OCR Text |
Show 3 sind DDS aaa atid liga has Diliidt a St08 gs Saba BUSINESS Wasatch PAGE 24 into Look County’s Source Summit for Netes 45 - Juty 13, 1999 Pediatrics = Lda LL.D Ll he ee we O48 mre tn Bs basal set ie ee ees BPP os te eee 1:20 cxclhbeen 2 comerteneec 7 a ee i dh needed anil dibabs COURIER Lasinbl a vl Taking a new, novel to medicine approach ver one-third of all Utahns are under the age of 21. It seems only right that over one-third of the physicians in the state would be pediatricians-doctors specializing in the care of children from birth to 21 years. However, in Wasatch County that’s not the case. Instead there are only two pediatricians currently practicing in Wasatch County, Drs. Leslie Webster and Dave Larson, and both work out of Summit Pediatrics on Main Street in Heber. | Summit Pediatrics is a relative newcomer to Heber, having only - been in operation since midFebruary. But according to Larson, the business and the need for pedi- atrics in Wasatch County is increasing rapidly. Webster opened Summit Pediatrics six years ago in Park City and ultimately drew a high percentage of clients from Wasatch County. On the other hand, Larson, a native of Bountiful, had always wanted to move to the Heber Valley. So, while working together in Park City, Webster and Larson decided that, instead of one or thé other of them setting up a private practice in Heber, it would make more sense for them to open another office here. And such was the birth of Summit Pediatrics, part two. Summit Pediatrics treats patients from post-birth to age 21, although Larson admits that by the time a child hits the teen years, he or she usually opts not to see a “kids doctor.” Larson says that’s too bad. “Adolescents don’t get treated,” says Larson. “They’re too old for a baby doctor and for the most part, adolescents are very healthy. So that age group falls through the cracks. The American Pediatric Association recommends seeing a child at least three times during adolescents-they can run into growth problems and are the biggest group for high risk behavior.” Pediatricians are more special- ized and used to working with, — almost exclusively, teens and children and therefore are more in tune with the age-group’s unique needs. And, at Summit Pediatrics, to forge an even-better relationship with the adolescent, parents are often dis- missed so the doctors can talk to the patient one-on-one. Even though Wasatch County’s demographic makeup is a little older than the rest of the state, the need for pediatricians in the area is growing. And Summit Pediatrics hopes to play a key role in helping to keep the youngest generation in the Heber Valley healthy and safe. Summit Pediatrics’ Main Street office, shown below, has been open in Heber City for over eight months. Their Park City office has been serving the community for over six years. SS . — . Sas < a SeeSS Sot = oe < S St RENN OG SNS — — Leisa Brown (lower right), Medical Assistant, and Dr. Dave Larson (above) know that most of their patients have their hands full. |