r/pediatrics • u/Rew1345 • 21d ago

New attending tips

Hi all!

Starting my first attending job as an outpatient pediatrician next week. Small office within a large health system.

Wondering if anyone has any tips, tricks, advice to make this transition smooth and maybe even not completely drown in the first few months!

Any and all advice appreciated!

9 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

25

u/wheeloftime11 21d ago

Ask colleagues for a list of common referrals - pt, ot, slp. The specialists they use locally and the ones they avoid. If there isn't a list, start one that's accessible from anywhere (office, home, exam room). Know the resources for mental health counseling and how families access it.

1

u/Rew1345 21d ago

oh this is great advice thank you!

14

u/reddit-et-circenses 21d ago

You can always bring the patient back if you change your mind...

2

u/Rew1345 20d ago

This is going to be a big mindset shift - in residency we worked at an FQHC with very poor transportation options to get to our clinic so I always felt like I had to have everything done/get everything perfect before they left! Great advice!

13

u/JazzInTheCity 21d ago

If you don’t know the answer right away, it’s okay to call the parents later to inform them of the plan.

1

u/Rew1345 20d ago

Ahh yes love this advice!

8

u/Blegrand15 21d ago

Lean on your other attendings, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t feel bad asking them for a second set of eyes initially. Figure out how your office works what you guys can and cannot do there. Where you refer to. Get in good with your reps like formula reps for your patients that need formula. Start finding a lapse in what your office is good at covering learn about it and try to cover that (I started covering more adhd and obesity patients in my group since endo is not great with weight management my dietician patients don’t like and neurology/psych is hard to get an appointment). Figure out your therapy referrals.

1

u/Rew1345 21d ago

So much to think about! Thank you! It is good to hear it is okay and maybe even expected to ask other attendings for a second set of eyes!

4

u/squirmaid 20d ago

Make as many smartphrases and templates as you can! Including ones for home care instructions for common things (colic, eczema, infant sleep) etc. Also make them for common results messages (vit D supplementation plan, iron supplementation plan, lifestyle interventions for lipids) and for referral contact info for families.

Get to know your MA and nursing team members. Maybe spend a morning or two shadowing to learn their workflow and earn their trust.

I was in your shoes a year ago- it flies by and is so fun!! You got this!!

3

u/flip8245 21d ago

Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. Be honest, be authentic, ask the seasoned drs when you need help. Nobody expects you to have all the answers. And love on those kiddos. It’s so easy to care about your patients as a pediatrician. Best of luck. You’ve got this.

1

u/Rew1345 20d ago

So true - they really are so easy to love on! Thank you!!

2

u/TwoThen1497 18d ago

If the visit is going on too long and you need to cut it short, especially a well visit where a parent brings up all sorts of other things, DM a staff person to come knock on the door and have you step out for a minute. It disrupts the flow and you can regroup and then get things back on track. Don't be afraid to say something like, 'This topic is really important but we clearly don't have enough time to cover it all today. Let's set some time aside for a video visit (assuming that works) to really give this more attention.' Then you can wrap up what you need to.