{"id":8960,"date":"2019-10-29T15:16:02","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T19:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=8960"},"modified":"2025-01-15T14:28:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T19:28:18","slug":"pediatrician-vs-gp-how-to-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/pediatrician-vs-gp-how-to-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatrician vs GP: How to choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now you\u2019ve probably heard the good news: we\u2019ve launched pediatrics<\/a> in Ontario (with more provinces to come)! Now, you can book appointments with doctors who are dedicated to children\u2019s specific developmental and health needs right on Maple. But did you know there are fewer than 3,000 practicing pediatricians in Canada? This means that few Canadian children ever see a pediatrician. And we wanted to change that.<\/span><\/p>\n

But<\/span><\/i>, you may be asking, <\/span>how do I know if I should book an appointment with a pediatrician or if I should see a general practitioner on demand?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a great question!<\/span><\/p>\n

First, it\u2019s important to understand the difference between the two kinds of doctors. Pediatricians spend at least 4 additional years after med school studying kids\u2019 health. They\u2019re experts in the challenges faced by babies, children, and teens. General practitioners (GPs) are family doctors. They are incredibly well trained generalists. They can treat most illness that kids experience, but since they treat people at all life stages, they may not be as up-to-date on certain issues little ones can face. They are still incredible doctors, and can take on a lot of your child\u2019s care, but there are certain areas where a pediatrician is probably more experienced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So with that said, how do you decide who to see? Well, think of it this way: minor vs major. Does your kid have a cough or sore throat? A GP is likely your best bet. But if you\u2019re dealing with difficult behavioural issues or suspected ADHD, you\u2019ll want to speak to a pediatrician. Similarly, if your child has any feeding difficulties, joint or growing pains, chronic conditions, or a complicated medical history, you\u2019ll want to speak with a pediatrician.<\/span><\/p>\n