Caring for Pediatric Patients in Your Practice

Dermatology has an above average job growth among medical specialties at 18% growth from 2012 to 2022.  Pediatric dermatologists are one of the reasons for this above average growth as more and more physicians are realizing that pediatric dermatology is not just eczema and acne anymore. However, a shortage of pediatric dermatologists exists, increasing the number of pediatric patients all dermatologists are seeing. 

Up to 30% of pediatric primary care visits include a skin-related problem, resulting in a referral to a dermatologist in many cases.  According to Cleveland Clinic, the most common skin conditions in children are:

• Acne
• Atopic dermatitis
• Diaper dermatitis, which include irritant contact dermatitis, overgrowth of yeast (Candida albicans), allergic contact dermatitis and inflammatory skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis
• Warts

Among the treatments for these conditions are commonly-prescribed dermatological oral and/or topical medications in addition to at-home skin care routines. 

While many common skin diseases in children are easily diagnosed by dermatologists and have straightforward treatments, these conditions can be difficult to control; poor adherence to treatment may be the underlying cause in many situations.  Studies show that therapy adherence is poor across an array of medical illnesses in children; in fact, specific studies in children with acne and atopic dermatitis revealed poor therapy adherence. 

Reasons for poor therapy adherence in children are similar to that of adults:

• The prescription is never filled due to lack of time or the cost.
• Fear of the side effects, especially in infants and adolescents.

In both cases, point-of-care dispensing significantly aids in overcoming these “barriers” to therapy adherence, helping the pediatric dermatologist improve outcomes in young patients.  With point-of-care dispensing, pediatric dermatologists can:

• Have visibility to the patient’s pharmacy benefits and choose the most clinically-appropriate and cost-effective medication.
• Dispense the prescription at checkout, ensuring the patient leaves with medication in-hand to begin treatment immediately.
• Answer any questions or concerns the parent has about side effects when the prescription is being filled.

Parents’ number one concern is the health of their children, but many parents are also strapped for time due to work, children’s extracurricular activities, etc.  Point-of-care dispensing is your opportunity to support parents in optimizing their children’s health and saving time.