Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics has 7 physicians and 3 nurse practitioners. They have offices in Canandaigua and Farmington and are accepting new patients. See the services provided by the department of Medicine-Pediatrics.

Office telephone numbers

What is a medical specialist?

A medical specialist is a physician who has completed the usual four years of medical school plus three to six years of training in a residency program where there is extensive study and preparation for them to care for patients in specific areas of medicine. As a resident the physician spends full time in a hospital or ambulatory care setting under the supervision of teachers. During this time the resident cares for patients, attends conferences, and participates in research in the area of specialty being studied.  At the end of the residency the physician must complete a comprehensive evaluation and examination in order to receive certification. Some specialty boards also require recertification every seven to ten years to maintain the certification. In addition the physician must participate in yearly continuing medical education.

What is a Pediatrician?

Pediatricians provide preventive health maintenance for healthy children and medical care for those who are seriously or chronically ill. Primary care pediatricians focus on the care of children from birth to 21 years of age. From immunizations to monitoring growth and development, from counseling on age-appropriate nutrition to guiding children and families through the potentially tumultuous phases of puberty and adolescence, prevention and health maintenance underscore every patient care interaction.

When pediatricians treat children with injuries, they will then work with the family to develop safety consciousness and to ensure a safe home and play environment. When they encounter an adolescent in emotional turmoil, they seek to help the family develop nurturing parent-child relationships.

Pediatricians work with other medical specialists and midlevel professionals to provide for the health and emotional needs of children. A full range of illnesses, from common infectious diseases and minor trauma, to malignancies, congenital anomalies, and autoimmune disorders are also within the general pediatrician's area of expertise, though some of these are treated in collaboration with pediatric sub-specialists or pediatric surgical specialists.

Pediatricians are concerned with more than just the child's physical well-being. They are increasingly involved with the prevention, early detection, and management of behavioral, developmental, and functional social problems that affect children and adolescents. Their skilled assessments may uncover depression or anxiety in children, particularly those who are technology-dependent, or whose activity is limited by chronic conditions. With structured evaluation and early intervention, the primary care pediatrician identifies and addresses the developmental and behavioral issues that result from exposure to prevalent psychosocial stressors.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered professional nurse with advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty area. Nurse practitioners work with people of all ages and their families, providing information people need to make informed decisions about their health care and lifestyle choices. Nurse practitioners evaluate the health status of patients through history taking, physical examination and evaluation of laboratory tests. They provide comprehensive health care wellness evaluations as well as assess and manage acute minor illnesses and refer patients to physicians and other health care providers when necessary. The nurse practitioner prescribes medicines and other therapies when it is appropriate. At the Canandaigua Medical Group, your doctor reviews all notes of your visits with the nurse practitioner. The physician remains ultimately responsible for your health care. Through the nurse practitioner your doctor can be more responsive to your individual needs.

Nurse Practitioners have been in practice with the Canandaigua Medical Group (CMG) for over 20 years. Initially they practiced only in Internal Medicine but today they work within all the specialty areas of CMG.

The Nurse Practitioner movement began over 25 years ago in Colorado at a time of a severe physician shortage. Registered nurses were trained in advanced techniques of diagnosis and treatment to fill the need during that time. Today, most of our nurse practitioners have had at least 8 years of education and clinical practice before they take their first job. All of them had been practicing as registered nurses before they went back to school for their advanced education.

Here at the Canandaigua Medical Group, they are an integral part of the health care team. They practice in the collaborative relationship with our physician colleagues, diagnosing and treating both acute and chronic illnesses. They are able to prescribe medications, order, perform and interpret diagnostic studies and lab work, provide immunizations, perform physical exams, check ups and promote health seeking behavior and wellness. They counsel, educate, teach and treat individuals and families about their total health care needs.As professional health care specialists, they bring their years of nursing experience and education to the care of each individual and family.

There are more than 8,600 Nurse Practitioners certified to practice in New York State and some of the very best are here at the Canandaigua Medical Group as integral members of your health care team.