Pediatrician vs. Primary Care Physician

Pediatrician vs. Primary Care Physician: What Parents Should Know

Parents know that a primary care physician is the go-to provider for their own health, but what about their kids? Is a pediatrician simply a specialist, or does your child need to have a primary care provider too?

Pediatricians are primary care providers who specialize in caring for infants, children and teens up to age 18. They focus on growth, development and preventive care, while also treating illnesses and managing chronic conditions.

We’re here to explain the differences between a pediatrician and a primary care physician to help you understand when to see one or the other for the kids or young adults in your family.

What Is a Pediatrician?

A pediatrician is a type of primary care physician who focuses on treating children, from birth to about age 18. Some pediatricians will continue to see their patients up until age 21.

Pediatricians provide complete physical and mental health care through:

• Annual well-child exams for children 3 and older
• Conducting well-baby exams starting two weeks after birth
• Developmental screenings
• Diagnosing and treating various childhood illnesses and minor injuries
• Educating parents on their child's health
• Mental health support
• Monitoring growth and development milestones
• Nutrition guidance
• Prescribing medications
• Providing referrals to specialists
• Vaccinations

What Is a Primary Care Physician?

A primary care physician is your go-to doctor or health care team that oversees your entire well-being and health history. They provide comprehensive care through annual exams, preventive care, managing chronic conditions and specialist referrals.

There are several different types of primary care providers, and which one you see depends on your age, gender and other factors:

• Family medicine providers offer complete health care for the entire family, from infant to adult.
• Geriatric providers offer care to older adults ages 65 and up.
• Internal medicine providers focus on adult health.
• Nurse practitioners who have master's or doctoral degrees are specially trained to diagnose and treat common health conditions and can prescribe medications.
• Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) treat women's health, including their reproductive health.
• Pediatricians provide specialized care for children, from newborns to about age 18.

Primary care providers offer a variety of health care services, including:

• Annual checkups
• Chronic disease management
• Immunizations
• Lifestyle guidance, such as nutrition, exercise and quitting smoking
• Medication management
• Mental health support
• Minor procedures, such as suturing a small cut
• Specialist referrals

Differences Between Pediatricians and Primary Care Providers

While both pediatricians and primary care physicians provide comprehensive care, the main difference is who they treat and how they focus on health needs. Pediatricians specialize in caring for children and teens, supporting their growth, development and unique health concerns, while family medicine providers see patients of all ages and often manage health care for the entire household.

Understanding these differences can help you decide which provider is the best fit for your child at different life stages.

When to Choose a Pediatrician

Go to a pediatrician when you want a health care provider who specializes in early childhood or adolescent health care, including:

• Behavioral issues
• Common childhood illnesses
• Developmental delays
• Growth and development
• Necessary vaccines
• Pediatric mental health concerns like ADHD

When to Choose a Primary Care Provider

A family medicine provider is best if you want a health care team that takes care of everyone in your family, regardless of their age. Some of the benefits of seeing a family medicine provider rather than a pediatrician include:

• Building a long-term health care relationship
• Continuity of care for a lifetime, from infancy to adulthood
• Convenience of visiting one doctor's office for all family members
• Management of chronic conditions that may last into adulthood
• Preventive care needs, including vaccines and screenings
• Provides a holistic approach to a child's health, including lifestyle factors and full family history
• Specialist referrals when needed

Overlapping Areas and Collaboration

Because both pediatricians and family medicine providers are certified to take care of children’s health needs, many of the services they offer overlap, such as:

• Annual wellness exams
• Chronic condition management
• Parental education
• Preventive care
• Mental health support
• Monitoring of growth and development
• Referrals to specialists
• Treatment of childhood diseases

A family medicine provider may refer their young patients to a pediatric specialist for conditions that may go beyond their expertise or for specific medical procedures. Some types of pediatric specialists include:

• Adolescent and teen medicine
• Neonatal-perinatal medicine
• Pediatric cardiology
• Pediatric gastroenterology
• Pediatric nephrology
• Pediatric oncology
• Pediatric rheumatology
• Sports medicine

As your child grows, your pediatrician can help them make the transition to a family physician, usually between the ages of 18 and 21.

Do You Need a Primary Care Provider or a Pediatrician?

Wondering whether a pediatrician or a family-focused primary care physician is the best fit for your child? Ask yourself these questions to help determine which provider can best support your child’s health and development:

• Do you prefer just one doctor for your whole family?
• Does your child have developmental delays or special needs?
• Is your health insurance deductible higher for a pediatrician than for a traditional family doctor?
• Which is closer to where you live, a pediatrician or a primary care provider?