When it comes to being a pediatric specialist, one thing is certain: working with kids isn’t child’s play. We typically need to give special attention to children because of their concerns, anxieties, and needs due to their young age. But people don’t grow out of their appreciation for attentive care. Doctors of all kinds can learn a thing or two about dealing with people when they learn how to deal with kids. It’s astounding how different the philosophy and methodology typically is between working with children and adults. Why does it have to be that way? Understandably, there’s some natural differences between treating a child and an adult. Yet there are more similarities that you may think. As a pediatric dentist, many of the lessons we’ve learned about caring for children are relevant, but typically missing, from the treatment of adults. Assisting Adults With Special Needs In the pediatric field, there’s a great deal of emphasis on helping children with special needs. This is an encouraging development, because as our understanding and diagnosis of various special needs has grown, we’re better able to help meet the needs of these unique children. Because of this, you’ll find that most pediatricians and their staff are ready and able to treat children with special needs. Unfortunately, the rate of advancement in catering to the special needs of adults has not always kept pace. This is troubling, since children with special needs will eventually grow up and become adults. A pediatrician learning to care for children with special needs learns the patience needed to support them. They learn to avoid making assumptions and ask their questions thoroughly. In caring for a person with special needs, they learn to treat the person, not just the condition. Remember, Words Matter As pediatric dentists, we’re constantly aware that we’re working with young children who are anxious about sitting in the chair. They’re nervous for a host of different reasons, and the words we use with them can either soothe them or make them even more anxious. Most pediatric clinicians are cognizant of this. They choose their words and the tone they use carefully, to help put their patients of all ages at ease. Although adults don’t often show it the same way, they often have similar anxieties and concerns to those of children. The difference is simple— adults usually don’t wear their emotions on their sleeve like children do. Beyond this, adults also deal with the pressures of life that children don’t, sometimes causing additional pressure. For instance, a recent Atlantic article about healthcare costs stated that 55% of those polled had a medical bill they couldn’t afford. For this reason, and a multitude of others, adults need to be reassured with intentional, compassionate words when they’re visiting their clinician. Personalize Each Visit Sometimes, in the business of a typical medical practice, it’s easy to fall into the trap of treating people without actually talking to people. Take this. Do this. Get this test done. Then, it’s off to the next room and the next issue. Pediatric clinicians understand that you can’t treat kids this way. Taking time with each child and caring for them as an individual is extremely important. For instance, it’s often not just asking a child “what’s wrong,” but also, “how does that make you feel?”. This slight shift in tone can make all the difference for a child that needs reassurance that their clinician cares about them as a person. ACTRESS EMMA THOMPSON ONCE SAID, “CHILDREN DON’T NEED MUCH ADVICE, BUT THEY REALLY DO NEED TO BE LISTENED TO…AND NOT JUST WITH HALF AN EAR.” This is true for adults as well! Most adults go to their doctor, dentist, or specialist with the preconceived notion that they’re nothing more than a file on a computer. Instead of reinforcing that notion, take time to make each patient feel uniquely cared for. Try asking and keeping notes about more than just medically-relevant details of a patient’s visit. Do they have any hobbies? Are they a fan of any sports teams? Reference this information from their file on subsequent appointments to easily personalize their visit and build instant rapport. If you take a slight interest in your patients, they’re more likely to listen to your advice in return. And that’s a good way to support positive outcomes for everyone. Source
