ProMedica Pediatric & Adolescent Center

ProMedica Pediatric & Adolescent Center

by Melissa McCance

Pediatric and adolescent medical care can be a very rewarding area of specialization for a physician, but it does have its challenges. The age range treated by pediatricians is birth to age 21. And, while your actual patient is the child, adolescent, or young adult, family members are naturally part of the equation which means that the doctor may need to exercise a great deal of tact to get everyone on board for the child’s care.

At the ProMedica Pediatric & Adolescent Center, care is provided by two board certified pediatricians: Edelwina Dy, M.D., and Emad Kassas, M.D. Dr. Dy completed her residency at what is now called the Children’s Health Center in Brooklyn, New York. She has been practicing in Coldwater since November 1991. Dr. Kassas trained in pediatrics at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, and also completed a fellowship in neonatology at the University of British Columbia. He joined the practice in October 2019.

The overall philosophy of the center is summed up in this description from their website:

You understand that healthy children grow to build a healthy community. We support that. We want every child to reach his or her potential, and so do you.

Our pediatric team is just as invested. Dedicated pediatricians, doctors, and nurses work to keep your child growing strong, now and into the future. Count on us to answer questions about your child’s growth and development, vaccines, and more.

The practice focuses on ensuring the wellbeing of the patient and offers comprehensive pediatric care including well-child visits, immunizations, treating illness, and mental health care. There is also an extensive telehealth program which has been in place for ten years which includes in-school telehealth availability in Quincy, Bronson, and both Legg Middle School and Coldwater High School. This technology is not just “talking to a screen.” It allows the provider to do a true exam that covers listening to the heart and checking the ears and throat. There is an RN and a social worker at each telehealth location.

“We were the first in the state to have this technology,” explains office manager Karri Doty. “It helps reduce absenteeism at school and at the parents’ workplaces which benefits everyone.”

Dr. Dy describes another benefit of having the medical personnel on site at the schools:

When asked about the rewards of pediatrics, Dr. Dy was quick to answer, “The hugs!” Dr. Kassas said that there is great satisfaction in seeing healthy, smiling children who are growing and developing well. Dr. Dy has been in Coldwater long enough that she is now seeing a second generation of patients—parents she took care of as children are now bringing her their children. She says it’s a good feeling to know the relationship she built with them years ago, continues on.

As for challenges, both agreed that one ongoing problem in our “information age” is the abundance of misinformation. Sometimes it takes patience and persistence to explain why something a parent or older child found online is not accurate or applicable.

The ProMedica Pediatric & Adolescent Center is accepting new patients and works with most insurances. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telehealth hours are slightly different; please check with the office for the current schedule. The office is located at 358 E. Chicago St., Suite 202, in Coldwater. It is part of the medical campus around the hospital. You can reach them by calling 517-279-5252.