Articles In This Section
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Your Child’s Diabetes Health Care Team
When you have a child with diabetes, you and your family have a lot to learn, but you don't have to go it alone. Your child's diabetes health care team can help.
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Talking to the Pharmacist
If your child is sick, you'll probably have many questions to ask your doctor. But have you made a list of questions and concerns to share with your pharmacist?
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Telehealth and Your Child
Telehealth is changing health care. Find out how things like video doctor visits can benefit you and your family.
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Viewing Clinical Notes in Your Child’s Electronic Medical Record
If you use a patient portal or smartphone app to access your family’s health care information, you'll see that notes from the health care provider are now available.
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What Is Interventional Radiology (IR)?
Interventional radiology (IR) is a way for doctors to treat problems like vascular anomalies and tumors.
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What to Expect at a Telehealth Visit
Find out how a video visit works and what you need to do to get ready.
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What’s a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?
You might be surprised to learn that not all physicians have the letters MD after their names. Some have the letters DO (doctor of osteopathy).
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When Your Child’s in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
It can be stressful whenever kids are in the hospital — and even more so when they're admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). A basic understanding of the PICU can help you feel better prepared to help your child recover.
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Health Care Providers: Specialist Overviews
There are many different types of health care providers. Check out our overview of who they are and what they do.
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Health Care Providers: Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are movement experts who help people with prescribed exercises, hands-on care, and patient education.
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Health Care Providers: Physician Assistants (PAs)
Physician assistants (PA) work together with doctors to give medical care. They do much of the patient care that doctors do.
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Health Care Providers: Plastic Surgeons
A plastic surgeon is a doctor who does surgery to repair, rebuild, or replace a part of the body to improve how it looks and works. This can involve the skin, musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial (head and face) structures, hand, extremities, breast and trunk, and other areas of the body.
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Health Care Providers: Pulmonologists
A pulmonologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, prevents, and treats lung and airway problems. Many are also trained in critical care medicine.
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Health Care Providers: Radiologists
A radiologist is a doctor who views, analyzes, and interprets medical images. They consult with the patient’s primary doctor or specialist doctor about their findings.
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Health Care Providers: Registered Dietitians (RDs)
A registered dietitian works with patients and families to give dietary support, create nutrition plans, talk about healthy lifestyle choices, and manage many conditions.
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Health Care Providers: Rheumatologists
A rheumatologist is a doctor who treats diseases of joints, muscle, bones, and tendons that can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. They also treat autoimmune diseases.
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Health Care Providers: Social Workers
Social workers are mental health providers. They’re trained to evaluate and address each family’s unique emotional and social needs.
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Health Care Providers: Urologists
A urologist, sometimes called a urologic surgeon, is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats problems that affect the urinary tract, kidneys, and genitourinary system.
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How to Shop for Health Insurance
The government's healthcare marketplace, or exchange, is the new way to shop for health insurance. But just how do you find the best coverage and sign up? Get answers here.
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Intravenous Line (IV)
An intravenous line (IV) is a soft, flexible tube placed inside a vein, usually in the hand or arm. Doctors use them to give a person medicine or fluids.
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Medical Care and Your 13- to 18-Year-Old
Regular visits help your teen's doctor keep track of changes in physical, mental, and social development. The doctor can also help your teen understand the importance of choosing a healthy lifestyle.
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Medical Care and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old
Regular well-child exams are essential to keeping kids healthy and up-to-date with immunizations against dangerous diseases. Here's what to expect at the doctor's office.
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Medical Care and Your 4- to 5-Year-Old
Regular well-child exams are an important part of keeping kids healthy and up to date on immunizations against serious diseases. Find out what to expect at the doctor's office.
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Medical Care and Your 6- to 12-Year-Old
Regular well-child exams are essential to keep kids healthy and up-to-date with immunizations. Find out what to expect at the doctor's office.
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Preparing Your Child for Visits to the Doctor
When kids know they're "going to the doctor," they might wonder about the visit. Here's how to prepare them.
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Health Care Providers: Speech Therapists
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) — also called speech therapists — are licensed professionals who diagnose and treat disorders that affect speech and interfere with communication. Speech therapists can work in schools, hospitals, or specialty clinics.
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Health Care Providers: Pediatricians
A pediatrician is a doctor who diagnoses and treats children’s health conditions and concerns, including physical, behavior, developmental, and mental health issues.
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Health Care Providers: Nurses
Nurses provide much of the day-to-day care in hospitals, doing vital jobs like giving medicine and educating patients about self-care. Many kinds of nurses provide varying levels of care.
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Health Care Providers: Obstetricians & Gynecologists
Obstetrics & gynecology is the branch of medicine that treats conditions and problems related to female reproductive health.
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Health Care Providers: Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists (OTs) help patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. They help them develop, regain, and improve skills needed for daily working and living.
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Health Care Providers: Oncologists
An oncologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats different types of cancer.
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Health Care Providers: Ophthalmologists
An ophthalmologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, prevents, and treats diseases and conditions that affect the eyes.
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Health Care Providers: Optometrists
An optometrist is a doctor who examines eyes for problems, prescribes contact lenses and glasses and eye exercises, and diagnoses and treats eye diseases. They provide many of the same services as ophthalmologists, but they don't perform surgery.
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Health Care Providers: Orthopedists
An orthopedist, or orthopedic surgeon, studies, diagnoses, and treats conditions that affect muscles, joints, and bones, such as infections, sports injuries, broken bones, and joint problems.
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Health Care Providers: Otolaryngologists
An otolaryngologist, often called an ENT, is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, prevents, and treats diseases and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
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Health Care Providers: Pathologists
A pathologist is a doctor who examines and interprets laboratory samples to find the causes of conditions, diseases, and sometimes deaths.
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Health Care Providers: Neurosurgeons
A neurosurgeon is a doctor who does procedures to treat and cure diseases and conditions that affect the brain and nervous system.
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Health Care Providers: Neurologists
A neurologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions that affect the brain.
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Health Care Providers: Nephrologists
A nephrologist is a doctor who cares for people with diseases and conditions that affect the kidneys.
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Health Care Providers: Neonatologists
A neonatologist is a doctor who cares for newborns who were born prematurely or have complex medical needs.
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Health Care Providers: Interventional Radiologists
An interventional radiologist is a doctor who’s specially trained to analyze and interpret diagnostic images. They also use special tools to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures.
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Health Care Providers: Hematologists-Oncologists
A hematologist-oncologist is a doctor who specializes in blood diseases, bleeding disorders, and cancers such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, leukemia, and lymphoma. They’re trained in hematology and oncology.
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Health Care Providers: Hematologists
A hematologist is a doctor who specializes in blood diseases, bleeding disorders, and cancers such as hemophilia, sickle cell disease, leukemia, and lymphoma. They’re trained in hematology and oncology.
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Health Care Providers: Geneticists
A geneticist is a doctor who specializes in the study of genetics and family traits.
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Health Care Providers: Gastroenterologists
A gastroenterologist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats diseases and conditions that affect the stomach and intestines.
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Health Care Providers: Endocrinologists
An endocrinologist is a doctor who studies and treats diseases and conditions that affect growth, development, puberty, and energy levels.
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Health Care Providers: Dermatologists
A dermatologist is a doctor who helps people take care of their skin, hair, and nails, and diagnoses and treats problems when they do happen.
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Health Care Providers: Allergists/Immunologists
An allergist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats asthma, allergies, or immune system conditions.
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Electronic Health Records
Many health institutions digitally store their patients' health information. Learn about electronic health records (EHRs) and how they can improve health care.
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Getting Health Visits in Your Preferred Language
Making sure you and your child’s doctor understand each other is key to a helpful health care visit. If English isn’t your first or preferred language, here's how to do that.
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Health Care Providers: Adolescent Medicine Specialists
An adolescent medicine specialist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats physical and emotional health concerns of kids and teens.
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Health Care Providers: Anesthesiologists
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who oversees the medicine given to patients to prevent pain during medical procedures.
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Health Care Providers: Audiologists
An audiologist is a health care professional who studies and treats hearing and balance problems.
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Health Care Providers: Cardiologists
A cardiologist is a doctor who a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats medical problems that affect the heart and blood vessels.
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Health Care Providers: Behavioral Health Specialists
Behavioral health is medical care that helps manage emotions and behaviors. The main health care providers who work in behavioral health are psychologists and psychiatrists.
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Health Care Providers: Cardiothoracic Surgeons
A cardiac (or cardiothoracic) surgeon is a doctor who does surgery to treat problems that affect the heart and chest.
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Health Care Providers: Child Life Specialists
Child Life refers to care that helps kids and their families overcome challenging events and cope with stress during medical experiences, especially kids who are hospitalized.
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Health Care Providers: Dentists
A dentist is a doctor who studies, diagnoses, and treats mouth and teeth conditions, and also helps people maintain good oral care.
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Biobanks
A biobank is a special lab that stores samples donated by patients. Scientists use them to study what causes a sickness or disease and to find treatments.
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When Your Child Outgrows Pediatric Care
Help your teen or young adult make the transition from pediatric health care to adult health care. Get tips on finding a new doctor and getting health insurance.
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Balancing Schoolwork and Hospital Stays
When your child has a serious or chronic illness, it's hard to think beyond the next treatment. But with some planning, you can help your child balance schoolwork with hospital stays.
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How to Find Affordable Health Care
Your kids could be eligible for health care coverage right now and you might not know it. Here are some options that may be available to your family.
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School-Based Health Centers
School-based health centers provide a range of services to meet kids' and teens' health care needs. Centers usually are inside a school building or right next door.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Kids & Medical Care During the Pandemic
Kids should see their doctors for well-child visits and other care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's what parents should know.
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What’s a Nurse Practitioner?
What are nurse practitioners, and how do they differ from medical doctors?
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When and Where to Get Medical Care
Should you head to the ER when your child is hurt or ill? What about an urgent care center? Different problems need different levels of care, and you have many options.
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Going to the Emergency Room
Knowing what to expect when you need to take your child to the emergency room can help make it a little less stressful.
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What’s a Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
PCPs are health care providers that offer routine checkups, vaccines, and non-emergency medical care. Learn more about PCPs and how to choose a great one.
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Getting the Most From a Doctor’s Visit
Here are tips on the best ways to communicate with your child's doctor and get the most information during a visit.
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Choosing a Pediatrician for Your New Baby
Along with considering baby names and buying a crib, choosing the right health care provider should be on your to-do list when you're expecting.
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Birthing Centers and Hospital Maternity Services
Where you choose to give birth is an important decision. Is a hospital or a birth center right for you? Knowing the facts can help you make your decision.
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Preparing Teens With Diabetes for Adult Care
Most teens with diabetes should switch to an adult health care provider when they're between 18 and 21 years old. Here's how parents can help them get ready in the years leading up to the switch.
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Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, irradiation, or X-ray therapy, is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment.
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Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (chemo) is treatment with medicines that stop the growth of cancer cells.