Why Choose a Pediatrician for Your Child’s Healthcare
Whether you have a question or concern about your infant’s health, your teenager is dealing with asthma, or there is another pediatric care matter at hand, parents have healthcare decisions to make.
One question parents may face is whether to choose a pediatrician or a family doctor for their child’s healthcare. While both pediatricians and family doctors provide primary care, pediatricians focus on children’s health and family doctors offer care for all ages.
Choosing a Healthcare Provider for Your Child
Feeling comfortable about your child’s healthcare is important, and there are a number of points that may affect where you decide to have your child receive care.
Here are considerations to keep in mind when choosing a pediatric healthcare provider:
Your child's health history and any special needs
Are there any past health conditions that would influence current or ongoing care? Does your child have any special needs that should be included in health-related decisions or treatment?
Offered services
Do the healthcare provider’s offered services align with your child’s present and future healthcare needs?
Parent communication
Consider how well the provider communicates about a child’s health and recommended care. Are your questions answered thoroughly? Does the healthcare provider take a proactive approach to communication? What in-person or technology-based communication methods are available to you as a parent?
Insurance
Insurance problems or surprises can complicate healthcare situations that may already be concerning. Verify that the healthcare provider accepts your insurance coverage and whether all administered care is included. Having that peace of mind can make a big difference and help avert unexpected costs.
Location
Is the clinic or healthcare facility where your child would receive care in a location that works well for your family? Recognize that in some situations, a particular healthcare professional may work at different locations during the week or month.
Options outside of business hours
Is the care facility open beyond regular business hours? Does the clinic have a partnership with other care facilities should a health event occur when the office is closed? Is there a care line available during off-hours?
Professional certification of provider(s)
Know that your child’s healthcare providers are properly trained. What certifications do the providers have? Do any have special training that fits your child’s particular needs?
Hospital affiliation
Identify at what hospital(s) your child’s provider would be allowed to care for or make decisions regarding your child’s treatment. Also, if a healthcare provider and hospital are in the same care network, repeat testing may be avoided, and the provider may have connections to refer care.
Client reviews
What have other parents shared about their experiences with the provider? Are there common concerns raised? Is there a history of positive reviews?
Why Choose a Pediatrician?
There are multiple reasons to choose a pediatrician as your child’s healthcare provider, from specialized training to day-to-day experience, and more.
Also, a pediatrician may work in a pediatric center designed for kids, with an environment meant to create a positive experience, from seating sized just right to fun imagery on the walls. Helping kids have a welcoming introduction to healthcare and a comfortable place to receive care matters.
Pediatric residency
Benefit from the specialized training a pediatrician gained during a pediatric residency program.
Providing children’s healthcare in day-to-day practice
A pediatrician’s professional work is directed toward children’s health in day-to-day practice, which can mean a lot of helpful and focused experience in providing pediatric care. Benefits of treating patients day to day may include, for example, a pediatrician noticing indications of a particular illness affecting kids in the community. Also, day-to-day interactions with patients may help a pediatrician hone interpersonal skills that can benefit kids’ healthcare.
Importance of pediatric care in early stages of life
From newborn care to well-baby visits to verification of milestones met, pediatrics involves important aspects in early life. Trust a pediatrician to attend to your child’s health in the beginning stages of development.
Pediatric Care from Rexburg Pediatrics
Rexburg Pediatrics offers healthcare for pediatric patients through age 18, including newborns. From wellness checks to immunizations to sickness diagnoses and more, we specialize in pediatric care.
We offer same-day pediatric appointments, and we offer a patient portal, which is a downloadable app that presents chart notes, lab information, and more. Individuals can elect to join the app at the office front desk. Also, we accept most insurance plans and answer insurance-related questions.
Our staff is dedicated to providing quality pediatric care in an environment that is both safe and comfortable.
Pediatrician Jason Hymas, MD, has practiced primary pediatric care for more than 10 years. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-I) and the Medical College of Wisconsin, and he completed a pediatric residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The Rexburg Pediatrics team also includes physician assistants Candace Moore and Mark Hammar. Candace is a BYU-I graduate with a master’s degree from Idaho State University and experience in primary and urgent care pediatrics. Jason, a Ricks College and Jefferson College of Health Sciences graduate, has worked in primary pediatric care for more than 17 years.
Family nurse practitioner Haley Evans also graduated from BYU-I. She holds a doctorate degree in nursing practice and has years of experience in urgent care pediatrics.
Pediatric Services We Offer
Rexburg Pediatrics offers a range of healthcare services, beginning with care for newborns and extending for children through the adolescent years.
ADHD Treatment: Medications and behavioral therapy are available to support kids with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Talk to our team about available options.
Adolescent Care: Help kids develop a habit of regular health checks. Our adolescent care is available to support a growing child’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
Allergy Treatment: Symptoms can be mild or more pronounced and may include abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, itchy eyes, sneezing, and swelling.
Asthma Diagnosis and Treatment: We can provide lung function tests and check for bronchial tube narrowing.
Chronic Condition Treatment: Kids may deal with chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, genetic disorders, mental health issues, and hyperthyroidism.
Dietary and Nutrition Guidance: Let our team help you support the dietary and nutritional health of your child. Needs vary for the prenatal, baby, toddler, preschool, grade school, and teenage phases.
Immunizations: We can help keep immunizations on track according to age.
Medication Safety Support: Medication safety is important to us, and we want to provide parents and guardians with accurate, helpful information regarding safe medication-related practices.
Minor Behavioral and Mental Health Support: Behavioral and mental health are important, and we offer child mental health evaluations, including assessments and referrals.
Minor Fracture Care: We offer minor fracture care that may include services from our partnering healthcare provider, Community Care, located next door.
Newborn Care: Whether for wellness checks, follow-up on a parent’s concern, or age-appropriate vaccines, we provide care for newborn patients.
School, Church Mission, and Sports Physicals: Rexburg Pediatrics provides physical exams required before school, church missions, or sports.
Sick-child Diagnosis and Same-day Treatment: Services include sick-child diagnosis. Also, we accept same-day visits, so call our clinic even if you don’t have a previously scheduled appointment.
Well-child Exams: Well-child exams at regular intervals are ways to support your child’s health. We check height and weight and perform developmental screening, hearing and vision tests, anemia testing, and more.
X-rays: X-rays as part of Rexburg Pediatric’s prescribed care are conducted at Community Care next door to our clinic. Abdominal, bone and joint, chest, and dental imaging are offered.
Schedule an Appointment with a Rexburg Pediatrician
Dr. Hymas is an experienced Rexburg pediatrician. He and other healthcare providers at Rexburg Pediatrics are focused on helpful and personalized care for the Rexburg community.
Call (208) 346-8400 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hymas at Rexburg Pediatrics.