The patient population for this pediatric role is diverse, encompassing a wide range of common pediatric cases, including but not limited to wellness checks, ear infections, strep throat, and ADHD. The position is primarily outpatient, providing a stable and routine environment for patient care. There is also an occasional need for rounding within our, 12-bed, level II nursery. While we prefer to keep all babies with their mothers, our average daily census is less than one baby a day. If the mother had a vaginal delivery the average stay is 1-2 days and if the mother had a C-section the average stay is 2-4 days. As you can see, this is a small fraction of your job responsibilities but remains an important component.
Concerning the call component, the schedule and frequency are highly manageable, with a 1:4 rotation that is primarily conducted over the phone. Their current setup minimizes disruptions to the pediatrician's time and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance. The hospital's Emergency Department, classified as a Level 2 ED, sees about 17,000 patients annually, with 75% of those patients being urgent care patients. Our ED truly operates independently and rarely requires pediatrician intervention. Dr. Buck, one of the experienced pediatricians, mentioned that they "rarely, if not ever" get calls from the emergency medicine physicians. Their emergency medicine physicians are very capable of handling pediatrics or managing those patients until they are shipped out to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany.
While the call is primarily managed over the phone, there is a rare chance of being called in to assist with a high-risk delivery, which has happened 3-4 times in the last year in total. While our respiratory therapists typically handle intubations, the pediatrician may need to assist with resuscitation or intubation on occasion. Therefore, PALS certification is highly recommended to effectively manage these critical situations. Otherwise, the pediatrician will be responsible for managing the sick newborn until they are stable or can be transferred to Pheobe Putney Medical Center, a regional neonatal center in Albany, GA, which is about an hour away.
Memorial Hospital and Manor utilizes CMR Meditech for its electronic medical records system, ensuring efficient and organized patient documentation. This system supports a streamlined workflow, allowing healthcare providers to access and update patient records seamlessly.
Opportunities for specialization and focused practice are available, particularly in areas such as neonatal care, given the responsibilities in the labor and delivery department. The pediatrician's schedule will be predominantly outpatient, but they will also participate in nursery rounding within our 12-bed, level II nursery, which can sometimes involve managing NICU transfers for preterm babies that cannot be shipped before they are expected. Typically, there are two to three NICU transfers per month.
The clinical environment is supported by a dedicated team, including a 1:1 support staff ratio for vaccine administration and generally 15-minute visit slots, ensuring that patient care is thorough and efficient. This robust support structure allows the pediatrician to focus on providing high-quality care to their patients without being overwhelmed by administrative tasks.