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Changing face of pediatrics

Two recent studies documented changes in primary care practice patterns in the care of children and how parents view pediatric health care experiences.

Primary care physicians are seeing younger patients and spend more time with each child, according to an analysis of National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys from 1979 to 1994. In addition, physicians are providing more preventive services, and patients are more ethnically diverse.

Highlights from data recorded by about 2,000 physicians on 58,488 child visits show:

• Child visits to primary care providers increased 22 percent, from 87 million in 1979 to 111 million in 1994.

• The percentage of all primary care child visits to pediatricians increased from 59.5 percent to 71 percent.

• The mean duration of visits increased from 11.8 minutes to 14.2 minutes.