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The Doctor Is In
Getting ADHD Help
from a Pediatrician By Katherine Bontrager
from a Pediatrician
"Through questionnaires and reviewing the literature, we identified the major problems that created barriers to primary care physicians diagnosing and treating ADHD in their clinics," Turner says. "Based on this information we began developing tools and processes that would make managing ADHD in the primary care environment more efficient and effective. We have since taken these tools into a large metropolitan clinic and have had excellent response by the physicians, staff and patients to the program."
The program began in May and is in the developmental stage with a local area pediatric practice in Kansas City testing educational materials and making recommendations about processes. The full pilot program is slated to run in September or October of 2006.
"The doctors and their staffs receive eight training modules with updated information about the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD," Turner says. "The content is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. In addition to these training modules, we provide 'shadow time,' which involves a trained ADHD community educator working with doctors in the clinic to provide assistance with patient education, forms utilizations and referrals."
Given that so many hospitals and pediatricians are stepping up to the plate, how can parents determine if their child's doctor has had the appropriate training?
"My experience is that most family practitioners don't feel so comfortable diagnosing ADHD, though it depends on whether they've had some extra training," Dr. Gephart says. "Any pediatrician trained in recent years should have some training in seeing ADHD, and there are plenty of resources available from the American Academy of Pediatrics."
According to Dr. Gephart, one of the best ways to find out if your child's pediatrician is comfortable diagnosing ADHD is to ask. "To find out whether a doctor is equipped to handle a diagnosis, simply ask them whether they'd feel comfortable doing this," he says. "Most would be honest and say if they do or don't."
Turner says there's no doubt that they've developed a program that will have a significant, positive effect on the quality of care provided for the children and families in the community. "Feedback from patients and physicians we're currently working with, the success [of] our asthma program, which uses a similar primary care model, and the success of similar programs around the country all indicate that this program can have a powerful impact on the care of these special children."