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Children need a different type of healthcare. They require more attention and medical services that treat exclusively pediatric ailments. It is for these reasons that children’s hospitals are crucial for the well-being of a balanced society. In the United States, there are over 220 hospitals that treat illnesses which affect individuals younger than 18 years old. The number of clinics and medical facilities in this sector is rapidly rising, and few of the 50 states have only one unit in their administration.

What state have the most children’s hospitals?

Texas is the second largest state in the US. Therefore, it comes as no surprise why it has the biggest number of children’s hospitals in the country: 19. The former Mexican region is the home of major cities like Dallas, Austin, El Paso and Houston. Unfortunately, these towns are separated by long distances, a factor that weighs heavily in medical emergency cases.

When it comes to medical conditions that affect children, time is essential in healing the patients. Texas has a widespread network of kids’ clinics that can treat urgent cases as soon as possible. Almost every hospital for children in the state has medical helicopters and high-speed emergency vehicles that reduce the risk of infantile mortality.

How the community supports pediatric medicine

The medical field makes a clear difference between the treatments required by adults and the remedies needed by children. The later necessitate an exceptional environment, a higher level of monitoring and special care for their condition. Unfortunately, these facts escape public considerations and attracting the necessary funds to build and maintain more clinics for kids.

Thanks to the efforts of both governmental and nonprofit organizations, community awareness on infantile health have increased over the past few decades. It is considered that a children’s hospital spends on average $100 million per year to function properly. Nowadays, almost 20% of this sum comes from community donations, foundations, and individual sponsors.

Why are clinics for kids designed differently?

Children are fragile beings that need to be introduced to all aspects of life with care and precaution. For most of them, hospitals are related to the dangerous, frightening side of adult existence, for which they are not entirely prepared. This is the reason why the clinics for kids need to have a different design and an environment that makes children feel safe and protected.

Children’s hospitals have to be different from the medical facilities that treat adults only. Exposing your kid to the harsh world of injuries and fatalities that occur in regular hospitals can lead to lifelong traumas. In fact, many adults have a strong phobia for doctors because of the stress they have experienced in their childhood with improper medical services.

Why we need more pediatric doctors

The medical staff that attends to children needs more than a different specialization. They have to show a compassionate nature and a strong understanding of infantile psychology. Kids become very vulnerable once they suffer from an illness, so the medics who cure them have to ensure a safe and friendly environment around them. Pediatric doctors are essential for the proper development of our children and the future of our society.

Modern medicine has shaped the way the world looks today. It ‘s hard to imagine how the current society would look like if life expectancy were still stuck at 30-35 years. Thanks to the rapid advent of healthcare technology we no longer have to fear to die from minor illnesses or even epidemics.

The 20th century will always remain in history as the time when scientists managed to win the battle against treacherous ailments. Here are some of the now-defunct diseases that used to kill entire populations in the past:

Chicken Pox

Varicella-zoster is a virus that affects humans mostly in their youth through red blisters that cover the entire body. Also known as chicken pox, this ailment is now entirely curable through a vaccine that was perfected in 1995. It is unclear where the virus made its first appearance, but Europeans had grown immune to its fatal consequences by the 15th century. Unfortunately, at that time they could still transport chicken pox in a dormant state and transfer it to other individuals. In the end, it became one of the leading causes of the death of millions of people from newly colonized lands, where immunity against the disease was null.

Smallpox

Similar to chicken pox, smallpox is a childhood disease that spreads through small, red bumps on the entire body. Contracting a form of smallpox makes you immune to the illness for the rest of your life. The first vaccine against this ailment was developed in 1796, but it took scientists over 200 years to deem the virus dead. Nowadays, with only small exceptions, smallpox is considered eradicated and improbable of causing a major epidemic.

Measles

Measles used to be a major health concern until 60 years ago. The disease affected mostly children and it usually started with symptoms like rashes, pink eye, and red lumps. Unfortunately, this condition severely weakened the immune system, and pneumonia often followed, sometimes with fatal consequences. Thankfully, in 1963 medical researchers developed a cure in the form of a vaccine that offers lifetime immunity. Nowadays, people may contract measles in minor ways, but the symptoms are bearable, and the chances of dying from it are close to zero.

Polio

Before the middle of the 20th-century poliomyelitis was a common disease that affected a large segment of the population. Because it occurred mainly in children, doctors used to call it infantile paralysis. Its symptoms varied from muscle pain to flu-like conditions, and it left the patients with permanent problems of motricity. In 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk came up with an adequate remedy for polio by developing a vaccine from a dead strain of the virus. Dr. Salk made the vaccine available for free on a worldwide scale, and the disease was eradicated in just a few decades.

Rabies

Rabies is still a significant health concern across the world. However, a handful of countries has managed to eliminate the threat of canine rabies entirely. The US is one of the nations that developed a vaccine which prevents dogs from contracting rabies, a disease that can be fatal for both canines and humans. The anti-rabies cure was released in 2007, and it ensures complete healing if it is administered in maximum two weeks after exposure.

When you are looking for hospitals in your area, you are interested in finding the one that offers the best medical services. Since you cannot visit every clinic just to test their facilities before even contacting a medical condition, you have to make your decision through other methods.

The ideal way of picking the right hospital for you is to check the websites of all the clinics in your region. Here is a short guide that will help you determine where you want to treat a possible illness, regardless of the where you live in the world:

What to look for on a hospital’s website

When you visit the web page of a hospital, you need to look for certain facilities and options. First things first, you must ensure that they offer medical services that apply to your requirements. Obviously, a children’s hospital will not suit you, if you are a childless adult. But also, clinics that are specialized in treating epidemics, mental disorders or infectious diseases will not help you in any way, if you only need a general hospital.

Very few hospitals post their prices online, so you should search for their medical insurance policy. Make sure your indemnification covers you before visiting the nearest clinic in your area. Also, look for the section where the medical staff is listed, and even at the photos that depict their facilities. After all, there is no need to accept anything less than the best services for your well-being.

Why is online support necessary?

Another thing that you should look for when browsing the websites of local hospitals is the online support option. This function enables you, as a patient to enter in contact with a member of their medical staff and receive immediate attention for your condition. This communication facility is crucial during a medical emergency, and an online nurse can provide useful information and solace until an ambulance reaches you.

If you find a hospital website in your region that offers 24/7 online support, bookmark their address and access it when you are in need. Avoid clinics that provide only limited phone assistance or who use third parties for their online chat functions. More than often, these sub-contracted companies do not have medical training, and they can only redirect your query to the appropriate professionals.

Check for reliable clinics abroad

Before leaving on holiday in a foreign country, you should apply for an international health insurance. However, if you want to be even safer against any hazardous events, you should check the websites of the hospitals in the area where you will be accommodated. This practice will prepare you for possible injuries or accidents, and you will easily be able to find the nearest clinic if you need medical support.

Should you trust patients’ testimonials?

Some hospitals allow patients to post reviews on their website. These testimonials can give you an idea about the level of professionalism and care of the medical staff from the clinic in your area. However, you should also keep in mind that experiences differ widely from one patient to another, and their comments should not dictate your final decision.