This is a rich people issue. Teens do not need a special "teen" doctor to get good care.

Anonymous wrote:We switched out teens to the Teen and Young Adult Care Center in Bethesda. No need for teens to be in a room with Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie . They have male and female doctors (our teens are one of each).

My 16 yo DS loves the “Cars” room.

Speaking as an internist, most of my patients are 50 years-old and up. I wouldn't switch to an adolescent to an internist until you absolutely have to do so. Most pediatricians get some training in adolescent medicine, but are still primarily baby doctors and may not be as comfortable talking about drugs, sex, puberty and the other issues that teens may face. If you live in an area where you can be seen by a doctor who is specially trained in adolescent medicine, or your peds office has an adolescent medicine specialist, that is ideal. My experience is that these specialists really understand teenagers in a way that internists and general pediatricians might not. just my $0.02....

We switched out teens to the Teen and Young Adult Care Center in Bethesda. No need for teens to be in a room with Cookie Monster and Bert and Ernie . They have male and female doctors (our teens are one of each).

There is no reason you need to switch. If she is ok her current dr I would stay. A good pediatrician is more than qualified to take care of teen/young adult issues.

We switched around 12 b/c we didn't like 1/2 the docs in the peds practice and you never knew who you were going to et.

Our practice has both. Switched at 12, but ped was male and DD felt more comfortable with female adolescent doc. I would be fine staying with ped if child wanted to.

My 17 yo is still with the pediatrician, and our plan is to switch to our primary care provider when he's 18. Same with my 14 yo daughter, switch when 18.

Ask your dd. My girls prefer females drs at this time.

My son is 6ft tall and still goes to the Pediatrician. Why change? Peds probably are more in tune with puberty issues than an old regular doctor.

My DS has gone to a general practitioner since he was 5.

Ours does both Ped & adolescent medicine. My DD sees a female doc there. I also take her to a gyn -- no internal exams until she became active

If you like the current doctor, stay. We switched our kids to a general practice around 6 or 7 because we really liked a particular doctor. I think your level of comfort, and theirs, with the doctor is the most important thing. Mine have been seeing the same doctor as DH and me since that age.

My kids are age 18 and younger. We're sticking with our pediatric practice because we like the pediatricians. If you don't have any pressing issues and like the practioners, why change?

My DD is almost 13 and has been with the same pediatrician since birth. Around that age, my parents switched me to an adolescent medicine doctor, but my ped was an old dude and DD's is a woman. No medical issues and we like the ped, just curious whether most people here stick with the ped until high school ends or do a switch. If the latter, anyone have recommendations for an adolescent medicine specialist in Montgomery County? Thanks!