Medical expert weighs in on pediatrician shortage in Nevada
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Have you ever wondered why it can take a long time to get in to see your child’s doctor? Nevada consistently ranks among the lowest in the nation for the number of pediatricians per child ratio.
Dr. Lyanna Lafredo is one of only 267 pediatricians in the state which is home to about 640,000 children that ratio is one of the lowest throughout the country.
Nevada ranked 49th in the nation for pediatric ratio in 2023, according to the American Board of Pediatrics. The ideal ratio is 50 pediatricians per 100,000 children.
“For every pediatrician, there are 2,600 kids so that means there is a disparity in terms of access to health, and probably a lot of parents would notice this,” Dr. Lafredo explained.
For some patients, it can take weeks to see a pediatrician, while meeting up with a pediatric specialist can take months. Organizations such as UNLV Health are helping by bringing care to students.
“A lot of these kids don’t see doctors because they don’t have insurance so we go to these schools and we don’t care whether they are insured we see them,” Dr. Lafredo said.
To help even more, patients who come to the University Medical Center Ernst F. Lied Ambulatory Care Clinic can just walk in.
Crystal Cross and her 3-month-old daughter Angel were doing a wellness check-up when 8 News Now caught up with them on Wednesday.
“All three of my kids came here, my daughter since birth and my son since he was 8 years old but even without the appointments I am happy you don’t need one to come,” Cross said.
For those who can’t get in to see a doctor, the effects can be dangerous. “We see a lot of delays like they are not on track with their development and obesity is a big issue,” Dr. Lafredo said.
The shortage is a combination of factors including pediatrics being the lowest-paid specialty for doctors, burnout, patients with lack of insurance, and the spares geographic location of clinics.
While Nevada plays catch up, more medical students at UNLV are heading into the field in Nevada and Dr. Lafredo is helping teach the next generation.
Summerlin Hospital is also adding 11 more pediatric beds to keep up with the growth in the community. They include seven medical/surgical beds and four ICU beds for a total of 57 inpatient rooms dedicated to children. The project will be completed in April, and they’ve hired additional staff because of it.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
