Recommendations developed for optimizing child health

(HealthDay)—In a policy statement published online Jan. 22 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for increasing cooperation between pediatricians and public health professionals in order to ensure optimal health for children.

Alice A. Kuo, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues address the need for a population-based approach and collaboration between pediatrics and public health to ensure optimal health for children.

The researchers note that the prevention of major threats to children's health cannot be managed solely in pediatricians' offices. For multiple levels of disease prevention that involve the child, family, and community, the integration of clinical practice with public health actions is necessary. Pediatricians and public health professionals frequently interact to the benefit of children and their families; however, increasing integration of the two disciplines is critical for improving child health. To ensure that population health activities include children and that the child health priorities of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) can engage federal, state, and local health initiatives, effective collaboration is necessary.

"In this policy statement, we build on the 2013 AAP Policy Statement on community pediatrics by identifying specific opportunities for collaboration between pediatricians and public health professionals that are likely to improve the health of children in communities," the authors write. "In the statement, we provide recommendations for pediatricians, public health professionals, and the AAP and its chapters."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

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