Navigating Puerto Rico's Healthcare System: A Comprehensive Guide for Expats

 

Moving your family to Puerto Rico is a significant adventure filled with exciting possibilities and unique cultural experiences. However, alongside the excitement, moving means that expat moms and busy professionals will find a series of challenges. Language barriers, transportation issues, and healthcare system differences, especially when seeking quality medical care for their children. In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you navigate these challenges and find the pediatric care clinic in Puerto Rico who understands your family's needs in this new setting.

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5 Pediatric Healthcare Challenges in Puerto Rico, and How Pravan Kids Solve Them

 

There are little things more frustrating in Puerto Rico than trying to make a medical appointment. Primary care doctors, specialists, and more have become harder to find, and many are not accepting new patients. This panorama has also become a reality when it comes to pediatric care. 

 


A study conducted in 2011 to analyze the pediatricians' profile in Puerto Rico revealed that the median age of pediatricians in Puerto Rico was 54 years old (compared with 42 and 43 years old in the mainland US). Ten years later, the Puerto Rico Pediatrics Society (SPP by its acronym in Spanish) showed that 49% of pediatricians on the island are over 60 years old, that the median age for retirement is 67, and that 28% of the 331 pediatricians who completed the survey have a general pediatric practice in two municipalities or more. 

In addition, health insurance companies have not increased their premiums in 25 years, affecting pediatricians and the number of medical students who decide to major in general pediatrics, favoring subspecialties and threatening the stability of pediatrics in Puerto Rico. The plot thickens when you add hospitals in the mix and the lack of urgent and around-the-clock care on the island.

We’ve talked to a lot of parents, and these are their top five pediatric health challenges (and how Pravan Kids addresses them):

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A Parent-Friendly Guide to Manage the Common Cold and Flu Season

 

In Puerto Rico, kids experience respiratory infections across the year. However, after school starts and cooler seasons approach, these infections can become prominent. This is why we developed a tailored guide for busy parents to identify and handle “sick kid season.”

 

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Topics: pravan kids, neonatal

Introducing Pravan Kids Neonatal Program - Your Partner in New Parenthood

 

At Pravan Clinic, we are continually evolving to serve you better, and it is with immense joy that we announce the newest addition to our family: the Pravan Kids Neonatal Program.

Embarking on the journey of parenthood is a truly exciting time, filled with anticipation and joy, but it can also bring along mixed emotions, especially for first-time parents. To ensure a smooth transition into this new phase, we have curated the Pravan Kids Neonatal Program as an add-on to our existing Pravan Kids membership. This comprehensive program aims to provide you and your newborn with expert care and guidance from the start, all in a comfortable and supportive environment.

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Topics: pravan kids, maternity, neonatal

The Importance of Healthy Snacks

 

The first five years of a child's life mark a period of rapid brain development, shaping their cognitive abilities and future success. During this critical phase, over a million neural connections form daily, with the environment and experiences playing a pivotal role in this intricate process. Nutrition is also one of the key factors influencing brain development. In this blog, we will delve into the impact of nutrition on a child's brain development, the challenges of providing balanced meals for young children, and the role of healthy snacks in ensuring optimal cognitive growth.

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Topics: concierge medicine, health, pravan kids, pediatrics

Saharan Dust Clouds: How to Manage the Sniffles and More

 

What is the Saharan Dust?

Summer, the season of fun, back to school, and, in Puerto Rico, Saharan Dust. Saharan dust is a cloud of dry, hot air that comes from Africa. This definition makes it seems pretty harmless. However, these clouds come filled with bacteria, viruses, fungi, pollen, and other substances that can be harmful to children and adults alike, especially if they are allergic or asthmatic. 

How to minimize its harmful effects?

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Topics: pravan kids, pediatría, pediatrics

The Right Weight for Kids' Backpacks: Ensuring Happy Backs and Healthy Bodies

 

Back to school. Three words that bring diverse emotions in parents. On one hand, it brings the stress of having everything ready; on the other hand, it gives the kids something to do. After the books are labeled, the laptops are up to date, and all the materials are ready to go, there’s something else parents must keep in mind: backpack weight. An aspect that is often overlooked, but that can affect children in different ways. 

Carrying an improperly loaded or heavy backpack can lead to various health issues that could have long-term effects on our children's well-being. In this blog, we will explore the importance of choosing the right weight for kids' backpacks and how to make sure they are using them correctly.

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Topics: pravan kids, pediatría, pediatrics

The well-child visit is a must on your to-do list

 

The well-child visit is a must on your to-do list

As a parent, you probably have checklists of things that need to be handled in your household. These might include changing the car oil, shopping for groceries, and scheduling playdates. One important item that can be overlooked when you have a hectic schedule but needs to be included in your to-do list is well-child visits. 

 

Parenting is a huge responsibility, and you should have a medical professional as your partner in the journey to ensure your kids hit their milestones, are protected from certain illnesses, and more. With this in mind, your Pravan Kids membership was designed to provide this support by tracking your child’s developmental milestones by providing and helping you schedule well-child visits.


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Finally, a concierge pediatric clinic in Puerto Rico to address the pediatrician shortage

 

In 2011 the Perfil del Pediatra study revealed that the median age of pediatricians in Puerto Rico was 54 years old (compared with 42 and 43 years old in the mainland US). Ten years later, the Puerto Rico Pediatrics Society (SPP by its acronym in Spanish) showed that 49% of pediatricians on the island are over 60 years old, that the median age for retirement is 67, and that 28% of the 331 pediatricians who completed the survey have a general pediatric practice in two municipalities or more. 

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Topics: concierge, pravan kids, pediatrics

Assessing Your Pediatrician

 

In a previous blog, we discussed the importance of choosing the right pediatrician. However, making that choice is more complicated than it seems, and even after you make it, you might still feel that there are things that can improve in your children’s care when it comes to your pediatrician.

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Topics: concierge medicine, health, pravan kids, pediatrics

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