Why 1-to-1 Pediatrics?
When I started out in pediatrics in 1991, I did so with the intent to develop long-term relationships with my patients. As new families joined my practice and new babies were born, I got to know my patients well and could provide the same in-depth, comprehensive care that I received from my pediatrician when I was a child. In the years leading up to my starting 1-to-1 Pediatrics, however, I became unable to provide that kind of personalized service to my patients. It seemed that there were more forms or protocols to be completed for routine care and more “hoops” to jump through to get tests or evaluations authorized. Prescription formularies and guidelines dictated the types of medications I could prescribe. There was an ever increasing demand to take on a larger patient load and see more patients every day. This dramatically affected the style of practice and the level of care I was able to commit to my patients. In addition, I would get further behind in my daily patient schedule and subsequently had to take work home with me--which cut into my family time.
At some point I realized that I had to take the “bull by the horns.” As the person responsible to my patients, why were other people and companies dictating how I practiced medicine.
Out of this came my idea for 1-to-1 Pediatrics—a hometown style pediatric service insulated from the hurried pace of most modern-day primary care practices. Now I get to spend quality time caring for my patients and their families in a much more manageable schedule with fewer patients, more time available for appointments, more flexibility in treatment plans--time for the parents and the patient.
---Andrew L. Nash, M.D.