number of parking spaces available and public transport connections may play a role in the selection. It is also important to consider the fields of expertise offered by a pediatric practice. If the child has allergies, they may find themselves in good hands in a practice offering expertise in allergy treatments. 

Some pediatric practices may be overburdened in terms of patient numbers. As a result, it may not be possible to find a practice taking on new patients. That’s why you should begin your search for a pediatric practice for your child as soon as possible – ideally during your pregnancy. Some pediatric practices allow parents to register on a waiting list. 

In the ideal scenario, the same pediatrician will provide care to the child over an extended period and a solid relationship of trust will be established. If this is not the case and if the child or parents do not feel that they are being best served in one practice, it may be advisable to look for an alternative in some cases. 

Our online doctor search will help you find a pediatrician location close to you. 

You can also find a pediatric practice on the website of the German Association of Child and Adolescent Physicians (Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendärzt*innen e.V., BVKJ).

There are various reasons why a visit to a pediatrician may be necessary: 

• the occurrence of new symptoms
• monitoring of an existing illness
• screening check-ups
• vaccinations

It can be difficult for parents to assess the signs and symptoms of illness in small children in particular. Therefore, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and to pay their pediatrician a visit if in any doubt. 

Tips for when to visit a pediatric practice when children are showing signs of illness are provided in the Krankheiten-Verzeichnis (A to Z of health) published by the German Association of Child and Adolescent Physicians (Berufsverband der Kinder- und Jugendärzt*innen e.V., BVKJ). 

Children and adolescents under 18 years of age can be insured as family members on their parent’s health insurance. 

Their parents are not required to pay any additional insurance premiums. Foster children, step-children and grandchildren may also be insured as family members subject to certain conditions. It is also possible for children to be insured as family members for an extended period. If they are not in employment, this period can be extended until they turn 23. If they are doing vocational training or studying, it can even be extended until they turn 25. Children can be insured as family members for an unlimited period if they are unable to care for themselves independently due to a disability. 

Special rules apply if one parent has private health insurance – if the parent with statutory health insurance earns more than the privately insured parent, the child can be insured as a family member. If the privately insured parent is the higher earner, the annual income threshold is the determining factor – as of a certain income level, it is no longer possible for the child to be insured as a family member. The child must either be insured privately also or become a voluntary member of the statutory health insurance fund. Premiums have to be paid both for private children’s health insurance and for voluntary membership of a statutory health insurance fund. 

Pediatricians generally provide care to children up to the age of 18. In compliance with the legal regulations of the profession, they may continue to do so until the individual turns 21 years of age. As of this point, general practitioners (i.e. family doctors) take over responsibility for their medical care. 

In special cases, a pediatrician can continue to provide medical care to individuals over the age of 21. For example, pediatric care may continue for a transitional period if the patient has a congenital heart disease. In addition, patients with multiple or chronic health conditions may remain under the care of their pediatrician for a longer period if it was not possible to switch to a general practitioner.