Paediatrics in a Country Area

Abstract

One may divide the practice of Paediatrics into 3 categories — Primary, Secondary, and Specialist. The primary paediatrician receives the majority of his patients directly, without referral from another doctor, whereas the secondary paediatrician receives the majority or all of his patients as referrals for a consultant opinion. The specialist paediatrician working in a sub-speciality such as paediatric cardiology or diabetes, will receive many of his patients from other paediatricians. It has been the custom in countries following the British system to rely almost entirely on the secondary and specialist paediatricians, although there are notable exceptions. In the United States, the reverse has been the case, and primary paediatricians are an accepted part of medical practice.