YKHC presents a distinctive opportunity for Pediatricians dedicated to offering unparalleled care. Serving within our outpatient sector, a pediatrician's workweek spans Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm (NO CALL; NO WEEKENDS). Their main responsibility centers around catering to the needs of approximately 1,200 pediatric patients with chronic ailments, all of whom are diligently listed on the Chronic Pediatrics Patient Registry (CPP).
Furthermore, the pediatricians are entrusted with routine medical oversight for specific villages. To optimize continuity of care, panel villages are systematically assigned to them, grounded in factors such as the patient count and geographical location. When circumstances permit, it's the pediatrician's prerogative to undertake trips to these appointed villages.
While the essentials of well-child visits might often be overseen by family medicine professionals, village health aides, or public health nurses in the more remote locations, a consistent protocol is maintained for infants aged between 6 to 8 weeks. These infants undergo their health check-ups and immunization schedules in Bethel, seamlessly synchronized with the postpartum check-ups for mothers. It's also worth noting that high-risk, chronically ill infants and those from designated villages are exclusively scheduled for their 6-week consultations with the pediatrician.
In addition, pediatricians at YKHC shoulder the responsibility of post-discharge care for patients coming from Anchorage hospitals. They adeptly evaluate and guide patients transitioning back to their villages, equipping them with necessary medications or vital information. Given the multifaceted care spectrum offered elsewhere, it's not uncommon for clinic patients to present with more intricate and acute cases.
Pediatricians here encounter a gamut of conditions, ranging from seizures, asthma, ADHD, to developmental delays and FASD, among others. Collaborating with specialists for insights during clinical sessions is routine. We also facilitate subspecialty clinics spanning areas like cardiology, neurology, and orthopedics. For advanced diagnostic needs, referrals to Anchorage, especially for procedures such as MRIs, are seamless. It's imperative for pediatricians to ensure comprehensive documentation – encompassing patient medical history, medications, laboratory results, and follow-up guidelines – within a 24-hour window. Documenting parent education is equally paramount.
Given the distinctive nature of our patient base, conditions like bronchiolitis, otitis media, and skin infections might manifest more intensely than what's conventionally observed. Pediatricians must be adept at harnessing the limited local resources, frequently leveraging telephone consultations to ensure the highest standard of care for this special demographic. Essentially, they stand as the linchpin – the primary care provider and coordinator – for children hailing from their assigned villages and their panel of complex patients.