Community-Oriented Primary Care

An Often Overlooked Option for Community Pediatrics Practice and Training

Chen, Candice MD, MPH
Lichtenstein, Cara MD, MPH
Northrip, Kimberly D. MD, MPH
Horn, Ivor MD, MPH

Candice Chen, MD, MPH, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy; Cara Lichtenstein, MD, MPH, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Prevention and Community Health; and Ivor Horn, MD, MPH, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of General Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC.; Kimberly Northrip, MD, MPH, is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Health Behavior, Departments of Pediatrics and Health Behavior, College of Medicine and College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington.Dr. Chen, Dr. Lichtenstein, Dr. Horn, and Dr. Northrip have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.Address correspondence to: Candice Chen, MD, MPH, Department of General Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20010; or e-mail: [email protected]

Pediatric Annals 39(2):p 100-105, 2010. | DOI: 10.3928/00904481-20100120-10

In the U.S. healthcare system, there is an increasing awareness of the influence of social, environmental, and community factors on health and well-being. Pediatrics has responded to this new health perspective by developing and adopting the concept of community pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first published its Statement on Community Pediatrics in 1999. The AAP defines community pediatrics as “a synthesis of clinical practice and public health principles directed toward providing health care to a given child and promoting the health of all children within the context of the family, school, and community.”<a href="http://qa.healio.com/sitecore/shell/Controls/Rich%20Text%20Editor/EditorPage.aspx?da=core&id=%7bD6F95AC5-7161-4AE6-9DFA-95467E7BB988%7d&ed=FIELD591816537&vs&la=en&fld=%7b0B37FA8E-B2A6-4AE9-8E4F-53651D5CB226%7d&so=%2fsitecore%2fsystem%2fsettings%#x00904481-20100120-10-bibr1" shape="rect">1</a> The AAP also calls for pediatricians to become involved in training residents and medical students in this model of practice.