Children's Health

Our Approach

The pediatricians on the Franciscan Health medical staff ensure a child is developing normally, meeting milestones and getting the necessary vaccinations and treatments. Our pediatricians focus on helping children heal and stay healthy through the following services:

• Inpatient Pediatrics - for children experiencing acute and chronic illnesses, trauma or surgery
• Outpatient Pediatrics - surgery, diagnostic testing, and rehabilitation
• 24/7 emergency care and convenient urgent care services
• Home Care services
• Behavioral Health - In Dyer, we offer an adolescent residential treatment program for youth, ages 12 through 18, who would be unsuccessful without a highly structured and controlled environment.

A pediatrician or family physician will serve as a child's primary care doctor, diagnosing and treating infections, injuries, malignancies, organic diseases and dysfunctions. Pediatricians are concerned with more than a child's physical well-being; they also are involved with the prevention, early detection and management of other problems that affect children and adolescents, including:

• Behavioral difficulties
• Developmental problems
• Functional problems
• Social stresses
• Depression or anxiety disorder

Choosing the right pediatricians

Choosing a pediatrician is important, not only for your child's health, but for a parent's piece of mind. Through regularly scheduled visits and check-ups, a pediatrician is there to help manage a child's health and development, to address concerns and answer questions along the way.

If you are looking for a pediatrician, you may want to start by asking those you trust for recommendations - like your family physician, obstetrician, family, friends and colleagues.

What to consider when choosing a pediatrician

When selecting a pediatrician, consider:

• Office hours - Can you schedule evening or weekend appointments? What is the availability during emergencies?
• Phone calls - who answers your calls when you have a question? Do you speak with a nurse or directly with your doctor? After hours - Is there an answering service? When will someone return phone calls?
• What is their view on health care including preventative medicine and nutrition?
• Is there another pediatric doctor covering for when your pediatrician is unavailable?
• Are they board-certified?
• What's the office environment like?