The American Pediatrician: At the Heart of Value-Based Care for Kids
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound and lasting impact on children and families, increasing stress, disrupting routines, and ushering in a wave of new mental health challenges. Now, more than ever, pediatricians are on the front lines, working to address not just physical health but also the mental well-being of young patients.
“We are navigating a truly unprecedented time for kids,” said Dr. Caitlin Zaner, M.D., a pediatrician with Capital Medical Group in Chevy Chase, Md. “We are seeing a significant uptick in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s clearly a tough time to be a kid.”
Recognizing the critical need to support children’s mental health within the framework of value-based care, Dr. Zaner and her colleagues are working to ensure that robust mental health services become an integral part of pediatric care.
A Crisis Within a Crisis: Childhood Mental Health Now
While the spotlight has been on rising rates of mental illness overall, the effects on children have been particularly acute. A global crisis of mental health for children coincided with the pandemic, creating a situation Dr. Zaner summarizes as a “crisis within a crisis.”
“The stress children are experiencing is profound,” Dr. Zaner adds, noting that “parents are facing their own mental health struggles too.” Parents, she explains, “
are feeling misused and overwhelmed.
The Surgeon General’s office highlighted the heightened levels of stress parents are experiencing, with 33% reporting high levels of concern compared to 20% of other adults. The increasing levels of adult stress ripple throughout families, impacting the well-being of children.
Abrir una ventana por la salud mental
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“This has implications for not only the child’s immediate health, but also their long-term well-being”
But there’s good news. Pediatricians are uniquely positioned to play a lead role in addressing children’s mental health through value-based care models.
Frontline Care: The Pediatrician’s Expanding Role
With access to mental health care stretched thin, pediatricians are increasingly becoming the first line of defense for children and families facing mental health challenges. “We’ve really evolved to be better able to understand and manage mental health,” explains Dr. Zaner, “especially for young people. We’re often the only medical professionals children see regularly.”
This expanded role, however, comes with its own set of challenges. Dr. Zaner notes, “Trying to navigate the school system, advocating on behalf of a child’s specific needs…it’s all in a day’s work. But it takes time.”
The existing medical system, often focused on physical health, falls short for addressing the full spectrum of a child’s needs.
“For a 15- to 30-minute appointment, we are trying to manage complex issues, coordinating care with other specialists, and let’s not forget anticipating mental health needs, which is a complex issue in itself,” shares Dr. Zaner.
“Complex issues need more time,” Dr. Zaner emphasizes.
“These additional tasks create more documentation too,” she adds with resignation.
Long-Term Benefits: Investing in Children’s
What are some of the biggest barriers to providing adequate mental health care to children through the pediatric system?
Host:
welcome back to the show. Today we’re shining a light on the critical role pediatricians are playing in addressing the nationwide rise in children’s mental health challenges. joining us is Dr. Caitlin Zaner, a pediatrician with Capital Medical Group in Chevy Chase, Maryland. dr. Zaner, thanks for being here.
Dr. Zaner:
It’s a pleasure to be here.
Host:
dr. Zaner, as you know, we’re seeing alarming statistics about the mental health of our nation’s children. What are you seeing in your practise?
Dr. Zaner:
We’re seeing a significant uptick in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. the pandemic really heightened stress levels for children and families, and those effects are still rippling through our communities. It seems like every day we’re seeing the impact of that trauma.
Host:
So, are pediatricians now on the front lines of mental health care for children?
Dr. Zaner:
Absolutely. We’ve become the first point of contact for many families struggling with these issues. We’re often the only medical professionals children see regularly.
Host:
What are some of the unique challenges this poses for pediatricians?
Dr. Zaner:
Beyond the obvious time constraints of a typical 15-30 minute appointment, we’re also facing a system that isn’t well-equipped to address the full spectrum of a child’s needs.Coordinating care with specialists, navigating the school system on behalf of a child — it all takes time and energy. And of course, there’s the added burden of increased documentation.
Host:
So, what’s the solution? How can we better support pediatricians in this expanded role?
Dr. Zaner:
We need a more robust and integrated system of care.
Host:
What would that look like?
Dr.Zaner:
It would mean investing in more mental health resources and creating systems that allow pediatricians to effectively triage and coordinate care. It would also mean recognizing the crucial role pediatricians play in addressing the mental health needs of children and appropriately compensating them for the added responsibilities.
Host:
Dr. Zaner, thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. Zaner:
My pleasure.
Host:
And to our viewers,what are your thoughts? Are pediatricians taking on too much? Should we be doing more to support them in their role as mental health providers for kids? Join the conversation on our social media platforms. We’ll be right back after the break.
