The doctor is in [St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.]

Jan. 10--The difference between a pediatrician and a family practice doctor, says Dr. James Conant, is kind of like the difference between a mechanic and a plumber. Similar skill sets, very different jobs.

Which, of course, raises a basic question: Where should parents take their children for primary care?

The simple answer? Either, says Dr. Conant, who has practiced family medicine in St. Joseph since 1985 and has been a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice since 1976. Both family doctors and pediatricians are well-qualified, he says, to provide care to children under normal circumstances.

Dr. Karl Kosse of Kosse Pediatrics in St. Joseph backs him up.

"We'll both do a lot of well checks, well-child care and your basic illnesses -- colds, ear infections and stuff," says Dr. Kosse, an American Board of Pediatrics-certified physician who has practiced in St. Joseph for about 20 years.

From there, the answer gets a bit more complicated.

While both types of doctors can be counted on for routine care, both Dr. Conant and Dr. Kosse stress that long-term illnesses and other atypical conditions in children are best handled by pediatricians.

"For minor things, either family practitioners or pediatricians per se will do an excellent job," Dr. Conant says. But, if there's something "out of the ordinary," he recommends a doctor whose sole focus is caring for children.

"A pediatrician, that's all we do," Dr. Kosse says. "The comfort level is more."

Even in caring for healthy children, Dr. Kosse feels the difference in approach between a pediatrician and family practice doctor is enough to warrant thoughtful consideration of what each does. While parents can't really arrive at a wrong decision, it's worth weighing how both types of doctors will provide care -- and the comfort level parents feel with both styles.

Dr. Kosse points to the American Board of Pediatrics to support his assertion. Pediatricians certified through this board (not all are, Dr. Kosse says, so be sure to check) have access to all the "latest and best information" on a wide range of children's care issues.

Whether it's feeding or immunizations schedules for infants or what to look for when a child does get sick, board-certified pediatricians often make much different decisions and recommendations than their family practice counterparts in the constantly changing world of medicine, Dr. Kosse says.

"I don't think people realize how different each practice is," he adds.

Still, he's careful to stress that "different" does not necessarily mean "better." What's important, he says, is to look for a doctor, whether it's a pediatrician or family care provider, who keeps up on all the changes.

While there are always other considerations to take into account when looking for a doctor -- such as issues ranging from office hours and availability to insurance coverage -- Dr. Conant says a child's health takes precedence over any other consideration. If ever there's a situation where he's not comfortable making care decisions, he doesn't hesitate to get the input of another doctor or refer a family elsewhere.

"These are the exceptions," he says of situations such as a long-term illness. "The rule is ... your family practitioner or your pediatrician is going to be able to provide" excellent routine care.

Kevin Krauskopf can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @stjoelivedotcom.

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