Parkview Health is proud to introduce a new pediatric endocrinology clinic on the southwest campus, allowing local children and families access to highly specialized care. David Segal, MD, PPG – Pediatric Specialties, Endocrinology, discusses the role of this new specialty service and how it will further support pediatric patients with diabetes or other endocrine disorders.
What is pediatric endocrinology?
Pediatric endocrinology is a subspecialty dealing with hormones and disorders of the endocrine glands. A pediatric endocrinologist has special training and education on conditions related to growth and development. And because hormonal problems are often present throughout life, we typically deal with and help patients manage their conditions throughout all stages of childhood, ranging from birth to age 18.
What conditions does a pediatric endocrinologist treat?
We typically treat children with the following conditions:
- Diabetes
- Growth concerns and disorders
- Puberty concerns and disorders
- Disorders of sex development
- Thyroid disorders
- Adrenal disorders
- Bone disorders
- Obesity
- Other endocrine disorders
When should families seek help from a pediatric endocrinologist?
Ideally, we want to see patients as early as possible. But we usually see patients if a child’s pediatrician or primary care provider identifies or diagnoses a specific condition or they suspect a problem with growth, development, puberty, thyroid, etc.
What can parents and patients expect at their first visit?
During an initial visit, patients can expect a very friendly, understanding and experienced team and pediatric endocrinologist. Our goal is to assess how the disorder(s) affects a child’s overall health and create a care plan that will minimize its impact while working diligently to help them navigate and manage their active condition(s). Also, if patients cannot physically come into the office, we are fortunate that much of what we do can happen over the phone or virtually.
Why is it important to seek treatment sooner rather than later when dealing with endocrine health?
The endocrine system controls hormones, growth and development, so getting a diagnosis early, especially in childhood, can make all the difference. Also, specific body processes only occur once (puberty and growing), so seeking appropriate care from a provider specializing in growth and development can make navigating and managing hormonal or endocrine-related disorders much easier.
How would you describe your approach to treatment?
In a nutshell, shared decision-making. I am committed to providing the time and setting to support shared decision-making, which is the key to generating a meaningful patient-centered treatment plan. Listening to patients is crucial, as is up-to-date evidence-based medical knowledge. I am passionate about improving the patient journey through the health care system, which can often be quite daunting. Education and support are required to achieve long-term outcomes and navigate the system.
Why is it beneficial for our community to have this new specialty available?
You’ve got 10% of the pediatric population, at least, running around with some sort of endocrine problem, and currently, they need to travel to get to those services. There’s a lot of convenience attached to being seen and treated locally, especially within the same health system. It’s incredibly beneficial when all your providers are in one place. It’s a major stressor for many families (along with insurance and finances), so if we can bridge that gap and make things a little easier with this new clinic, why not.
Do patients and families need a referral to come see you?
Children may need a referral to see us at PPG – Pediatric Endocrinology, so we advise caregivers to contact their pediatrician or primary care provider before making an appointment. For more information on pediatric endocrinology or other pediatric specialties, please call 260-266-5400.